2020’s Healthiest & Unhealthiest Cities in America

Main Findings
Ask the Experts
Methodology
Health Care – Total Points: 25
Food – Total Points: 25
Fitness – Total Points: 25
Green Space – Total Points: 25

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Feb 10, 2020

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 issues, it can be hard to keep up good health. After all, the cost of care in the U.S. is rising and life expectancy is declining. And there are so many sources of health advice online that it can be difficult for a person to figure out what is legitimate and what is just a fad.

To determine which areas prioritize residents’ well-being, WalletHub compared more than 170 of the most populated U.S. cities across 43 key indicators of good health. Our data set ranges from cost of medical visit to fruit and vegetable consumption to fitness clubs per capita. Read on for our findings, further insight from a panel of experts and a full description of our methodology.

Main Findings

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<br /> <iframe src=”//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/31072/geochart-healthy-cities3.html” width=”556″ height=”347″ frameBorder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe><br /> <div style=”width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;”>Source: <a href=”https://wallethub.com/edu/healthiest-cities/31072/”>WalletHub</a></div><br />

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	73.99	29	1	4	1
2	Seattle, WA	70.62	19	4	3	2
3	San Diego, CA	70.01	25	3	1	8
4	Portland, OR	65.66	61	6	16	3
5	Washington, DC	63.87	47	9	26	5
6	New York, NY	62.89	75	2	17	19
7	Denver, CO	62.10	51	15	5	16
8	Irvine, CA	62.08	2	27	11	12
9	Scottsdale, AZ	61.14	11	41	2	18
10	Chicago, IL	60.81	66	11	20	11
11	Austin, TX	60.70	40	16	15	13
12	Los Angeles, CA	60.48	72	5	9	38
13	Honolulu, HI	60.38	54	10	63	7
14	Huntington Beach, CA	60.13	8	37	7	26
15	Minneapolis, MN	59.95	5	24	60	9
16	Salt Lake City, UT	59.90	42	13	12	34
17	Burlington, VT	59.73	3	28	22	22
18	Fremont, CA	59.06	9	25	13	31
19	Boston, MA	58.83	45	18	23	17
20	San Jose, CA	58.51	15	7	21	58
21	Santa Clarita, CA	56.98	4	73	55	4
22	Atlanta, GA	56.74	89	22	6	35
23	Portland, ME	56.33	23	23	39	36
24	Glendale, CA	56.12	26	54	56	6
25	Virginia Beach, VA	55.29	7	75	32	29
26	Sacramento, CA	54.57	100	20	53	20
27	Long Beach, CA	54.48	30	31	47	32
28	Lincoln, NE	54.45	13	90	37	23
29	Orlando, FL	54.42	43	19	42	49
30	Madison, WI	54.06	12	70	45	33
31	Boise, ID	53.97	55	66	41	14
32	Philadelphia, PA	53.85	154	14	44	24
33	Tampa, FL	53.64	56	26	33	48
34	Miami, FL	53.59	73	8	62	70
35	Oakland, CA	53.48	65	12	65	57
36	Santa Rosa, CA	53.28	70	63	34	25
37	Oceanside, CA	53.24	49	68	8	113
38	Raleigh, NC	53.15	22	34	10	106
39	Pittsburgh, PA	53.06	48	21	48	59
40	Plano, TX	52.71	10	69	36	52
41	Peoria, AZ	52.59	21	106	57	10
42	Anaheim, CA	52.20	35	39	38	54
43	Richmond, VA	51.83	82	64	27	42
44	Tempe, AZ	51.36	46	52	46	68
45	Aurora, CO	51.07	36	78	28	67
46	Fort Lauderdale, FL	51.07	71	38	78	41
47	Chesapeake, VA	50.88	18	134	59	21
48	Rochester, NY	50.88	81	29	87	39
49	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	50.81	58	133	24	15
50	Phoenix, AZ	50.79	77	33	77	45
51	Las Vegas, NV	50.60	144	17	18	87
52	Vancouver, WA	50.50	79	84	14	116
53	Garden Grove, CA	50.29	41	53	70	78
54	St. Paul, MN	50.23	31	55	90	40
55	Nashua, NH	49.98	53	126	19	85
56	Overland Park, KS	49.85	1	72	101	132
57	Sioux Falls, SD	49.82	6	102	54	109
58	Yonkers, NY	49.76	34	43	102	69
59	Grand Rapids, MI	49.33	17	82	97	63
60	Chandler, AZ	49.25	27	57	29	126
61	Colorado Springs, CO	49.21	96	86	31	53
62	St. Louis, MO	49.14	109	46	40	60
63	Omaha, NE	49.10	39	61	49	83
64	Gilbert, AZ	49.04	20	94	30	92
65	Reno, NV	48.85	114	51	43	55
66	Durham, NC	48.60	16	77	66	101
67	Charleston, SC	48.52	24	101	94	46
68	Spokane, WA	48.28	117	56	73	50
69	Tacoma, WA	48.07	119	60	35	107
70	Charlotte, NC	48.01	62	49	64	89
71	Providence, RI	47.97	85	59	98	44
