Location matters when it comes to health. Some places promote wellness by expanding access to nutritious food and recreational facilities. Others strive to keep healthcare costs affordable for everyone or keep parks clean and well-maintained. When a city doesn’t take care of these important issues, it can be hard to keep up good health.
To determine which areas prioritize residents’ well-being, WalletHub compared more than 180 of the most populated U.S. cities across 41 key indicators of good health. Our data set ranges from the cost of a medical visit to fruit and vegetable consumption to the share of physically active adults.
Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst
Main Findings
Healthiest Places to Live in the U.S.
Overall Rank | City | Total Score | Health Care Rank | Food Rank | Fitness Rank | Green Space Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | San Francisco, CA | 67.60 | 76 | 1 | 28 | 1 |
2 | Honolulu, HI | 64.28 | 99 | 4 | 27 | 2 |
3 | Seattle, WA | 63.68 | 28 | 10 | 5 | 11 |
4 | San Diego, CA | 63.08 | 81 | 5 | 13 | 6 |
5 | Washington, DC | 63.04 | 39 | 7 | 25 | 9 |
6 | Portland, OR | 62.65 | 47 | 6 | 31 | 8 |
7 | Denver, CO | 61.99 | 29 | 11 | 19 | 16 |
8 | Salt Lake City, UT | 61.18 | 42 | 18 | 17 | 3 |
9 | Scottsdale, AZ | 60.32 | 19 | 65 | 1 | 13 |
10 | Irvine, CA | 60.29 | 12 | 30 | 10 | 17 |
11 | Los Angeles, CA | 59.61 | 101 | 3 | 41 | 20 |
12 | Minneapolis, MN | 59.47 | 14 | 32 | 42 | 10 |
13 | Austin, TX | 59.43 | 22 | 25 | 6 | 23 |
14 | Huntington Beach, CA | 59.40 | 24 | 33 | 2 | 35 |
15 | South Burlington, VT | 58.52 | 2 | 17 | 83 | 65 |
16 | Boston, MA | 58.41 | 8 | 12 | 48 | 48 |
17 | Madison, WI | 58.39 | 15 | 39 | 8 | 29 |
18 | New York, NY | 58.12 | 86 | 2 | 117 | 18 |
19 | Pittsburgh, PA | 57.76 | 11 | 20 | 43 | 31 |
20 | Glendale, CA | 57.17 | 53 | 40 | 15 | 12 |
21 | Atlanta, GA | 57.01 | 105 | 19 | 4 | 36 |
22 | San Jose, CA | 56.60 | 44 | 13 | 75 | 39 |
23 | Orlando, FL | 56.36 | 61 | 22 | 9 | 49 |
24 | Fremont, CA | 56.34 | 40 | 26 | 16 | 54 |
25 | Portland, ME | 55.70 | 32 | 16 | 137 | 4 |
26 | Oakland, CA | 55.36 | 98 | 8 | 64 | 57 |
27 | Tampa, FL | 55.26 | 70 | 28 | 18 | 58 |
28 | Las Vegas, NV | 55.23 | 155 | 27 | 12 | 25 |
29 | Burlington, VT | 54.83 | 4 | 42 | 86 | 41 |
30 | Garden Grove, CA | 54.79 | 73 | 37 | 74 | 5 |
31 | Raleigh, NC | 54.34 | 17 | 41 | 3 | 124 |
32 | Long Beach, CA | 54.29 | 62 | 21 | 34 | 63 |
33 | Missoula, MT | 54.24 | 13 | 99 | 44 | 21 |
34 | Chicago, IL | 54.23 | 107 | 14 | 62 | 45 |
35 | Sacramento, CA | 54.06 | 135 | 15 | 63 | 33 |
36 | St. Louis, MO | 53.46 | 139 | 38 | 11 | 47 |
37 | Boise, ID | 53.40 | 25 | 110 | 35 | 19 |
38 | Overland Park, KS | 53.11 | 1 | 106 | 45 | 90 |
39 | Cincinnati, OH | 53.06 | 113 | 56 | 26 | 27 |
40 | Miami, FL | 53.05 | 96 | 9 | 89 | 77 |
41 | St. Paul, MN | 53.01 | 41 | 79 | 53 | 26 |
42 | Grand Rapids, MI | 52.96 | 27 | 52 | 61 | 44 |
43 | Rochester, NY | 52.69 | 78 | 29 | 116 | 15 |
44 | Phoenix, AZ | 52.65 | 92 | 34 | 47 | 51 |
45 | Oceanside, CA | 52.24 | 80 | 58 | 7 | 94 |
