VIRGINIA — Twenty-nine of the healthiest communities in America are located in Virginia, including some of the top-ranked communities in the country, 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.
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The City of Falls Church was ranked #1 in the United States for Education, #4 in Population Health and #6 in Economy. The City was also ranked in the top 10 in three categories and in the top 20 in five categories. The City of Falls Church was also ranked #1 in U.S. News & World Report's inaugural 2018 Healthiest Communities rankings.
“Among all communities evaluated in the rankings, Falls Church received the highest Walkability Index score, a metric included in the infrastructure category, and also ranked among the best in the nation for a similar metric that reflects the percentage of the population living near libraries, museums, playgrounds and other destinations,” U.S. News & World Report wrote about Falls Church. “The community also performed well in many of its education indicators, with a kindergarten enrollment rate of 93 percent, a high school graduation rate of 97 percent and more than 8 in 10 residents earning at least an associate's degree.”
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Four of the top 20 healthiest communities in America are in Northern Virginia: the City of Falls Church at #1, Fairfax County at #14, the City of Fairfax at #15, and Arlington County at #19.
Loudoun County, ranked 26th overall, earned first place in the Economy category. Fairfax County, ranked 14th overall, earned first place in the Population Health category. The City of Manassas Park, ranked 311th overall, earned second place in the Equity category. The City of Alexandria, ranked 105th overall, earned second place in the Public Safety category.
U.S. News noted that even the healthiest communities struggle in some areas: Top-ranked city of Falls Church, for example, ranked outside the top 500 in equity and housing.
Of the more than 3,140 counties ranked, here are the counties in Virginia that made it into the top 500:
1. Falls Church, Virginia
14. Fairfax County, Virginia
15. Fairfax, Virginia
19. Arlington County, Virginia
26. Loudoun County, Virginia
98. Albemarle County, Virginia
105. Alexandria, Virginia
107. Poquoson, Virginia
114. Hanover County, Virginia
139. Roanoke County, Virginia
168. Lexington, Virginia
178. New Kent County, Virginia
191. Goochland County, Virginia
239. York County, Virginia
253. Powhatan County, Virginia
254. Manassas, Virginia
255. Botetourt County, Virginia
276. James City County, Virginia
291. Fauquier County, Virginia
309. Prince William County, Virginia
311. Manassas Park, Virginia
314. Salem, Virginia
329. Charlottesville, Virginia
346. Virginia Beach, Virginia
353. Chesterfield County, Virginia
386. Stafford County, Virginia
407. Chesapeake, Virginia
409. Bedford County, Virginia
436. Williamsburg, Virginia
455. Clark County, Virginia
459. Montgomery County, Virginia
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.
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