Elma, Iowa is a small town with a population of just over 600 people. Despite its small size, Elma offers basic health care services and resources in the area. There are several local hospitals and medical facilities available to residents. Community Health Center of Marshalltown provides primary care services to residents who may not have access to other options, while the Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center is a larger facility that offers specialty services from doctors, surgeons, and other medical professionals. Additionally, many local pharmacies are available to provide medications for both acute and chronic conditions. Keeping up with regular doctor visits and preventive screenings is an important part of maintaining good health in Elma, Iowa and the surrounding areas.
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 85 physicians per 100,000 population in Elma. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Elma area is 123.6 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
123.6 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Elma area is 87 (100=best). The US average is 55.
87 / 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 Elma area is 96 (100=best). The US average is 87.
96 / 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 Elma commutes 17.8 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 Elma area is 89 (100=best). The US average is 58.
89 / 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.