CA Has 3 Of The 10 Healthiest Counties In The U.S., New Study Says

CALIFORNIA— A new list of the healthiest communities in the United States has three California counties in the top 10. In fact, Marin County, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, was the healthiest county with a life expectancy of 85, a lower-than-average adult obesity rate, and only 5 percent of people without health insurance.

The study, published by MarketWatch, uses 14 metrics as indicators of county health — including data on food insecurity, healthcare access, life expectancy, health insurance coverage, and water and air quality. MarketWatch ranked 576 U.S. counties by giving each a rating out of 100, based on their performance across those metrics.

In addition to Marin County, San Francisco and San Mateo counties also placed in the top 10.

Western states make up the majority of best counties on the list. Colorado, Hawaii and Montana also had counties in the top 10.

Overall, the study authors found that the healthiest counties are generally richer areas, with lower rates of food insecurity and more people having reliable, affordable access to health insurance coverage.

Residents in the unhealthiest counties have fewer grocery stores accessible and are more likely to experience food insecurity, while also having more limited access to primary care, the study authors said.

"Many of the top healthiest counties have nature parks, backing up scientific studies that suggest the positive effects green space and exercise opportunities have on our health," MarketWatch wrote. "The healthiest counties are also full of high-income earners."

The median income in Marin County is $136,214, which is well above the U.S. median income of roughly $74,580.

Harris County, Texas, where Houston is located, was listed as the unhealthiest county in the analysis: More than 20 percent of the population there is uninsured, and because the county "has the most toxic chemical releases and the sixth-worst median air quality of any county in the U.S.," authors said.

Not all Golden State counties were on the list, just 37 of California's 58 counties are ranked. In total, the U.S. has more than 3,000 counties.

Here is the full list of how California ranked among 576 counties in the study of healthiest and unhealthiest in the U.S., as well as each county's score out of 100:

• No. 1: Marin County (100.0)
• No. 3: San Francisco County (98.6)
• No. 8: San Mateo County (95.5)
• No. 15: Santa Clara County (94.2)
• No. 21. Santa Cruz County (92.6)
• No. 22: Sonoma County (92.6)
• No. 31: Alameda County (91.0)
• No. 36: Orange County (90.6)
• No. 38: Placer County (90.6)
• No. 51: Yolo County (89.5)
• No. 60: San Luis Obispo County (88.7)
• No. 65: Contra Costa County (88.5)
• No. 73: Santa Barbara County (88.1)
• No. 74: El Dorado County (88.0)
• No. 79: Nevada County (87.6)
• No. 95: San Diego County (86.7)
• No. 96: Humboldt County (86.6)
• No. 102: Sacramento County (86.3)
• No. 105: Solano County (86.1)
• No. 108: Ventura County (85.9)
• No. 167: Monterey County (83.1)
• No. 187: Mendocino County (82.5)
• No. 189: San Joaquin County (82.4)
• No. 204: San Benito County (81.9)
• No. 223: Stanislaus County (81.4)
• No. 242: Los Angeles County (80.6)
• No. 248: Sutter County (80.3)
• No. 255: Shasta County (80.1)
• No. 268: Butte County (79.7)
• No. 288: Fresno County (79.1)
• No. 323: Kings County (77.8)
• No. 332: Kern County (77.1)
• No. 356: Tehama County (71.7)
• No. 416: Tulare County (74.9)
• No. 473: Riverside County (72.5)
• No. 481: San Bernardino County (71.9)
• No. 493: Imperial County (71.3)

The full study is available here.

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