The Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metro Area is a densely populated urban area with a range of different health care options to meet the needs of its residents. The region has numerous hospitals and medical facilities, providing access to comprehensive medical care for all ages. There are also community health centers throughout the area that provide low-cost or free health services for those who may not have adequate insurance coverage. Additionally, there are numerous health education programs offered by local organizations and schools to help promote healthy lifestyles and prevent diseases. The region also has a variety of public health initiatives in place, such as safe drinking water initiatives and clean air efforts, that help protect the population from environmental hazards. Overall, the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Metro Area provides an array of healthcare options for its residents to access quality care and maintain their wellbeing.
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 299 physicians per 100,000 population in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Metro Area. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Metro Area area is 97.1 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
97.1 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Metro Area area is 49 (100=best). The US average is 55.
49 / 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Metro Area area is 87 (100=best). The US average is 87.
87 / 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Metro Area commutes 30.8 minutes one-way, which is longer than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Metro Area area is 53 (100=best). The US average is 58.
53 / 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.