Charleston, WV is a thriving city with plenty of resources available to its residents. The area has a number of local hospitals and medical facilities that are within reach of the population. These facilities include CAMC General Hospital, Charleston Area Medical Center Memorial Hospital, Thomas Health System, and United Hospital Center. These medical centers offer various services from general health check-ups to specialized procedures. Furthermore, Charleston also has several clinics that people can access for routine care such as vaccinations, physicals, and preventative screenings. In addition to the traditional healthcare resources available in Charleston, the city also provides other health services like mental health assistance at the West Virginia University Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness or the West Virginia Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Moreover, organizations such as West Virginia Primary Care Association provide primary care services around Charleston which includes telemedicine options for those living in rural parts of the state. All these resources make sure that everyone living in Charleston has easy access to necessary medical attention when needed.
The health of a city has many different factors. It can refer to air quality, water quality, risk of getting respiratory disease or cancer. The people you live around can also affect your health as some places have lower or higher rates of physical activity, increased alcohol intake, smoking, obesity, and cancer rates.
Physicians per Capita
There are 386 physicians per 100,000 population in Charleston. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Charleston area is 102.9 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
102.9 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Charleston area is 60 (100=best). The US average is 55.
60 / 100
Note that this is a measure of Watershed quality, not the water that comes from your faucet. The EPA has stated that a healthy watershed is closely related to drinking water quality. The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators such as pH, chemicals, metals, and bacteria.
Superfund Index
The annual BestPlaces Superfund Index for the Charleston area is 82 (100=best). The US average is 87.
82 / 100
The EPA's Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up some of our nation's most contaminated land. Our index is based on the number of active Superfund sites (over 15,000 in the United States), with particular attention paid to those on the National Priorities List which pose the greatest health danger.
Quick Facts
Commuting can effect your health. The average person in Charleston commutes 16.2 minutes one-way, which is shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Charleston area is 44 (100=best). The US average is 58.
44 / 100
This is based on new measures of hazardous air pollutants from the EPA, called the National Air Toxics Assessment. This analysis models respiratory illness and cancer risk down to the zip code level, providing better detail and insight than the previous analysis based solely on results from air monitoring stations.