Sheldon, IA is a small town with a population of just over 3,500. Despite its small size, the town offers a variety of health care services for its residents. The local hospitals, Sanford Sheldon Medical Center and St. Joseph's Care Center, provide a range of medical services including emergency care, diagnostic testing and physical therapy. Additionally, there are several local medical facilities that offer family medicine, pediatrics and women's health services. These facilities also work with specialists in the area to provide specialized care when needed. Residents of Sheldon can also access mental health resources through the Sheldon Community Mental Health Center which provides individual and group counseling services. All of these services ensure that residents have access to quality healthcare regardless of their needs or financial situation.
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 72 physicians per 100,000 population in Sheldon. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Sheldon area is 120.9 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
120.9 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Sheldon area is 62 (100=best). The US average is 55.
62 / 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 Sheldon 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 Sheldon commutes 16.3 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 Sheldon area is 85 (100=best). The US average is 58.
85 / 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.