The Healthiest County in Every State

March 20, 2019 by Thomas Frohlich

Large gaps in health persist not just across the country, but within every state. County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, in its 2019 annual report released March 19, demonstrates how health outcomes such as life span and behaviors such as smoking, obesity, and exercise vary widely across the country.

Positive health outcomes are often the result of healthy behaviors. Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise, abstaining from smoking and excessive drinking, and regular doctor visits — while by no means a guarantee — will greatly increase one’s chances for a long and healthy life.

These and other such features of well-being are closely linked to indirect faccantors. Proximity to quality schools and good job opportunities provide education and the financial means that often contribute to better health by allowing people to make better choices and providing the means to live a healthy lifestyle. Eating a healthy diet is much easier for people living in communities with access to grocery stores with affordable nutritious food. And access to parks and other places of exercise means staying active can be made a part of everyday routines.

Click here to see the healthiest county in every state.

To identify the healthiest county in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed county-level health data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program. In almost every state, even in those characterized by unhealthy habits and poor health outcomes, there is at least one county where residents are much more likely to be in good health than is typical nationwide.

1. Alabama: Shelby
> Smoking rate: 16.9% (state: 21.5%)
> Obesity rate: 32.9% (state: 35.1%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 22.3% (state: 28.2%)
> Median household income: $74,063

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2. Alaska: Juneau
> Smoking rate: 18.0% (state: 19.0%)
> Obesity rate: 28.8% (state: 30.4%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 14.7% (state: 18.8%)
> Median household income: $90,749

See all stories featuring: Alaska

3. Arizona: Greenlee
> Smoking rate: 15.3% (state: 14.7%)
> Obesity rate: 29.7% (state: 27.2%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 21.1% (state: 20.2%)
> Median household income: $56,298

See all stories featuring: Arizona

4. Arkansas: Benton
> Smoking rate: 17.6% (state: 23.6%)
> Obesity rate: 31.9% (state: 35.2%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 25.0% (state: 31.2%)
> Median household income: $61,271

See all stories featuring: Arkansas

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5. California: Marin
> Smoking rate: 9.7% (state: 11.0%)
> Obesity rate: 18.2% (state: 22.7%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 12.0% (state: 17.4%)
> Median household income: $104,703

See all stories featuring: California

6. Colorado: Douglas
> Smoking rate: 9.5% (state: 15.6%)
> Obesity rate: 18.6% (state: 21.0%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 9.6% (state: 14.0%)
> Median household income: $111,154

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7. Connecticut: Tolland
> Smoking rate: 12.3% (state: 13.3%)
> Obesity rate: 24.4% (state: 25.5%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 18.0% (state: 19.3%)
> Median household income: $81,312

See all stories featuring: Connecticut

8. Delaware: New Castle
> Smoking rate: 16.8% (state: 17.7%)
> Obesity rate: 28.8% (state: 30.6%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 23.2% (state: 25.4%)
> Median household income: $68,336

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9. Florida: St. Johns
> Smoking rate: 13.4% (state: 15.5%)
> Obesity rate: 22.8% (state: 26.5%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 19.5% (state: 24.7%)
> Median household income: $73,640

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10. Georgia: Oconee
> Smoking rate: 14.4% (state: 17.9%)
> Obesity rate: 28.2% (state: 30.3%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 23.4% (state: 24.3%)
> Median household income: $77,388

See all stories featuring: Georgia

11. Hawaii: Honolulu
> Smoking rate: 11.2% (state: 13.1%)
> Obesity rate: 23.0% (state: 23.1%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 20.2% (state: 19.8%)
> Median household income: $80,078

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12. Idaho: Ada
> Smoking rate: 11.8% (state: 14.5%)
> Obesity rate: 24.9% (state: 28.3%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 14.4% (state: 19.0%)
> Median household income: $60,151

See all stories featuring: Idaho

13. Illinois: DuPage
> Smoking rate: 12.5% (state: 15.8%)
> Obesity rate: 25.2% (state: 28.7%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 17.4% (state: 21.5%)
> Median household income: $84,442

See all stories featuring: Illinois

14. Indiana: Hamilton
> Smoking rate: 12.8% (state: 21.1%)
> Obesity rate: 26.1% (state: 32.8%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 14.0% (state: 25.1%)
> Median household income: $90,582

