Rankings are Out: How Healthy is Your County?
In one of the most thorough surveys available, Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin have painstakingly ranked every county in every state so you know how healthy your area is. They evaluated both health outcomes (life expectancy and quality of life) and health factors (things that affect health, like healthy behaviors, healthcare, social and economic factors, and the physical environment).
Take a look at the map, select your county, and everything you ever wanted to know about the area you live is at your fingertips. What percentage of the population is in poor health compared to target values? What’s the smoking, obesity, STD, and uninsured rate? Where does your county rank versus the rest of the state?
There aren’t any real surprises in the rankings. Small, affluent counties tend to be the healthiest. Large, rural areas with limited social services tend to be the least healthy. But it’s always fun to compare. Happily, where I live is in the top 40% of the state. But we’ve got a long way to go, especially given 21% of our population is uninsured.
Get your county’s rankings here.
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[...] though, was the confirmation of a trend exposed in a recent national survey of county health. Again, among developed nations, only in America does income determine your health. [...]