Hughes, SD County is a rural area that is known for its natural beauty and small-town charm. Despite its seemingly peaceful nature, the health of its citizens is an issue of concern. The county has relatively few hospitals and medical facilities available to its population, so access to health care can often be difficult or even unavailable in some areas. Despite this drawback, many of the local medical facilities offer excellent care, providing the community with access to primary care physicians, specialists, dentists, and other healthcare providers. Additionally, public health initiatives such as immunizations and preventive screenings are offered by the county’s Health Department in order to help ensure the health of all citizens in Hughes and surrounding areas.
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 148 physicians per 100,000 population in Hughes County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Hughes County area is 95.3 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
95.3 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Hughes County area is 33 (100=best). The US average is 55.
33 / 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 Hughes County area is 94 (100=best). The US average is 87.
94 / 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 Hughes County commutes 10.8 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 Hughes County area is 86 (100=best). The US average is 58.
86 / 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.