Knierim, IA is a small rural town with limited resources when it comes to healthcare. The local hospital is the only option for residents when they need medical care. The hospital provides primary and preventive care as well as some specialty services like surgical procedures and physical therapy. In addition to the hospital, there are several local medical facilities that offer additional services such as diagnostic imaging, laboratory testing, counseling and mental health care, occupational therapies, and more. With these resources available, Knierim's residents have access to quality care that is close to home. However, due to the lack of population in the area there may be limited access to certain specialists and treatments. Nevertheless, Knierim's location in Northwest Iowa provides its citizens with access to many large cities that have larger hospitals with more extensive options for medical care if 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 92 physicians per 100,000 population in Knierim. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Knierim area is 127.3 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
127.3 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Knierim 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 Knierim area is 91 (100=best). The US average is 87.
91 / 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 Knierim commutes 20.4 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 Knierim 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.