Merced County in California is a diverse area with a population of approximately 255,793 people as of 2019. It is home to many different communities and cultures, making it an important place for healthcare providers to meet the needs of its citizens. Health in Merced County is managed through local hospitals and medical facilities that provide a wide range of services. These include preventive health care options, family doctors, urgent care centers, emergency departments, and specialty clinics. There are also community clinics and other organizations that offer resources and support to help patients with their medical needs. In addition to excellent medical care, these facilities provide educational programs for adults and teens throughout the county to ensure they are aware of the health issues facing their communities.
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 86 physicians per 100,000 population in Merced County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Merced County area is 95.7 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
95.7 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Merced County area is 20 (100=best). The US average is 55.
20 / 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 Merced County area is 93 (100=best). The US average is 87.
93 / 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 Merced County commutes 27.0 minutes one-way, which is longer than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Merced County area is 56 (100=best). The US average is 58.
56 / 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.