Sumas, WA is a small rural town located in Whatcom County that has limited access to health services compared to larger cities and towns nearby. The town itself does not have any hospitals or large medical facilities, but there are several local clinics and medical offices that provide basic care to the residents of the community. Most of these facilities focus on primary care, such as family medicine, pediatrics and internal medicine. However, due to its remote location, Sumas residents must often travel out of town for specialty care such as obstetrics/gynecology and oncology services. Fortunately, there are multiple transportation options available to those who need more advanced medical attention. In addition, many of the local clinics offer free or low-cost programs for those who do not have access to insurance or other forms of financial assistance. This helps ensure that all residents of Sumas have easy access to medical care when they need it most.
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 219 physicians per 100,000 population in Sumas. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Sumas area is 78.9 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
78.9 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Sumas 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 Sumas area is 79 (100=best). The US average is 87.
79 / 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 Sumas commutes 23.9 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 Sumas area is 85 (100=best). The US average is 58.
85 / 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.