Minden, IA is a small rural town with limited access to medical facilities compared to larger cities. While there are no hospitals in the town itself, there are a number of local medical facilities that provide basic care and services. The closest hospital is located just over 20 miles away in nearby Shenandoah. These local medical facilities are able to provide basic primary health care for residents of Minden, such as checkups, routine tests, immunizations and vaccinations, and treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. In addition to these services provided by local medical clinics and hospitals, residents of Minden also have access to counseling services from qualified mental health professionals. All of these resources can be accessed relatively easily which makes it possible for people living in Minden to maintain their health and wellbeing without the need to travel too far from home.
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 101 physicians per 100,000 population in Minden. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Minden area is 117.7 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
117.7 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Minden area is 80 (100=best). The US average is 55.
80 / 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 Minden area is 92 (100=best). The US average is 87.
92 / 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 Minden commutes 27.7 minutes one-way, which is longer than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Minden 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.