A new report ranks the healthiest and unhealthiest cities in the US. Check the full list

According to a WalletHub analysis, there is inequality in the living standards of American cities when it comes to the health and wellness of their citizens. Some places go above and beyond to assist residents, such as providing access to nutritional foods or working to keep healthcare costs low, while others leave residents to fend for themselves.

However, as you might expect, cities that invest in their communities through green areas, leisure facilities, and other amenities have healthier and happier residents.

List of healthiest cities in the United States

After comparing 182 of the country’s most-populated cities across 41 important health indicators, WalletHub discovered that the West Coast is doing rather well: Western states are home to eight of the top 14 healthiest regions to live in the United States, with four of them ranking as top four.

1. San Francisco

San Francisco got the highest overall score as it has the lowest percentage of obese individuals in the United States– 19% of the population, according to WalletHub. It also boasts the second-lowest percentage of residents who consume fewer than one serving of fruits or vegetables daily. That, combined with its walkability, park scene, and accessibility to healthy food options makes it the healthiest city in the United States.

2. Honolulu

Next up is Honolulu, which has a No. 2 ranking due to its strong average mental health scores and insurance coverage rates, with more than 94% of adults and 98% of children having health insurance, according to WalletHub. It also has a good availability of nutritious food and the highest number of hiking paths per capita.

3. Seattle

Seattle is in third place, thanks to its high level of physical activity. According to WalletHub, 86% of its people were physically active in the previous month, with many taking use of the well-maintained parks and recreation facilities. Seattle residents also search for “healthy dinner ideas” and “health food stores” more than other Americans, which the research says indicates they are “interested in maintaining a good diet.”

Other cities in the top ten include San Diego at No. 4, Washington, D.C., Portland, Denver, Salt Lake City, Scottsdale, and Irvine.

10 healthiest cities in the US

• San Francisco
• Honolulu
• Seattle
• San Diego
• Washington, D.C
• Portland
• Denver
• Salt Lake City
• Scottsdale
• Irvine.

List of unhealthiest cities in the United States

In terms of the unhealthiest cities in the United States, WalletHub’s bottom five were Shreveport, Louisiana at No. 178; Columbus, Georgia at No. 179;  followed by Laredo, Texas; Gulfport, Mississippi; and Brownsville, Texas at No. 182.

However, both Laredo and Brownsville made WalletHub’s list of the lowest average expenses of medical visits, with Laredo ranking first and Brownsville ranking third. Juneau, Alaska, had the highest average cost of a medical visit, followed by Wisconsin and Washington.

• 178. Shreveport, Louisiana
• 179. Columbus, Georgia
• 180. Laredo, Texas
• 181. Gulfport, Mississippi;
• 182. Brownsville, Texas

What were the major parameters evaluated for the report

WalletHub analyzed four major parameters for the report: health care, food, fitness, and green space. However, demographics such as finance and education were left out of the picture.

In a study published in the AMA Journal of Ethics, researchers noted that poverty is frequently related to bad health. It states that economically disadvantaged groups, whether due to income level, education, or employment status, were at a higher risk of mortality and certain diseases.

There are also social determinants of health. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine in 2022, the social circumstances in which we are born and raised influence our health.

Healthiest cities in the US- Full list