Buncombe County in North Carolina is a community that takes health and wellness seriously. With access to many local hospitals, medical facilities, and other health services, residents of Buncombe County have plenty of options for taking care of their physical and mental wellbeing. There are numerous doctors' offices, dentists, optometrists, physical therapists, chiropractors, and other healthcare professionals available throughout the county. Additionally, there are several community health centers offering primary care services with sliding-fee scales for those who may not be able to afford them otherwise. To ensure that people stay informed about their own health and the latest trends in medical science, Buncombe County also has several libraries with a wide selection of books and magazines on health topics as well as public programs on topics such as nutrition education. With these resources available at their disposal, everyone in Buncombe County can be sure to get the best possible care when it comes to their health.
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 374 physicians per 100,000 population in Buncombe County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Buncombe County area is 111.4 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
111.4 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Buncombe County area is 64 (100=best). The US average is 55.
64 / 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 Buncombe County area is 82 (100=best). The US average is 87.
82 / 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 Buncombe County commutes 20.1 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 Buncombe County area is 70 (100=best). The US average is 58.
70 / 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.