How Santa Clara Co. Ranks In Health And How Long You Should Live

CAMPBELL, CA -- Santa Clara County is one of the healthiest counties in California. That’s according to County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, which published its annual report Tuesday morning. The rankings represent a health snapshot of nearly every county in America. The data shows that where you live plays a significant role in how well you live. And how long.

Residents in Santa Clara County can expect to live 81.5 years, according to the report. The national average is 79.1 years.

Here are the complete rankings for Santa Clara County, out of 58 counties statewide.

• Overall rank: 3
• Length of life: 81.5
• Quality of life: 4
• Health factors: 4
• Health behaviors: 1
• Clinical care: 6
• Social and economic factors: 4
• Physical environment: 35

County Health Rankings is a program collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute. The rankings look at a variety of measures that impact a community’s health, including high school graduation rates and access to healthy foods. Rates for smoking, obesity and teen births are also incorporated.

This year, the program looked closely at the effect housing costs have on a person’s health. The researchers found that 11 percent of households nationwide spend more than half their income on housing. That means people often don’t have the money for high-quality food or access to health care. It can also mean having trouble securing transportation to get to work or school.

The housing cost burden, which is “substantially higher” among renters than owners, is closely tied to things like high rates of poverty, food insecurity and self-rated poor health.

“We know there’s a severe housing cost burden that is a national issue,” Justin Rivas, a network strategist with County Health Rankings, told Patch. “When families spend more than 50 percent of their income on their housing, whether it’s rent or mortgage, it leaves less money and opportunities to pursue health.”