Waterloo, Iowa is a city that is known for its diverse population and its strong health care system. The city has a number of hospitals and medical facilities that provide quality care to the citizens of Waterloo and the surrounding areas. There are several different specialty clinics as well as general practitioners in the area. Furthermore, Waterloo also has an abundance of community-based organizations that offer affordable healthcare services, such as free physicals or screenings, to people who may not be able to afford insurance or regular doctor visits. Additionally, there are many initiatives in place throughout the local area that aim to promote healthy lifestyles such as encouraging individuals to get active, proper nutrition education, and smoking cessation programs. All together, these resources make Waterloo an ideal place for both residents and visitors to receive quality health care services.
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 220 physicians per 100,000 population in Waterloo. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Waterloo area is 120.2 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
120.2 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Waterloo 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 Waterloo area is 85 (100=best). The US average is 87.
85 / 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 Waterloo commutes 15.5 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 Waterloo area is 70 (100=best). The US average is 58.
70 / 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.