46 | Richmond, VA | 52.13 | 36 | 54 | 23 | 95 |
47 | Tempe, AZ | 52.12 | 60 | 78 | 39 | 32 |
48 | Philadelphia, PA | 52.04 | 120 | 23 | 66 | 52 |
49 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 51.97 | 56 | 44 | 77 | 50 |
50 | Columbia, MD | 51.78 | 6 | 69 | 71 | 91 |
51 | Santa Clarita, CA | 51.72 | 20 | 48 | 90 | 56 |
52 | Anaheim, CA | 51.37 | 64 | 35 | 51 | 82 |
53 | Virginia Beach, VA | 51.36 | 3 | 74 | 46 | 99 |
54 | Plano, TX | 50.98 | 26 | 97 | 14 | 84 |
55 | Bismarck, ND | 50.92 | 35 | 100 | 30 | 100 |
56 | Louisville, KY | 50.79 | 65 | 66 | 82 | 42 |
57 | Vancouver, WA | 50.66 | 88 | 72 | 20 | 87 |
58 | Billings, MT | 50.32 | 63 | 43 | 68 | 121 |
59 | Pembroke Pines, FL | 50.27 | 43 | 90 | 67 | 38 |
60 | Sioux Falls, SD | 50.08 | 7 | 89 | 78 | 112 |
61 | Yonkers, NY | 49.90 | 37 | 36 | 150 | 43 |
62 | Santa Rosa, CA | 49.88 | 97 | 55 | 72 | 59 |
63 | St. Petersburg, FL | 49.75 | 94 | 57 | 54 | 67 |
64 | Albuquerque, NM | 49.59 | 140 | 64 | 104 | 24 |
65 | Buffalo, NY | 49.47 | 66 | 47 | 99 | 69 |
66 | Colorado Springs, CO | 49.33 | 82 | 88 | 33 | 74 |
67 | Charlotte, NC | 49.19 | 48 | 49 | 21 | 151 |
68 | Nashua, NH | 49.17 | 23 | 105 | 38 | 137 |
69 | Tacoma, WA | 48.99 | 112 | 73 | 29 | 104 |
70 | Providence, RI | 48.78 | 59 | 83 | 119 | 28 |
71 | Lincoln, NE | 48.72 | 5 | 127 | 70 | 80 |
72 | Spokane, WA | 48.71 | 71 | 71 | 59 | 98 |
73 | Bridgeport, CT | 48.55 | 55 | 114 | 120 | 7 |
74 | Juneau, AK | 48.55 | 149 | 76 | 148 | 13 |
75 | Jersey City, NJ | 48.48 | 67 | 31 | 115 | 108 |
76 | Manchester, NH | 48.47 | 31 | 117 | 60 | 93 |
77 | Charleston, SC | 48.41 | 9 | 113 | 73 | 126 |
78 | Aurora, CO | 48.28 | 30 | 46 | 92 | 127 |
79 | Pearl City, HI | 48.04 | 95 | 59 | 110 | 73 |
80 | Tucson, AZ | 47.69 | 126 | 61 | 88 | 70 |
81 | Milwaukee, WI | 47.58 | 104 | 81 | 105 | 61 |
82 | Omaha, NE | 47.51 | 10 | 107 | 65 | 128 |
83 | Jacksonville, FL | 47.38 | 119 | 87 | 52 | 78 |
84 | Nashville, TN | 47.33 | 132 | 51 | 98 | 72 |
85 | West Valley City, UT | 47.27 | 128 | 70 | 111 | 55 |
86 | Salem, OR | 47.17 | 50 | 80 | 121 | 76 |
87 | Reno, NV | 47.12 | 137 | 75 | 96 | 64 |
88 | Fargo, ND | 47.08 | 33 | 101 | 108 | 105 |
89 | Worcester, MA | 47.08 | 51 | 104 | 85 | 88 |
90 | Santa Ana, CA | 46.86 | 125 | 45 | 113 | 92 |
91 | Baltimore, MD | 46.74 | 143 | 24 | 130 | 96 |
92 | Houston, TX | 46.66 | 106 | 63 | 32 | 141 |
93 | Chula Vista, CA | 46.60 | 85 | 67 | 57 | 135 |
94 | Dallas, TX | 46.51 | 122 | 86 | 37 | 111 |
95 | Chandler, AZ | 46.39 | 46 | 96 | 22 | 152 |
96 | Durham, NC | 46.17 | 21 | 50 | 87 | 168 |
97 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 46.08 | 18 | 149 | 69 | 115 |
98 | Warwick, RI | 45.95 | 34 | 92 | 128 | 122 |
99 | Oxnard, CA | 45.91 | 123 | 68 | 134 | 53 |
100 | New Orleans, LA | 45.58 | 169 | 123 | 97 | 34 |
101 | Chesapeake, VA | 45.54 | 16 | 119 | 129 | 89 |
102 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 45.38 | 49 | 77 | 118 | 134 |
103 | Modesto, CA | 45.27 | 151 | 98 | 95 | 68 |
104 | San Antonio, TX | 45.21 | 160 | 112 | 40 | 83 |
