Sierra County, New Mexico has an abundance of health resources available to its residents. There are numerous local hospitals and medical facilities that provide a wide range of services ranging from primary care to specialty care. With this selection of healthcare providers, residents can receive quality medical attention for both chronic and acute illnesses. These medical facilities also offer preventative care programs which help promote the health and wellbeing of people living in Sierra County. In addition, there are many community organizations that work with local hospitals and medical clinics to ensure that all county residents have access to the necessary health services they need. These organizations help bridge the gap between medical facilities and those who cannot afford or do not have access to these resources. Overall, Sierra County is well equipped with healthcare options that are available to 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 98 physicians per 100,000 population in Sierra County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Sierra County area is 93.5 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
93.5 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Sierra County 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 Sierra 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 Sierra County commutes 16.7 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 Sierra County area is 75 (100=best). The US average is 58.
75 / 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.