Portland, Maine is considered one of the healthiest cities in the United States. It has an array of local hospitals and medical facilities that provide superior care to individuals living in and around the city. These institutions include Maine Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center, and more. All of these hospitals are equipped with world-class medical staff who offer quality care to those in need. Additionally, Portland boasts a wide variety of primary care physicians as well as specialists who provide excellent service to their patients. The city also has highly rated public health programs designed to ensure citizens have access to preventive measures such as vaccinations and screenings for common illnesses. Finally, Portland is home to numerous fitness centers and outdoor activities that help promote an active lifestyle for its residents. These aspects make Portland a great place to live when it comes to health and wellness.
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 Unlock physicians per 100,000 population in Portland (zip 04109). The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Portland (zip 04109) area is Unlock. The US average is 100.
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Portland (zip 04109) area is Unlock. The US average is 55.
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 Portland (zip 04109) area is Unlock. The US average is 87.
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 Portland (zip 04109) commutes Unlock 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 Portland (zip 04109) area is Unlock. The US average is 58.
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.