The town of Merino, Colorado is a small, rural community located in the foothills of the Rockies. It has a population of just under 2,000 people and is known for its picturesque mountain views and natural beauty. The health care options available in Merino are limited, but there are some local hospitals and medical facilities in nearby towns that provide services to the community. The most notable local hospital is Mercy Medical Center, which offers general medicine as well as access to specialized care such as neurology and cardiology. There are also two clinics located in town that offer primary care services. In addition to these options, patients can find many specialists who travel to the area on a regular basis to provide more comprehensive care. Although not all of Merino's health needs can be met entirely within the town itself, residents do have access to quality care via nearby health facilities.
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 114 physicians per 100,000 population in Merino. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Merino area is 95.0 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
95.0 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Merino area is 40 (100=best). The US average is 55.
40 / 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 Merino area is 94 (100=best). The US average is 87.
94 / 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 Merino commutes 19.2 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 Merino area is 90 (100=best). The US average is 58.
90 / 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.