105 | New Haven, CT | 45.18 | 87 | 93 | 159 | 30 |
106 | Mesa, AZ | 44.99 | 102 | 95 | 55 | 130 |
107 | Riverside, CA | 44.90 | 148 | 91 | 49 | 106 |
108 | Henderson, NV | 44.90 | 127 | 136 | 100 | 62 |
109 | Fort Worth, TX | 44.74 | 69 | 125 | 36 | 143 |
110 | Columbus, OH | 44.73 | 83 | 84 | 106 | 131 |
111 | Springfield, MO | 44.71 | 114 | 147 | 76 | 75 |
112 | Aurora, IL | 44.14 | 91 | 109 | 152 | 22 |
113 | Wilmington, DE | 44.12 | 52 | 85 | 178 | 40 |
114 | Kansas City, MO | 43.94 | 77 | 121 | 101 | 113 |
115 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 43.92 | 115 | 138 | 58 | 101 |
116 | Nampa, ID | 43.87 | 124 | 139 | 50 | 117 |
117 | Glendale, AZ | 43.84 | 117 | 111 | 84 | 107 |
118 | Anchorage, AK | 43.75 | 165 | 102 | 157 | 37 |
119 | Peoria, AZ | 43.68 | 72 | 120 | 127 | 97 |
120 | Des Moines, IA | 43.18 | 58 | 122 | 126 | 118 |
121 | Gilbert, AZ | 43.18 | 75 | 103 | 24 | 178 |
122 | Columbia, SC | 43.18 | 45 | 143 | 81 | 165 |
123 | Little Rock, AR | 42.99 | 68 | 148 | 91 | 140 |
124 | Indianapolis, IN | 42.93 | 130 | 94 | 79 | 150 |
125 | Rapid City, SD | 42.75 | 38 | 126 | 144 | 139 |
126 | Cleveland, OH | 42.61 | 116 | 53 | 158 | 120 |
127 | Newport News, VA | 42.05 | 74 | 141 | 142 | 81 |
128 | Casper, WY | 42.02 | 133 | 151 | 143 | 85 |
129 | Knoxville, TN | 41.98 | 136 | 115 | 107 | 147 |
130 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 41.80 | 100 | 116 | 114 | 167 |
131 | Dover, DE | 41.46 | 90 | 152 | 122 | 161 |
132 | Akron, OH | 41.37 | 89 | 160 | 139 | 71 |
133 | Tulsa, OK | 41.33 | 103 | 159 | 80 | 136 |
134 | Tallahassee, FL | 41.33 | 79 | 165 | 103 | 129 |
135 | Lubbock, TX | 40.78 | 129 | 176 | 56 | 132 |
136 | Cheyenne, WY | 40.66 | 57 | 171 | 155 | 144 |
137 | Ontario, CA | 40.31 | 167 | 133 | 141 | 46 |
138 | Norfolk, VA | 40.04 | 54 | 128 | 138 | 154 |
139 | Fresno, CA | 40.03 | 161 | 82 | 147 | 142 |
140 | Stockton, CA | 39.99 | 172 | 108 | 153 | 86 |
141 | Birmingham, AL | 39.87 | 121 | 157 | 112 | 138 |
142 | Oklahoma City, OK | 39.83 | 93 | 131 | 136 | 146 |
143 | Arlington, TX | 39.57 | 110 | 154 | 93 | 155 |
144 | Grand Prairie, TX | 39.54 | 111 | 155 | 165 | 60 |
145 | Chattanooga, TN | 39.37 | 131 | 170 | 124 | 66 |
146 | Cape Coral, FL | 39.01 | 134 | 153 | 125 | 159 |
147 | El Paso, TX | 38.76 | 168 | 124 | 154 | 109 |
148 | Irving, TX | 38.75 | 145 | 134 | 94 | 163 |
149 | Huntsville, AL | 38.70 | 109 | 167 | 123 | 170 |
150 | Newark, NJ | 38.64 | 166 | 62 | 175 | 149 |
151 | Moreno Valley, CA | 38.52 | 150 | 129 | 164 | 119 |
152 | Hialeah, FL | 38.50 | 142 | 60 | 169 | 162 |
153 | Garland, TX | 38.28 | 153 | 145 | 149 | 114 |
154 | Bakersfield, CA | 37.88 | 170 | 130 | 151 | 125 |
155 | San Bernardino, CA | 37.69 | 177 | 137 | 160 | 79 |
156 | Fort Wayne, IN | 37.60 | 147 | 142 | 102 | 171 |
157 | Fontana, CA | 37.54 | 163 | 135 | 156 | 123 |
158 | Lewiston, ME | 37.52 | 152 | 140 | 171 | 110 |
159 | Charleston, WV | 37.06 | 144 | 132 | 146 | 176 |
160 | Mobile, AL | 36.88 | 158 | 150 | 132 | 177 |
