GEORGIA — Eight of the healthiest communities in America are located in Georgia, according to new rankings released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.
U.S. News said the 2024 Healthiest Communities rankings, now in their sixth year, measure how well counties are serving their residents and are intended to serve as a blueprint for residents, local health leaders and elected officials to develop policies and best practices for better health outcomes.
According to U.S. News, the analysis took into account more than 90 indicators and hundreds of thousands of data points across 10 major categories: community vitality, economy, education, environment, equity, food and nutrition, population health, housing, infrastructure and public safety. The report also includes an overall ranking of America's healthiest communities.
Of the more than 3,140 counties ranked, here are the counties in Georgia that made it into the top 500:
Forsyth County, No. 33 Oconee County, No. 40 Fayette County, No. 110 Columbia County, No. 160 Harris County, No. 205 Cherokee County, No. 286 Cobb County, No. 305 Bryan County, No. 461
Here are the top 10 healthiest places in the country:
Falls Church, Virginia; Los Alamos County, New Mexico; Douglas County, Colorado; Sioux City, Iowa; Hamilton County, Indiana; Dallas County, Iowa; Ozaukee County, Wisconsin; Carver County, Minnesota; Bremer County, Iowa; Morgan County, Utah
“Measuring the health of communities is a critical part of considering the well-being of citizens across the country,” U.S. News data editor Julia Haynes said in a news release. “The Healthiest Communities rankings examine which communities offer the most opportunities for people to live healthy, productive lives. They also highlight how even the most 'healthy' communities struggle in certain areas.”
To compile the rankings and create the comprehensive Healthiest Communities project, U.S. News partnered with the University of Missouri-Extension Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems, a research organization skilled in community health assessments.
Overall, the rankings are based on metrics obtained from sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Census Bureau and the Environmental Protection Agency.
