25 Healthiest Cities in America, and 25 Cities Where Health Goes Out the Window

The number of parks in your city or how close you are to healthy restaurants may affect your personal health. Certain things you may not even consider, like the number of hospital beds, can determine the overall health of your city too. 

America is known for being a diverse country, with countless differences as one travels from city to city. When it comes to health, things are just as different depending on which part of the country you live in. 

WalletHub compiled data showing which cities in the U.S. rank as the healthiest and unhealthiest. Find out if your city made the (hopefully positive) cut.

Finding the Healthiest Cities

To determine the healthiest and least healthy cities in America, WalletHub examined data connected to health care, food, fitness, parks, and workout areas in 182 cities. The cost of medical visits and the number of hiking trails per city are examples of key factors WalletHub used to rank each city. 

WalletHub based their rankings on a total score, with higher scores indicating better health. For context, we also included the health care, food, fitness, and green space ranking for each city. For these categories, lower numbers correspond with healthier cities, with “1” being the best city for that category and “182” being the worst.

The following cities are the healthiest in America, starting with the most healthy.

Healthy California

One reason California cities were repeatedly higher on WalletHub’s healthy cities list is because of California’s national parks, which inspire outdoor activity. The Golden State is home to nine national parks, more than any other state. Alaska comes in second place with eight national parks. 

Which Cities Rank Lowest

In order to determine the 25 least healthy cities, WalletHub took the same data used to create the healthiest cities list. They measured items like the number of healthy restaurants and even the amount of intramural leagues. 

Without further ado, these are the least healthy cities in America.

The Texas Conundrum

Several Texas cities sit in the bottom 25, with Brownsville and Laredo ranking in the top three unhealthiest cities. It’s important to take this data with a grain of salt, though. In 2022, fitness advice platform BarBend ranked the Lone Star State at number 31 for health. Utah ranked the healthiest on that list. 

Furthermore, not all of Texas is unhealthy in WalletHub’s eyes, as Austin came in at number 13. Austin residents reportedly engage in all types of physical activity, making it the eighth-most physically active city in the U.S. 

Top City’s Health Trends

San Francisco topped the list of the healthiest American cities. It’s also one of the most vegetarian and vegan-friendly cities in the U.S. Additionally, much of its food is sourced organically, promoting a healthier diet.   

San Francisco has many public parks and biking paths. In 2010, the city installed upwards of 20 miles of bike lanes and areas to park bikes, making it easier for San Francisco residents to get some healthy biking exercise. 

High Price for Health

Residents of the healthiest cities in the U.S. might end up paying more to live in those cities compared to others. For example, San Diego, California, is the fourth-healthiest city, but it also ranks as the most expensive place to live in the U.S. 

The price of healthier foods might be too high for some Americans as well. In a national survey from 2023, almost half of Americans said the reason they’re unable to have a healthier diet is because healthy food is too expensive. In the same survey, 45% of Americans admitted they purchased fast food at least once a week. 

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