See all stories featuring: Indiana

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15. Iowa: Dallas
> Smoking rate: 12.8% (state: 16.7%)
> Obesity rate: 27.7% (state: 32.2%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 19.3% (state: 23.0%)
> Median household income: $82,719

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16. Kansas: Johnson
> Smoking rate: 12.0% (state: 17.2%)
> Obesity rate: 27.2% (state: 33.2%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 16.1% (state: 23.5%)
> Median household income: $81,121

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17. Kentucky: Oldham
> Smoking rate: 15.9% (state: 24.5%)
> Obesity rate: 24.7% (state: 34.2%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 20.8% (state: 27.4%)
> Median household income: $92,237

See all stories featuring: Kentucky

18. Louisiana: Cameron
> Smoking rate: 16.4% (state: 22.8%)
> Obesity rate: 36.0% (state: 35.3%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 32.3% (state: 28.5%)
> Median household income: $60,194

See all stories featuring: Louisiana

19. Maine: Cumberland
> Smoking rate: 12.8% (state: 19.8%)
> Obesity rate: 24.3% (state: 29.4%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 15.3% (state: 20.2%)
> Median household income: $65,702

See all stories featuring: Maine

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20. Maryland: Howard
> Smoking rate: 9.7% (state: 13.7%)
> Obesity rate: 24.4% (state: 30.3%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 15.6% (state: 21.0%)
> Median household income: $115,576

See all stories featuring: Maryland

21. Massachusetts: Middlesex
> Smoking rate: 11.3% (state: 13.6%)
> Obesity rate: 22.5% (state: 24.4%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 18.0% (state: 19.9%)
> Median household income: $92,878

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22. Michigan: Livingston
> Smoking rate: 15.3% (state: 20.4%)
> Obesity rate: 26.8% (state: 31.7%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 18.3% (state: 22.3%)
> Median household income: $78,430

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23. Minnesota: Carver
> Smoking rate: 11.6% (state: 15.2%)
> Obesity rate: 23.5% (state: 27.6%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 14.3% (state: 18.5%)
> Median household income: $93,095

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24. Mississippi: Madison
> Smoking rate: 15.1% (state: 22.7%)
> Obesity rate: 30.8% (state: 36.5%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 23.6% (state: 31.3%)
> Median household income: $68,600

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25. Missouri: St. Charles
> Smoking rate: 16.8% (state: 22.1%)
> Obesity rate: 28.3% (state: 32.2%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 23.7% (state: 25.0%)
> Median household income: $78,380

See all stories featuring: Missouri

26. Montana: Gallatin
> Smoking rate: 14.6% (state: 18.5%)
> Obesity rate: 16.1% (state: 25.4%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 11.6% (state: 19.6%)
> Median household income: $59,397

See all stories featuring: Montana

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27. Nebraska: Cedar
> Smoking rate: 12.6% (state: 17.0%)
> Obesity rate: 33.7% (state: 31.2%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 25.8% (state: 22.0%)
> Median household income: $57,208

See all stories featuring: Nebraska

28. Nevada: Douglas
> Smoking rate: 13.6% (state: 16.5%)
> Obesity rate: 25.3% (state: 26.5%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 20.0% (state: 21.7%)
> Median household income: $61,176

See all stories featuring: Nevada

29. New Hampshire: Grafton
> Smoking rate: 14.4% (state: 18.0%)
> Obesity rate: 23.2% (state: 28.0%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 19.4% (state: 20.0%)
> Median household income: $61,036

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30. New Jersey: Hunterdon
> Smoking rate: 13.1% (state: 14.0%)
> Obesity rate: 20.8% (state: 26.2%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 17.9% (state: 23.6%)
> Median household income: $110,969

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31. New Mexico: Los Alamos
> Smoking rate: 10.0% (state: 16.6%)
> Obesity rate: 21.3% (state: 25.6%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 12.6% (state: 18.2%)
> Median household income: $110,190

See all stories featuring: New Mexico

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32. New York: Nassau
> Smoking rate: 10.7% (state: 14.2%)
> Obesity rate: 23.2% (state: 25.7%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 22.8% (state: 24.5%)
> Median household income: $105,744

