Military Times compared 3,141 counties across the U.S. using data from County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, which provided county-level data, and America’s Health Rankings, which provided the state data. The overall state and county results were weighed equally and combined, and the counties with the 10 best results are ranked below.
- Physically and mentally unhealthy days show the number of such days per month measured in 2014, with the U.S. overall averaging 3.5 days.
- Food environment is an index from a low of zero to a high of 10 and indicates the availability of healthy foods, with 7.2 nationwide measured in 2013.
- Access to exercise is the percentage of people with access to exercise opportunities, based on data from 2010 and 2014. The nationwide average was 84 percent.
- Primary care doctors were measured in 2013, with a nationwide ratio of 1,320:1.
- Mental health providers were measured in 2015, with a nationwide ratio of 490:1.
- Insufficient sleep is a percentage of people reporting the problem in 2014, with a national median of 33 percent.
- Health care costs were measured in 2013, when the national median was $9,275.98.
1. Chittenden County, Vermont
Physically unhealthy days: 2.8
Mentally unhealthy days: 3.1
Food environment: 8
Access to exercise: 90%
Primary care doctors: 558:1
Mental health providers: 190:1
Insufficient sleep: 26%
Health care costs: $7,234
State rank: #2
2. Carver County, Minnesota
Physically unhealthy days: 2.3
Mentally unhealthy days: 2.4
Food environment: 9.3
Access to exercise: 95%
Primary care doctors: 1,086:1
Mental health providers: 839:1
Insufficient sleep: 27%
Health care costs: $7,504
State rank: #4
3. Washington County, Minnesota
Physically unhealthy days: 2.4
Mentally unhealthy days: 2.5
Food environment: 8.9
Access to exercise: 95%
Primary care doctors: 890:1
Mental health providers: 485:1
Insufficient sleep: 29%
Health care costs: $7,624
State rank: #4
4. Scott County, Minnesota
Physically unhealthy days: 2.3
Mentally unhealthy days: 2.6
Food environment: 9.2
Access to exercise: 95%
Primary care doctors: 1,694:1
Mental health providers: 1,136:1
Insufficient sleep: 25%
Health care costs: $8,231
State rank: #4
5. Olmsted County, Minnesota
Physically unhealthy days: 2.3
Mentally unhealthy days: 2.6
Food environment:8.8
Access to exercise: 96%
Primary care doctors: 423:1
Mental health providers: 327:1
Insufficient sleep: 29%
Health care costs: $6,659
State rank: #4
6. Morgan County, Utah
Physically unhealthy days: 3
Mentally unhealthy days: 2.9
Food environment: 8.7
Access to exercise: 58%
Primary care doctors: 1,130:1
Mental health providers: 10,608:1
Insufficient sleep: 28%
Health care costs: $7,045
State rank: #7
7. Douglas County, Colorado
Physically unhealthy days: 2.3
Mentally unhealthy days: 2.6
Food environment: 8.7
Access to exercise: 99%
Primary care doctors: 1,391:1
Mental health providers: 1,170:1
Insufficient sleep: 26%
Health care costs: $9,479
State rank: #8
8. Wright County, Minnesota
Physically unhealthy days: 2.4
Mentally unhealthy days: 2.6
Food environment: 9.1
Access to exercise: 81%
Primary care doctors: 2,294:1
Mental health providers: 977:1
Insufficient sleep: 28%
Health care costs: $8,177
State rank: #4
9. Dakota County, Minnesota
Physically unhealthy days 2.5
Mentally unhealthy days: 2.6
Food environment: 8.7
Access to exercise: 97%
Primary care doctors: 1,423:1
Mental health providers: 746:1
Insufficient sleep: 30%
Health care costs: $8,143
State rank: #4
10. Summit County, Utah
Physically unhealthy days: 2.6
Mentally unhealthy days: 2.7
Food environment: 8.1
Access to exercise: 86%
Primary care doctors: 1,013:1
Mental health providers: 602:1
Insufficient sleep: 25%
Health care costs: $8,470
State rank: #7