161 | Greensboro, NC | 36.76 | 118 | 144 | 135 | 175 |
162 | Wichita, KS | 36.54 | 141 | 169 | 109 | 164 |
163 | Baton Rouge, LA | 36.26 | 159 | 173 | 131 | 133 |
164 | Toledo, OH | 36.15 | 171 | 163 | 161 | 103 |
165 | Las Cruces, NM | 35.67 | 84 | 179 | 174 | 145 |
166 | Amarillo, TX | 35.55 | 164 | 164 | 170 | 116 |
167 | North Las Vegas, NV | 35.34 | 173 | 158 | 179 | 102 |
168 | Montgomery, AL | 34.63 | 157 | 175 | 133 | 181 |
169 | Jackson, MS | 34.46 | 138 | 161 | 167 | 169 |
170 | Memphis, TN | 34.11 | 178 | 168 | 145 | 148 |
171 | Winston-Salem, NC | 33.84 | 108 | 172 | 140 | 182 |
172 | Fort Smith, AR | 33.61 | 154 | 156 | 177 | 173 |
173 | Huntington, WV | 33.38 | 176 | 146 | 172 | 156 |
174 | Detroit, MI | 32.98 | 179 | 118 | 180 | 157 |
175 | Corpus Christi, TX | 32.81 | 174 | 162 | 162 | 166 |
176 | Fayetteville, NC | 32.78 | 146 | 177 | 166 | 172 |
177 | Augusta, GA | 32.71 | 156 | 166 | 173 | 174 |
178 | Shreveport, LA | 30.57 | 162 | 181 | 176 | 160 |
179 | Columbus, GA | 29.76 | 182 | 174 | 163 | 158 |
180 | Laredo, TX | 29.67 | 181 | 180 | 181 | 153 |
181 | Gulfport, MS | 29.13 | 175 | 178 | 168 | 180 |
182 | Brownsville, TX | 24.36 | 180 | 182 | 182 | 179 |
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
- Lowest
- 1. Laredo, TX
- 2. St. Louis, MO
- 3. Brownsville, TX
- T-4. Kansas City, MO
- T-4. Overland Park, KS
- Highest
- T-177. Milwaukee, WI
- T-177. Anchorage, AK
- T-177. Madison, WI
- T-177. Seattle, WA
- T-177. Juneau, AK
- Lowest
- 1. San Jose, CA
- 2. Plano, TX
- 3. Columbia, MD
- T-4. Anaheim, CA
- T-4. Santa Ana, CA
- Highest
- T-178. Augusta, GA
- T-178. Charleston, WV
- T-178. St. Louis, MO
- T-178. Huntington, WV
- T-178. Baltimore, MD
- Most
- T-1. Spokane, WA
- T-1. Colorado Springs, CO
- 3. Rapid City, SD
- 4. Richmond, VA
- 5. Sioux Falls, SD
- Fewest
- 177. Portland, ME
- T-178. Las Vegas, NV
- T-178. Henderson, NV
- T-178. North Las Vegas, NV
- 181. Laredo, TX
- Lowest
- 1. Portland, ME
- T-2. San Francisco, CA
- T-2. Oakland, CA
- T-2. Fremont, CA
- T-5. Burlington, VT
- T-5. South Burlington, VT
- Highest
- 136. Memphis, TN
- 137. Chattanooga, TN
- 138. Tallahassee, FL
- 139. Gulfport, MS
- 140. Baton Rouge, LA
- Most
- 1. Portland, OR
- 2. New York, NY
- 3. San Francisco, CA
- 4. Atlanta, GA
- 5. Los Angeles, CA
- Fewest
- 174. Hialeah, FL
- 175. Rapid City, SD
- 176. Anchorage, AK
- 177. Laredo, TX
- 178. Montgomery, AL
- Most
- T-1. Durham, NC
- T-1. Lexington-Fayette, KY
- T-1. Billings, MT
- T-1. San Jose, CA
- T-1. Madison, WI
- Fewest
- 174. Port St. Lucie, FL
- 175. Brownsville, TX
- 176. Mobile, AL
- 177. Charleston, SC
- 178. Wichita, KS
- Lowest
- 1. Lubbock, TX
- 2. Glendale, AZ
- 3. Bismarck, ND
- 4. Columbus, GA
- 5. Montgomery, AL
- Highest
- T-166. Washington, DC
- T-166. Juneau, AK
- T-166. San Francisco, CA
- T-166. Santa Rosa, CA
- T-166. New York, NY
- Highest
- 1. South Burlington, VT
- 2. Irvine, CA
- 3. Seattle, WA
- 4. Huntington Beach, CA
- 5. Scottsdale, AZ
- Lowest
- 178. Newark, NJ
- T-179. Detroit, MI
- T-179. Brownsville, TX
- 181. Laredo, TX
