In 1971 Newark, DE the health of its citizens was a major concern. With the city's population near 10,000 residents, there were only two local hospitals to provide medical care to those in need. Additionally, there were several medical facilities scattered throughout the city providing various services for patients ranging from primary care to specialty care. Despite these resources, access to healthcare was limited and expensive with families often struggling to pay their medical bills. This lack of access was further compounded by inadequate insurance coverage leaving many without proper protection when it came to their health. Ultimately, this led to an increase in preventable illnesses and chronic conditions that could have been avoided had proper healthcare been more readily available.
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 238 physicians per 100,000 population in Newark (zip 19711). The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Newark (zip 19711) area is 108.3 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
108.3 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Newark (zip 19711) area is 12 (100=best). The US average is 55.
12 / 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 Newark (zip 19711) area is 69 (100=best). The US average is 87.
69 / 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 Newark (zip 19711) commutes 23.7 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 Newark (zip 19711) area is 62 (100=best). The US average is 58.
62 / 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.