What Makes a Healthy Community?
A review of data on more than 3,000 counties shows that many social and physical factors – including low obesity, low smoking rates, strong pre-K education, and access to healthy foods and recreational spaces – contribute to the health of a community. Healthiest Communities, a platform built in collaboration with the Aetna Foundation and launching in March 2018, will examine all this and more.
What Goes Into the Rankings?
Healthiest Communities will examine community health, vitality, education, environment, infrastructure, economic factors, access to healthy foods, public safety and other aspects of community life. Below are just a few of the many metrics that will be utilized to determine the health of communities in the U.S. To learn more, visit our FAQ.
Primary Care Physicians
Urban communities with stronger economies have the most primary care physicians per 100,000 people, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
54.6
weaker, economy,
urban
47.8
stronger, economy, rural
73.3
stronger, economy, urban
39.6
weaker, economy, rural 54.6
weaker economy, urban
47.8
stronger economy, rural
73.3
stronger economy, urban 39.6
weaker economy, rural Obesity Rates
Urban communities with weaker economies have the greatest share of the adult population that is currently obese, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Life Expectancy
Urban communities with stronger economies have the longest average life expectancy at birth (in years), according to data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
Health Insurance Coverage
Rural communities with weaker economies have the smallest share of the population that is covered by health insurance, according to U.S. Census and American Community Survey data.
89.3%
stronger economy, urban87.3%
stronger economy, rural85.9%
weaker economy, urban83.7%
weaker economy, rural