- 182. Hialeah, FL
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco is the healthiest city in America, in part because it has the lowest share of obese adults in the country, at just 19% of the population. This is helped by the fact that San Francisco has the second-lowest share of people who eat less than one serving of fruits or vegetables per day, and 100% of the population lives reasonably close to a location where they can do some sort of physical activity.
The Golden Gate City spends more per capita on parks and recreation than other major cities, allowing people to enjoy well-maintained nature and physical activity, and it’s also one of the most walkable and most bikeable cities. Many people can get in their daily exercise on their way to and from work, local stores or restaurants.
Speaking of restaurants, San Francisco has some of the most healthy restaurants per capita, and it’s one of the best cities when it comes to vegetarian and gluten-free options per capita.
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu isn’t just a glamorous tourist destination – it’s also the second healthiest city in the country. Honolulu is a great city for mental health in particular, with less than 13% of adults having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days in the past month.
The city doesn’t neglect physical health, either. Over 94% of adults have health insurance coverage, along with 98% of children, which puts Honolulu in the top 15 nationally. Honolulu residents can get healthy food straight from the source, too, as the city has the most farmers markets per capita. In addition, residents can stay fit while enjoying beautiful scenery, with the most hiking trails per capita.
Seattle, WA
Seattle is the third-healthiest city in America, boasting one of the highest physical activity rates in the country, with 86% of adults participating in the past month. In addition, Seattle is among the top cities of the country when it comes to parks and recreation spending per capita, which ensures that residents have a lot of well-maintained places to stay active.
Seattle residents also search Google for health-related terms like “healthy dinner ideas” and “health food stores” more than people in most other cities, which shows that they are interested in maintaining a good diet.
The Emerald City is among the greenest cities in America, too. Having a clean environment and promoting sustainability help boost residents’ health.
Ask the Experts
With health care still a hot issue, we asked a panel of experts to weigh in on how to build good personal health. Click on the experts’ profiles below to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:
- What are the most important factors to consider in choosing a city that is good for your health?
- Since health and wealth are both long-term investments, what are some effective strategies for convincing people to invest more in their health today?
- What tips do you have for a person looking to embrace a more healthy lifestyle while on a budget?
