When it comes to determining the overall health of a population, it can get a bit complicated. It’s not simply a matter of looking at the individuals in the group, but rather looking at the overall structures that support health within the community. In order to see which areas in Virginia provide the best support for healthy lifestyles, we’ve turned to County Health Rankings, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program that helps to map out health and wellness in communities across the country.

Using data from 2015, County Health Rankings has analyzed the following health factors to create overall health rankings:

  • Clinical Care (access to mental and physical health facilities)
  • Health Behaviors (smoking, physical activity, obesity, etc.)
  • Social and Economic Factors (education levels, poverty levels, crime rates, etc.)
  • Physical Environment (air and water quality, quality housing, commute times, etc.)

 

For the healthiest cities and counties in Virginia, this is what we found…

  1. Arlington County

Rudi Riet / flickr While technically a county, Arlington functions much like a city and includes neighborhoods like Rosslyn, Courthouse, Ballston and Crystal City. For healthy behaviors, like not smoking, low obesity rates and high levels of activity, Arlington comes in at #1. Likewise, Arlington takes the top spot for physical environment. Impressive 11th and 5th place rankings for clinical care and social and economic factors respectively, clinch the #1 spot for healthy cities in Virginia.

  1. City of Falls Church

City of Falls Church Government / Facebook This small city in Northern Virginia earns the #1 spot for clinical care in the state. High levels of education and low poverty rates also make Falls Church one of the top-ranked city in Virginia for health factors. Slightly lower rankings for air and water quality and health factors like drinking and obesity drop the city in the overall rankings, but there’s no doubt, Falls Church is still an exceptional place to live.

  1. Loudon County (including Hamilton, Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville, Round Hill, Sterling, Ashburn and others)

Loudoun County Government / Facebook Thanks to immense growth and development in the past few decades, this once rural county in northwest Virginia ranks high for healthy living. Low rates for smoking, excessive drinking and obesity are complemented with high rates of activity, including events like “Bike to Work” days. Likewise, Loudoun actually comes in #2 for social and economic factors. While Loudon drops to #76 in physical environment (air and water quality, etc), overall access to healthy living makes Loudoun one of the healthiest areas in the state.

  1. York County (includes Dare, Grafton, Lackey, Lightfoot, Seaford, Tabb, Yorktown and others)

Mobilus in Mobili / flickr With the 4th highest ranking in Virginia for health, York shows high scores across the board. In addition to high scoring social and economic factors, this county in eastern Virginia also provides high quality healthcare. Likewise, York takes the #4 spot for physical environment and #6 for healthy behaviors. Overall, the residents of York enjoy an exceptionally healthy lifestyle supported by many positive social and community structures.

  1. Fairfax County (includes areas like McLean, Herndon, Reston, Tyson’s Corner, Great Falls and others)

Fairfax County Government / Facebook Fairfax County has long been recognized for its social and economic factors like education, low poverty and low unemployment. But, Fairfax residents also display low rates of smoking and obesity, as well as very active lifestyles. While the numbers aren’t as high for environmental factors, such as air quality, or clinical care, Fairfax still comes in strong at #5.

  1. James City County (includes Jamestown, Croaker, Toano, Kingspoint and others)

Virginia Department of Transportation / flickr As York’s neighbor, James City County shares many of the same factors that make York such a healthy place. In particular, James City offers the 2nd highest ranked clinical care in the state, as well as high ranking for healthy behaviors. While James City only ranks 20th and 8th in social/economic factors and physical environment, James City’s overall numbers make it one of the healthiest places in Virginia.

  1. Hanover County (includes Ashland, Atlee, Elmont, Doswell, Mechanicsville, Montpelier, Beaverdam and others)

Hanover County Parks and Recreation / flickr Located just north of Richmond, Hanover County offers a unique combination of urban and rural advantages. With access to larger cities like Richmond, Hanover residents enjoy a 7th place ranking for clinical care and 8th for social and economic factors. Physical environment factors are a bit lower than some of the higher ranking areas. Smoking and obesity are also a bit higher here, but still impressively low compared to the rest of the country. Besides, you’ve got to love an area that holds events like the Papa John’s 4k Pizza Run shown here.

