Gaines County is a rural community in West Texas with a population of about 28,000. The health and wellness of its citizens is important to the county's overall wellbeing. There are several hospitals and medical facilities in Gaines County to meet the needs of its residents. These include Odessa Regional Medical Center, Covenant Medical Center, and Midland Memorial Hospital, all located in nearby cities. Additionally, there are many primary care doctors and specialists who serve the local population. Pharmacies are also available for those who need prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications. With access to quality healthcare services and providers, Gaines County residents can rest assured that their health is in good hands.
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 25 physicians per 100,000 population in Gaines County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Gaines County area is 103.6 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
103.6 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Gaines County area is 50 (100=best). The US average is 55.
50 / 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 Gaines County area is 80 (100=best). The US average is 87.
80 / 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 Gaines County commutes 19.0 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 Gaines 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.