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Virginia has 34 of the 500 healthiest communities in the nation, according to rankings released March 26 by U.S. News & World Report and the Aetna Foundation.
Three of the top 10 are in Northern Virginia, with Falls Church at the top of the list, the city of Fairfax at No. 2 and Loudoun County at No 10. In metro Richmond, Hanover County comes in at No. 52, Powhatan County at No. 95, Chesterfield at No. 96, New Kent County at No. 142, Goochland County at No. 165 and Henrico County at No. 324. The commonwealth’s rankings include counties and independent cities.
Scores also are listed for counties and communities that did not make the Top 500.
The City of Richmond had an overall score of 46, while Hanover County, the highest-ranking community in the metro region, had an overall score of 82.1. Falls Church, which topped the list, had an overall score of 100. Overall scores for for other Richmond regional cities include 61.3 for Colonial Heights, 43.4 for Hopewell and 35.3 for Petersburg.
The rankings are based on an evaluation of factors ranging from income to health equity. Here’s a list of factors by weight of importance: population health, equity, education, economy, housing, food and nutrition, environment, public safety, community vitality, and infrastructure.
The national study follows a report released March 21 by Virginia Commonwealth University's Center on Society and Health, titled “Why Are Death Rates Rising in Virginia’s White Population?” The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s annual county health rankings report was released earlier in March. Taken together, the reports offer an abundance of data on the social factors that affect personal health.
Derek Chapman, associate director for research at the Center on Society and Health, notes that community health problems require broad strategies. For instance, in dealing with the opioid epidemic, there has been some talk addressing over-prescribing of opioids and treatment of addicts, but the web of factors that may lead addicts to drug use, such as a lack of economic opportunities, a lack of education, also need to be rectified. Until we address the broader social determinants driving addiction in the first place, we aren't going to be successful in stemming the epidemic, he says.
"It's much more than just access to health care," Chapman says.
Personal behavior and health are also affected by where you live and social status. Obesity is a factor of diet and exercise, but, as Chapman notes, individuals may not be able to afford healthy food, or have access to larger stores that carry healthier choices. Exercise opportunities also may be limited in communities without sidewalks or in areas with high rates of crime.
The Center on Society and Health also notes that there are disparities even in top-ranking areas such as Northern Virginia. They note that someone living in one neighborhood may have a life expectancy of 89 years, while someone living just a few miles away may have a life expectancy of 71 years.
COMMUNITY RANKINGS
Virginia communities and counties by rank on the U.S. News & World Report Healthiest Communities list.
2. Fairfax City
10. Loudoun County
21. Fairfax County
27. Poquoson County
31. Arlington
99. Roanoke County
110. Albemarle County
112. York County
115. Stafford County
119. Rappahannock County
129. Fauquier County
136. Botetourt County
151. Alexandria
191. King George County
208. Prince William County
237. Salem
238. James City County
285. Montgomery County
300. Bedford County
315. Frederick County
320. Fluvanna County
340. Greene County
390. Gloucester County
413. Augusta County
444. Clarke County
464. Spotsylvania County
497. Rockingham County
STATE RANKINGS
Here are rankings by state, listed from highest number of healthy communities to lowest:
1. Iowa (51)
2. Minnesota (36)
3. Virginia (34)
4. Wisconsin (32)
5. Colorado (29)
6. Nebraska (21)
7. Wyoming (19)
8. New Jersey (16)
8. New York (16)
9. California (14)
9. Illinois (14)
9. Montana (14)
10. Ohio (13)
11. North Dakota (12)
11. South Dakota (12)
11. Washington (12)
12. Texas (11)
12. Utah (11)
13. Connecticut (10)
13. New Jersey (10)
13. Massachusetts (10)
13. Michigan (10)
13. Vermont (10)
14. Idaho (9)
14. Indiana (9)
14. Kansas (9)
14. Maine (9)
14. Maryland (9)
14. New Hampshire (9)
15. Georgia (8)
16. Pennsylvania (7)
17. Missouri (5)
17. Oregon (5)
17. North Carolina (5)
18. Rhode Island (4)
19. Florida (3)
19. Hawaii (3)
19. Nevada (3)
20. Kentucky (2)
20. New Mexico (2)
21. Alabama (1)
21. Alaska (1)
21. West Virginia (1)
21. Tennessee (1)
22. Arkansas (0)
22. Delaware (0)
22. South Carolina (0)
22. Louisiana (0)
22. Mississippi (0)
22. Oklahoma (0)
