Buffalo, South Dakota is a small town located in Hand County. The health of the residents in Buffalo is an important aspect of the community. There are several local hospitals in the area that provide necessary medical care for those in need. Additionally, there are other medical facilities such as clinics and health centers that offer various services to the citizens of Buffalo. These facilities help to maintain good overall health throughout the population by providing preventative care, regular check-ups, and treatments for any illnesses or injuries that may arise. The local government also provides resources to ensure that everyone has access to quality healthcare in Buffalo. With these efforts, the residents of Buffalo have peace of mind knowing they can get the healthcare they need when needed.
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 48 physicians per 100,000 population in Buffalo County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Buffalo County area is 98.7 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
98.7 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Buffalo 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 Buffalo County area is 60 (100=best). The US average is 87.
60 / 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 Buffalo County commutes 0.0 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 Buffalo County area is 92 (100=best). The US average is 58.
92 / 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.