Dayton, Iowa is a small town located in the western part of the state with a population of approximately 830 people. The area has an abundance of natural beauty and plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. In terms of health care, Dayton is fortunate to have access to several local hospitals and medical facilities. These include MercyOne Medical Center Des Moines West Lakes, Des Moines VA Health Care System, and Mary Greeley Medical Center. Each of these facilities provide exceptional care to residents in the region. Additionally, many other smaller clinics and practices offer services in family practice, physical therapy, mental health counseling, dentistry, optometry and more. With such a wide range of health care available in the community, Dayton is well-equipped to address any medical needs its citizens may have.
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 165 physicians per 100,000 population in Dayton. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Dayton area is 124.9 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
124.9 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Dayton 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 Dayton area is 93 (100=best). The US average is 87.
93 / 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 Dayton commutes 22.4 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 Dayton area is 87 (100=best). The US average is 58.
87 / 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.