The Pittsburgh, PA Metro Area is a great place to live for those who desire access to high quality health care. The area boasts some of the best hospitals in the country, including UPMC Presbyterian, Allegheny General Hospital, and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. These hospitals offer a wide variety of services and treatments for all kinds of medical needs. In addition to these big name hospitals, there are numerous local medical facilities that provide more specialized services such as physical therapy, behavioral therapy and more. The area is serviced by doctors from many different specialties as well as dozens of pharmacies offering pharmaceutical services. Pittsburgh is an ideal place for individuals looking for quality healthcare options without having to travel far away from home.
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 269 physicians per 100,000 population in Pittsburgh Metro Area. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Pittsburgh Metro Area area is 89.0 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
89.0 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Pittsburgh Metro Area area is 51 (100=best). The US average is 55.
51 / 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 Pittsburgh Metro Area area is 86 (100=best). The US average is 87.
86 / 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 Pittsburgh Metro Area commutes 26.7 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 Pittsburgh Metro Area area is 56 (100=best). The US average is 58.
56 / 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.