Washington, DC is a city known for its historical sites, cultural attractions, and of course the government. It’s no surprise that it also has some of the best health care resources in the nation. The city is home to numerous local hospitals and medical facilities which provide quality healthcare services to residents, visitors, and members of Congress alike. These healthcare organizations are dedicated to providing access to quality medical care for everyone in the city. From pediatric specialists to primary care doctors, Washington DC has a long list of providers who can assist with any kind of health issue or concern. Additionally, many of these facilities are located conveniently in neighborhoods throughout the city so no matter where you live or work in Washington DC there will always be reliable health services nearby.
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 410 physicians per 100,000 population in Washington. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Washington area is 82.6 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
82.6 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Washington area is 40 (100=best). The US average is 55.
40 / 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 Washington area is 93 (100=best). The US average is 87.
93 / 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 Washington commutes 30.0 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 Washington area is 27 (100=best). The US average is 58.
27 / 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.