72	Manchester, NH	47.92	68	111	50	73
73	Fargo, ND	47.92	27	97	89	76
74	Tucson, AZ	47.90	93	47	58	77
75	Tallahassee, FL	47.72	33	114	118	30
76	Baltimore, MD	47.69	94	32	105	62
77	Chula Vista, CA	47.56	52	87	25	124
78	Missoula, MT	47.51	78	140	75	43
79	Albuquerque, NM	47.31	140	50	68	51
80	Cincinnati, OH	47.27	143	44	61	65
81	West Valley City, UT	46.94	102	30	83	157
82	Houston, TX	46.76	116	36	51	120
83	Nashville, TN	46.49	92	40	96	79
84	Pembroke Pines, FL	46.32	37	85	88	158
85	Glendale, AZ	46.15	83	98	80	56
86	Oxnard, CA	46.07	107	88	74	100
87	Cedar Rapids, IA	46.06	14	145	69	123
88	Bridgeport, CT	45.96	90	110	76	86
89	Jacksonville, FL	45.83	130	74	79	64
90	Buffalo, NY	45.79	59	76	112	72
91	St. Petersburg, FL	45.77	84	80	95	71
92	Dallas, TX	45.53	134	35	72	115
93	Wilmington, DE	45.50	103	92	139	27
94	Warwick, RI	45.50	63	83	106	127
95	Aurora, IL	45.39	32	103	111	97
96	Des Moines, IA	45.15	38	118	84	117
97	Santa Ana, CA	44.66	105	58	103	90
98	New Haven, CT	44.61	60	116	135	47
99	Worcester, MA	44.47	110	99	85	82
100	Billings, MT	44.30	57	112	124	102
101	Riverside, CA	44.15	87	107	67	110
102	Milwaukee, WI	44.09	91	67	117	96
103	San Antonio, TX	44.01	97	71	107	91
104	Mesa, AZ	43.91	74	79	71	152
105	Modesto, CA	43.72	148	113	82	66
106	Greensboro, NC	43.55	104	135	81	74
107	Jersey City, NJ	43.54	80	45	141	111
108	Rapid City, SD	42.85	67	125	123	103
109	Columbia, SC	42.56	50	115	130	150
110	Anchorage, AK	42.32	155	117	125	37
111	New Orleans, LA	42.24	172	123	129	28
112	Henderson, NV	42.24	129	127	52	118
113	Knoxville, TN	42.22	127	119	119	61
114	Fresno, CA	41.84	137	48	104	134
115	Salem, OR	41.70	111	100	136	81
116	Springfield, MO	41.24	131	137	115	75
117	Fort Worth, TX	41.23	120	95	100	136
118	Columbus, OH	41.03	121	81	142	104
119	Kansas City, MO	40.93	112	91	143	99
120	Indianapolis, IN	40.62	169	93	110	88
121	Fontana, CA	40.55	118	139	99	133
122	Norfolk, VA	40.46	88	128	138	84
123	Cheyenne, WY	40.32	64	163	113	167
124	Ontario, CA	40.31	125	131	91	154
125	Little Rock, AR	40.28	69	159	126	80
126	Lexington-Fayette, KY	40.22	44	96	154	145
127	Newport News, VA	40.12	76	141	144	93
128	Louisville, KY	40.06	136	65	140	129
129	El Paso, TX	40.01	128	108	132	108
130	Nampa, ID	39.95	156	104	86	163
131	Moreno Valley, CA	39.72	106	146	121	114
132	Cleveland, OH	39.62	159	42	161	95
133	Port St. Lucie, FL	39.59	126	121	92	169
134	Charleston, WV	39.36	101	152	133	98
135	Arlington, TX	38.69	98	132	127	143
136	Irving, TX	38.10	149	122	109	149
137	Grand Prairie, TX	37.95	122	130	153	130
138	Huntsville, AL	37.92	113	153	150	112
139	Fort Wayne, IN	37.85	142	149	108	125
140	Las Cruces, NM	37.62	86	168	114	164
141	Garland, TX	37.30	153	120	128	141
142	Oklahoma City, OK	37.20	115	109	157	142
143	Tulsa, OK	37.08	108	143	147	128
144	Cape Coral, FL	37.01	123	160	120	159
145	Birmingham, AL	36.87	132	144	137	140
146	Hialeah, FL	36.79	124	62	158	166
147	Akron, OH	36.77	141	142	151	121
148	Chattanooga, TN	36.73	135	165	122	135
149	Bakersfield, CA	36.57	163	105	146	137
150	San Bernardino, CA	36.00	167	138	145	119
151	Stockton, CA	35.97	147	124	148	148
152	Winston-Salem, NC	35.42	139	169	93	147
153	Wichita, KS	35.28	152	147	134	144
154	Newark, NJ	35.02	164	89	162	153
155	Amarillo, TX	34.89	162	161	152	122
156	Fayetteville, NC	34.73	133	162	131	168
157	Lubbock, TX	34.45	157	167	116	139
158	Columbus, GA	34.32	138	157	166	94
159	Jackson, MS	33.78	99	164	149	171
160	Baton Rouge, LA	32.98	168	154	156	138
161	North Las Vegas, NV	32.83	173	156	164	105
162	Toledo, OH	32.48	145	136	163	161
163	Corpus Christi, TX	32.47	146	151	170	146
164	Mobile, AL	32.15	161	158	155	170
165	Detroit, MI	32.01	170	129	165	151
166	Fort Smith, AR	31.90	150	150	168	162
167	Augusta, GA	31.37	95	166	159	172
168	Huntington, WV	30.17	158	148	172	131
169	Montgomery, AL	29.78	160	173	160	155
170	Memphis, TN	29.64	166	155	169	160
171	Shreveport, LA	27.42	165	171	171	165
172	Gulfport, MS	24.82	171	172	167	174
173	Laredo, TX	24.06	151	170	174	156
174	Brownsville, TX	21.41	174	174	173	173

