The 10 Healthiest Communities in America
The healthiest communities in America are concentrated in the midwest says U.S. News and World Report.
According to SF Gate, the healthiest counties in America actually dominate the Midwest, according to the U.S. News and World Report‘s 2024 ranking of the healthiest communities in the U.S.
Six of the top 10 picks on the list are in Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
But the Mid-Atlantic enclave of Falls Church, VA, took the top spot as the healthiest place to live in America.
Falls Church is known as very bike-friendly and walkable—and historically significant: This Washington, DC, suburb is where the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence.
Healthy cities dominate the Midwest, with six of the top 10 healthiest communities in Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
The healthiest cities criteria
So, how were the top healthiest cities picked?
The news outlet assessed more than 3,000 counties around the country, based on more than 90 factors across 10 health-related areas. These criteria were identified by the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics as key factors in health and wellness.
The categories included population health, community vitality, public safety, environment, food and nutrition, housing, economy, education, infrastructure, and equity. Population health and equity were weighted as most important, and community vitality and infrastructure were weighted as least important.