Ranks of Healthiest Communities in 2022 by U.S. News
TThe annual Healthiest Communities rankings launch includes a look at which racial and ethnic groups are most at risk from natural disasters and is accompanied by data on the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. News & World Report on Wednesday released the newest iteration of its annual Healthiest Communities rankings, analyzing dozens of factors to measure health and well-being across thousands of counties and county-equivalents in America.
For the third consecutive year, Los Alamos County, New Mexico, ranks No. 1 and is the healthiest community in the country. Similar to previous years, U.S. News assessed the health of nearly 3,000 communities based on 89 metrics in 10 categories. Los Alamos County received an overall score of 100 and particularly excelled in the categories of housing, infrastructure, and population health.
Alongside the rankings, U.S. News also examined the vulnerability of racial and ethnic groups to negative impacts from natural disasters, with an analysis showing racial minorities are most at risk from extreme weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and heat waves. Amid the intensifying threat of climate change and a heightened focus on equity in America, U.S. News also explores the reasons behind these types of dangerous disparities.
Also accompanying the rankings are separate lists showing the healthiest communities in various states, as well as which communities nationwide have performed the best in areas like education, mental health, food and nutrition, and public safety. Additional lists show which communities have excelled in the specific Healthiest Communities metrics of life expectancy, heart disease prevalence, and cancer incidence.
Overall, U.S. News’ Healthiest Communities project examines the issues affecting the health of communities across the country and can help identify approaches taken to address those issues and drive better health outcomes.
To learn more about why and how Healthiest Communities was created, read our 2022 FAQ and our methodology.
The 10 Healthiest Communities in America:
- Los Alamos County, New Mexico
- Falls Church, Virginia
- Douglas County, Colorado
- Morgan County, Utah
- Carver County, Minnesota
- Sioux County, Iowa
- Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
- Hamilton County, Indiana
- Broomfield County, Colorado
- Delaware County, Ohio
SOURCE:usnews.com