*1=Healthiest

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 impact will the Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase health-care venture have on the U.S. health-care market?
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 live a healthier lifestyle while on a budget?
What measures can local authorities undertake in order to improve local health-care systems?

Methodology

In order to identify the overall healthiest cities in the U.S., WalletHub compared 174 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across four key dimensions: 1) Health Care, 2) Food, 3) Fitness and 4) Green Space. Due to data limitations, the following cities were not included in the analysis: Dover, Delaware, Lewiston, Maine, Bismarck, North Dakota, South Burlington, Vermont, Juneau, Alaska, Pearl City, Hawaii, Columbia, Maryland and Casper, Wyoming. Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

We evaluated the four dimensions using 43 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 aged 19 to 64 years with health insurance coverage.
Youth Health-Insurance Coverage: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of youths aged 18 year 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 Aged 50–74 Years: Full Weight (~1.32 Points)
Share of Women & Men Aged 65 Years 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” Rank: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
Note: This metric refers to the city’s rank in the “Physical” section of the Gallup-Sharecare State of American Well-Being 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)
Intramural Leagues per Capita**: 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)

Green Space – Total Points: 25

Parkland Acres per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Quality of Parks: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures “parks spending per capita”, as a proxy for “parks quality.”
Hiking Trails per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Running Trails per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Walking Trails per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Walk Score: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Bike Score: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Physical-Activity Access: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of the population with adequate access to locations for engaging in physical activity.
City “Greenness”: Full Weight (~2.50 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 (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Best & Worst Cities for Recreation ranking.

Videos for News Use:

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected 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, IMLeagues, Gallup-Sharecare, Google Ads, The Trust for Public Land, Under Armour, Expatistan, Walk Score and WalletHub research.

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