See all stories featuring: New York

33. North Carolina: Orange
> Smoking rate: 14.2% (state: 17.9%)
> Obesity rate: 24.8% (state: 30.2%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 19.5% (state: 23.0%)
> Median household income: $65,522

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34. North Dakota: Wells
> Smoking rate: 14.5% (state: 19.8%)
> Obesity rate: 31.5% (state: 32.2%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 28.1% (state: 21.6%)
> Median household income: $54,464

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35. Ohio: Delaware
> Smoking rate: 13.6% (state: 22.5%)
> Obesity rate: 26.8% (state: 31.8%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 17.4% (state: 24.6%)
> Median household income: $100,229

See all stories featuring: Ohio

36. Oklahoma: Canadian
> Smoking rate: 14.4% (state: 19.6%)
> Obesity rate: 33.8% (state: 33.3%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 26.6% (state: 28.4%)
> Median household income: $69,220

See all stories featuring: Oklahoma

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37. Oregon: Benton
> Smoking rate: 14.0% (state: 16.2%)
> Obesity rate: 26.5% (state: 28.3%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 11.5% (state: 15.2%)
> Median household income: $54,682

See all stories featuring: Oregon

38. Pennsylvania: Montgomery
> Smoking rate: 13.4% (state: 18.0%)
> Obesity rate: 25.8% (state: 29.9%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 17.1% (state: 22.4%)
> Median household income: $84,791

See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania

39. Rhode Island: Bristol
> Smoking rate: 12.5% (state: 14.4%)
> Obesity rate: 23.5% (state: 27.0%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 18.6% (state: 23.4%)
> Median household income: $74,630

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40. South Carolina: Beaufort
> Smoking rate: 12.5% (state: 20.0%)
> Obesity rate: 23.1% (state: 32.4%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 16.1% (state: 24.7%)
> Median household income: $60,603

See all stories featuring: South Carolina

41. South Dakota: Lincoln
> Smoking rate: 13.7% (state: 18.1%)
> Obesity rate: 29.6% (state: 31.1%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 18.4% (state: 19.9%)
> Median household income: $81,849

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42. Tennessee: Williamson
> Smoking rate: 15.2% (state: 22.1%)
> Obesity rate: 25.2% (state: 33.0%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 19.7% (state: 26.7%)
> Median household income: $103,543

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43. Texas: Collin
> Smoking rate: 12.1% (state: 14.3%)
> Obesity rate: 26.9% (state: 29.0%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 18.9% (state: 22.8%)
> Median household income: $90,124

See all stories featuring: Texas

44. Utah: Morgan
> Smoking rate: 8.5% (state: 8.8%)
> Obesity rate: 21.0% (state: 25.9%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 13.2% (state: 16.1%)
> Median household income: $86,071

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45. Vermont: Addison
> Smoking rate: 13.3% (state: 17.0%)
> Obesity rate: 24.2% (state: 25.5%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 18.4% (state: 18.6%)
> Median household income: $61,875

See all stories featuring: Vermont

46. Virginia: Arlington
> Smoking rate: 12.3% (state: 15.3%)
> Obesity rate: 19.6% (state: 28.8%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 15.1% (state: 21.6%)
> Median household income: $112,138

See all stories featuring: Virginia

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47. Washington: King
> Smoking rate: 9.4% (state: 13.9%)
> Obesity rate: 22.3% (state: 27.6%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 13.0% (state: 16.4%)
> Median household income: $83,571

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48. West Virginia: Jefferson
> Smoking rate: 18.8% (state: 24.8%)
> Obesity rate: 34.5% (state: 36.3%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 21.9% (state: 27.8%)
> Median household income: $72,526

See all stories featuring: West Virginia

49. Wisconsin: Ozaukee
> Smoking rate: 12.4% (state: 17.1%)
> Obesity rate: 23.9% (state: 31.1%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 15.8% (state: 19.5%)
> Median household income: $80,526

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50. Wyoming: Teton
> Smoking rate: 14.1% (state: 18.9%)
> Obesity rate: 13.6% (state: 28.5%)
> Adults who do not exercise regularly: 12.0% (state: 23.1%)
> Median household income: $80,049

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