The Healthiest and Unhealthiest Cities in America — See Where Yours Ranks

Truth be told, where you live matters.

Your zip code affects everything from your morning commute to the weather, but did you know it can also be an indicator of your life expectancy? Where you live can directly affect your diet, activity level, and access to high-quality medical care and health-promoting green spaces.

WalletHub Researchers evaluated 182 of the nation’s most populous cities across dozens of health-related metrics to determine where people in the United States are living the healthiest lifestyles and where they are least fit.

Let’s tour the cities that make living your best life easy, and the ones where life is an uphill battle.

USA Fitness

The overall health of a city is shaped by several important factors. Health care plays a key role, with important considerations such as premature death rates, access to mental health services, and overall health care quality. Food is another crucial element, which raises questions like: How many healthy restaurants are available per person? Do adults consume enough fruits and vegetables? Fitness is also important, including the number of gyms and level of physical activity. Finally, the green space. Are there parks that are easily accessible? Is the city walkable or bikeable?

Together, these factors contribute to the overall health score of major American cities. Local areas that provide widespread access to healthcare, nutritious foods, fitness opportunities, and abundant green spaces provide residents with a healthier environment.

The healthiest cities in America

Enter: the fitness capitals. Cities that not only encourage healthy choices, but practically make them for you.

San Francisco, California: San Francisco topped the list, scoring particularly high for healthy food options and access to green space, as it has one of the lowest obesity rates in the country.

Honolulu, Hawaii: Say Aloha to the second healthiest city in America, Honolulu. This tropical destination is all about outdoor activities, fresh produce, and a lifestyle that balances action with the sunny qualities of island life.

Seattle, Washington: Emerald City residents benefit from abundant parks and a variety of ways to stay active in and around the city. In other words, rain doesn’t stop Seattleites from prioritizing wellness!

(Salt Lake City, Utah).: This mountain-side town ranks high on the fitness and green space scales, making it easy to hike, bike and get some fresh air, and the views aren’t too bad either. It’s hard to completely avoid fitness when you live in a place full of outdoor activities and beautiful backdrops.

San Diego, California: The second California city on the list, with its sunny mood and abundance of outdoor activities, is San Diego. This region combines healthy weather with healthy living to make up the five healthiest places to live in the United States

The healthiest cities in America

On the other end of the spectrum, some cities are miles behind, not necessarily because their residents are lazy, but often because access to healthy food, medical care, parks, and fitness facilities is limited.

Brownsville, Texas: Brownsville ranked last overall, with the lowest scores on all measures. Low performance in accessing health care, high rates of physical inactivity, and low indicators of healthy eating contributed to its placement at the bottom of the list.

Gulfport, Mississippi: Ranked second on the list, Gulfport ranked in both the fitness and food categories. Metrics, including access to entertainment and the number of adults practicing healthy behaviors, were factored into its unfortunate rating.

Shreveport, Louisiana: Shreveport’s overall ranking was impacted by low scores across the board. This Southern city received low scores due to a limited number of physically active adults and scarce recreational opportunities, among other factors.

Columbus, Georgia: This city is ranked among the most unhealthy cities in the United States due largely to poor health care options and limited access to fitness and green spaces.

Laredo, Texas: The second Lone Star city in the bottom five, Laredo, performs well on cost-related metrics, but its overall health score is down due to less impressive results in food and fitness.

You are where you live

Ultimately, this list reminds us that health isn’t just about willpower and mental health; It’s about the environment, fitness opportunities and infrastructure. When cities focus on walkable streets, green spaces, nutritious food options, and affordable health care, they enable residents to thrive and feel their best.

It turns out, your address matters as much as your diet when it comes to your overall health.