The city of Athens, OH is fortunate to have many quality health services available. From local hospitals like O’Bleness Memorial Hospital and OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, to medical facilities such as the Athens County Health Department and Ohio University Student Health Services, residents of Athens have access to a wide range of medical care. Additionally, there are numerous dentists and optometrists located in the area providing comprehensive healthcare coverage for all members of the community. With these resources at their disposal, locals can rest assured that they will be able to receive top-notch care when needed. Furthermore, due to its proximity to larger cities such as Columbus and Dayton, Athens residents also have easy access to more specialized medical treatments if needed. All in all, Athens is well-equipped with excellent healthcare options for its citizens.
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 182 physicians per 100,000 population in Athens. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Athens area is 101.3 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
101.3 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Athens area is 40 (100=best). The US average is 55.
40 / 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 Athens area is 97 (100=best). The US average is 87.
97 / 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 Athens commutes 13.8 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 Athens area is 44 (100=best). The US average is 58.
44 / 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.