- What measures can local authorities undertake in order to improve local health care systems?
- What are some ways for local authorities to create healthier cities?
Ask the Experts
We evaluated the four dimensions using 41 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for a healthy lifestyle. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only. For metrics marked with two asterisks (**), we calculated the population size using the square root of the population in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.
We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
Health Care – Total Points: 25
- Premature-Death Rate: Triple Weight (~3.95 Points)
Note: “Premature Death” refers to years of potential life lost. - Mental Health: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults reporting 14 or more mentally unhealthy days in the past month. - Mental-Health Counselors per Capita: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
Note: Mental-Health Counselors refers to Mental Health Counselors and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers. - Physical Health: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults reporting 14 or more physically unhealthy days in the past month. - Family Doctors per Capita: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
- Dentists per Capita: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
- Cost of Medical Visit: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
- Cost of Dental Visit: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
- Cost of Basic Medicine: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
Note: This metric refers to cold medicine for 6 days (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex or equivalent brands). - Quality of Public Hospital System*: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ranking of public hospital systems. - Hospital Beds per Capita: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
- Adult Health-Insurance Coverage: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults ages 19 to 64 with health insurance coverage. - Youth Health-Insurance Coverage: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of youths ages 18 and younger with health insurance coverage. - Share of Adults Who Visited a Doctor or a Dentist in the Past Year: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
- Share of Adults Who Checked their Cholesterol in the Past 5 years: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
- Mammography Screenings Among Women Ages 50–74: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
- Share of Women & Men Ages 65 and Older Who Received Core Preventive Services: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of women aged 65 and older who report having received all of the following: an influenza vaccination in the past year; a pneumococcal vaccination (PPV) ever; either a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) within the past year, a sigmoidoscopy within the past 5 years and a FOBT within the past 3 years, or a colonoscopy within the previous 10 years; and a mammogram in the past 2 years and men aged 65 and older who report having received all of the following: an influenza vaccination in the past year; a PPV ever; and either a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) within the past year, a sigmoidoscopy within the past 5 years and a FOBT within the past 3 years, or a colonoscopy within the past 10 years.
Food – Total Points: 25
- Inadequate Fruit & Vegetable Consumption: Double Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults consuming fewer than one serving of fruits or vegetables per day. - Farmer's Markets per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Gourmet Specialty-Food Stores per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Healthy Restaurants per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: “Healthy Restaurants” refers to vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free establishments. - Dietitians & Nutritionists per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Share of Residents Who Say They Eat Healthy: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric is based on Gallup and Sharecare's 2016 Community Rankings for Healthy Eating report which examines healthy eating across the nation. - Google Search Interest for “Healthy Eating”: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the search interest for “healthy food near me”, “healthy dinner ideas”, “healthy snacks”, “health food stores”, “healthy recipes”, “healthy grocery list”. - Share of Obese Residents: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Limited Access to Healthy Foods: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of the population who earn a low income and do not live within a reasonable distance to a grocery store.
Fitness – Total Points: 25
- Share of Adults Who Engage in Any Physical Activity: Double Weight (~6.25 Points)
- Well-Being “Physical” Score: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
Note: This metric refers to the city’s score in the “Physical” section of the Sharecare Community Well-Being Index rankings. “Physical” refers to having good health and enough energy to get things done daily. - Fitness & Instruction Centers per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
- Average Cost of Fitness-Club Membership: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
- Weight-Loss Centers per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
- Fitness Trainers & Aerobics Instructors per Capita: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
- Intramural Leagues per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
Green Space – Total Points: 25
- Parkland Acres per Capita: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
- Quality of Parks: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
Note: This metric measures “parks spending per capita” as a proxy for “parks quality.” - Hiking Trails per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
- Walk Score: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
- Bike Score: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
- Physical-Activity Access: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of the population with adequate access to locations for engaging in physical activity. - City “Greenness”: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s "Greenest Cities in America" ranking that encompasses environmental metrics like air quality or “green” transportation. - Recreation Access: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s "Best & Worst Cities for Recreation" ranking.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of March 11, 2024 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, County Health Rankings, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Yelp, Numbeo, Sharecare Community Well-Being Index, Google Ads, The Trust for Public Land, Expatistan, Walk Score, Gallup-Sharecare, IMLeagues and WalletHub research.
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