Wheeler, IL is a small town in rural Illinois. The town has limited resources when it comes to health care, with only one local hospital and two medical facilities. Despite the lack of options in terms of health care services, the citizens of Wheeler enjoy relatively good health overall. Most families are able to access basic medical services at the local hospital or medical clinics, while those who may require more specialized treatments are usually sent to larger cities and towns for additional care. Local initiatives have helped residents stay healthy by providing nutrition education and access to fresh produce from community gardens maintained by local charities. Community outreach programs are also set up to help residents obtain necessary prescriptions and other medications they may need but cannot afford. Overall, the health in Wheeler is good due to accessible and reasonably priced health care services, as well as efforts from local charities to provide additional resources for members of the community.
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 10 physicians per 100,000 population in Wheeler. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Wheeler area is 116.5 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
116.5 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Wheeler area is 20 (100=best). The US average is 55.
20 / 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 Wheeler 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 Wheeler commutes 23.6 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 Wheeler area is 81 (100=best). The US average is 58.
81 / 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.