Ranking the Healthiest Cities in the U.S.
Recent findings from WalletHub reveal the top cities across the United States that lead in health metrics, spotlighting the correlation between location and overall well-being.
WalletHub’s Methodology
In the pursuit of identifying the healthiest cities, WalletHub analyzed 182 U.S. cities based on four primary dimensions: healthcare, food, fitness, and green space. A total of 41 metrics were utilized to assess these dimensions, which were graded on a scale of 100 points.
Evaluation Metrics
Healthcare
- Premature Death Rate
- Mental Health Availability
- Access to Family Doctors
- Cost of Medical Visits
- Hospital Beds per Capita
- Insurance Coverage Rates
- Preventive Health Services Access
Food
- Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Rates
- Per Capita Access to Farmer’s Markets and Specialty Food Stores
- Healthy Restaurant Availability
- Nutrition Awareness and Access
- Prevalence of Obesity
Fitness
- Adult Participation in Physical Activities
- Quality and Affordability of Fitness Facilities
- Access to Recreational Centers
- Availability of Fitness Instruction Services
Green Space
- Parkland Accessibility
- Quality of Local Parks
- Hiking Trails Availability per Capita
- Walking and Biking Infrastructure
Top Healthiest Cities in the U.S.
According to WalletHub, the cities that emerged as the healthiest are:
- San Francisco, CA
- Honolulu, HI
- Seattle, WA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Diego, CA
- Portland, OR
- Denver, CO
- Minneapolis, MN
- Washington, D.C.
- Huntington Beach, CA
Conversely, cities ranked as the least healthy include Shreveport, LA; Gulfport, MS; and Brownsville, TX.
Expert Perspectives
Health professionals weigh in on the significance of these rankings. “At a city level, factors such as air and water quality, traffic safety, and public transport availability significantly impact health outcomes,” noted Amy Justice from Yale University. She emphasizes the importance of neighborhood factors including safety, green spaces, and sidewalks in promoting outdoor activities.
Russ Molloy from Rutgers University added, “Look for cities with strong healthcare providers and recreational opportunities that are accessible to all.” This suggests that a holistic view of community health encompasses both medical services and the environments that encourage physical activity.
