The small town of Essex, MD is home to a rich community full of unique characters and local attractions. Health is an important factor in maintaining the quality of life for its citizens, and Essex has several hospitals and medical facilities that are available to provide care when needed. Within the town, Union Hospital, MedStar Harbor Hospital, and University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center are all located nearby and offer a wide range of services to meet the medical needs of the community. Additionally, there are multiple private clinics and specialty centers that provide individualized care for those with more specific health concerns. Overall, Essex offers residents access to quality healthcare just minutes away from their homes.
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 348 physicians per 100,000 population in Essex. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Essex area is 97.9 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
97.9 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Essex area is 47 (100=best). The US average is 55.
47 / 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 Essex area is 94 (100=best). The US average is 87.
94 / 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 Essex commutes 29.8 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 Essex area is 48 (100=best). The US average is 58.
48 / 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.