High Shoals, NC is a small rural community located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With a population of just over 800 people, it is known for its untouched natural beauty and rich history. Despite its small size, High Shoals has a wealth of health resources to provide its residents with high-quality care. The town boasts several local hospitals and medical facilities such as High Shoals Hospital and The Community Health Center, which offer comprehensive care to all individuals regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Additionally, the area is home to many specialty clinics that provide specialized services such as cardiology, oncology, neurology, and hematology. With these resources readily available in the community, High Shoals residents are able to access quality healthcare close to 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 172 physicians per 100,000 population in High Shoals. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the High Shoals area is 111.5 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
111.5 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the High Shoals 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 High Shoals area is 74 (100=best). The US average is 87.
74 / 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 High Shoals commutes 25.4 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 High Shoals area is 60 (100=best). The US average is 58.
60 / 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.