Tawas, MI is a small city located along the shores of Lake Huron. The city has a population of approximately 2,861 people according to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates from 2019. Though small in size, Tawas is able to provide a variety of health care services to its residents. The city has two hospitals which serve the local community: Oscoda Memorial Hospital and St. Joseph Mercy Tawas Hospital. Both facilities offer comprehensive medical care including emergency services, surgery, laboratory work and more. In addition, there are several local medical facilities providing primary care and specialty services such as physical therapy and chiropractic services. With access to the medical resources needed for good health, Tawas can continue to provide its citizens with quality and affordable health care options in their own backyard.
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 118 physicians per 100,000 population in Tawas. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Tawas area is 89.9 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
89.9 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Tawas 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 Tawas area is 6 (100=best). The US average is 87.
6 / 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 Tawas commutes 21.7 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 Tawas area is 90 (100=best). The US average is 58.
90 / 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.