Salem, Oregon is a vibrant, growing city with a population of more than 170,000 people. It has access to many local hospitals and medical facilities that serve the population. Salem's main hospital is Salem Health, which has recently opened additional facilities for health care services, including a birthing center and cancer treatment center. Additionally, the Salem Healthcare Center offers primary care services for both adults and children. There are also a range of community mental health centers operated by Marion County Mental Health Services that offer counseling and psychiatric support services for those in need. Finally, there are numerous private practices that provide care for residents of Salem. In summary, Salem is home to a variety of healthcare options to meet the needs of its diverse population.
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 Salem. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Salem area is 82.8 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
82.8 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Salem 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 Salem area is 98 (100=best). The US average is 87.
98 / 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 Salem commutes 21.6 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 Salem area is 38 (100=best). The US average is 58.
38 / 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.