In 1980s Wilmington, DE, the health of its citizens was largely a reflection of the local resources available. At that time, there were a few hospitals and medical facilities that provided basic care for those who lived in the area. Despite this, most people had to rely on their own personal healthcare resources in order to stay healthy. The community also lacked access to adequate preventive services such as vaccinations and screenings, making it difficult for individuals to maintain their health. Additionally, because there wasn’t a comprehensive system in place to track or treat chronic health problems like diabetes or heart disease, preventable illnesses ran rampant throughout the city’s population. Although some progress has been made since then, it is clear that more needs to be done if Wilmington is going to become a healthier and more equitable city for all its inhabitants.
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 Wilmington (zip 19807). The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Wilmington (zip 19807) 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 Wilmington (zip 19807) 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 Wilmington (zip 19807) 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 Wilmington (zip 19807) commutes 20.7 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 Wilmington (zip 19807) area is 65 (100=best). The US average is 58.
65 / 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.