  1. Albemarle County (includes Scottsville, Barboursville, Crozet, Earlysville, Free Union, Keswick and others)

Bob Mical / flickr Albemarle County includes many small communities, with Scottsville as the only incorporated town and the county seat. Located in central Virginia, Albemarle offers impressive access to clinical care, coming in 4th in the state. Healthy behaviors are also in evidence here, with moderate smoking and obesity rates, as well as high levels of physical activity. Physical environment and social and economic factors bring Albemarle’s overall rank down, but remain strong enough to keep it in the Top 10.

  1. City of Alexandria

smilla4 / flickr With a population of more than 150,000, the city of Alexandria, just south of Washington, D.C., has continued to rise in the health rankings. In 2008, Alexandria was officially named an “eco-city,” and today, Alexandria ranks 5th for positive health behaviors, including high activity levels and low smoking and obesity rates. Even with lower scores for clinical care and social and economic factors, Alexandria is a top-performer for health.

  1. City of Poquoson

Bill Dickinson / flickr Poquoson is an independent city on the Virginia Peninsula and serves as part of the larger Hampton Roads area. While often, Poquoson is included as part of York County for statistical purposes, County Health Rankings looks at Poquoson independently. What they found is that Poquoson offers lower numbers for healthy behaviors and physical environment (25th and 15th respectively), but strong numbers for clinical care and a #3 ranking for social and economic factors. The result is a strong top 10 finish for this small coastal city.

While these cities and counties represent the top 10 healthiest places in Virginia, it’s important to note that there are many areas in Virginia that provide a healthy lifestyle.

Rudi Riet / flickr

While technically a county, Arlington functions much like a city and includes neighborhoods like Rosslyn, Courthouse, Ballston and Crystal City. For healthy behaviors, like not smoking, low obesity rates and high levels of activity, Arlington comes in at #1. Likewise, Arlington takes the top spot for physical environment. Impressive 11th and 5th place rankings for clinical care and social and economic factors respectively, clinch the #1 spot for healthy cities in Virginia.

City of Falls Church Government / Facebook

This small city in Northern Virginia earns the #1 spot for clinical care in the state. High levels of education and low poverty rates also make Falls Church one of the top-ranked city in Virginia for health factors. Slightly lower rankings for air and water quality and health factors like drinking and obesity drop the city in the overall rankings, but there’s no doubt, Falls Church is still an exceptional place to live.

Loudoun County Government / Facebook

Thanks to immense growth and development in the past few decades, this once rural county in northwest Virginia ranks high for healthy living. Low rates for smoking, excessive drinking and obesity are complemented with high rates of activity, including events like “Bike to Work” days. Likewise, Loudoun actually comes in #2 for social and economic factors. While Loudon drops to #76 in physical environment (air and water quality, etc), overall access to healthy living makes Loudoun one of the healthiest areas in the state.

Mobilus in Mobili / flickr

With the 4th highest ranking in Virginia for health, York shows high scores across the board. In addition to high scoring social and economic factors, this county in eastern Virginia also provides high quality healthcare. Likewise, York takes the #4 spot for physical environment and #6 for healthy behaviors. Overall, the residents of York enjoy an exceptionally healthy lifestyle supported by many positive social and community structures.

Fairfax County Government / Facebook

Fairfax County has long been recognized for its social and economic factors like education, low poverty and low unemployment. But, Fairfax residents also display low rates of smoking and obesity, as well as very active lifestyles. While the numbers aren’t as high for environmental factors, such as air quality, or clinical care, Fairfax still comes in strong at #5.

Virginia Department of Transportation / flickr

As York’s neighbor, James City County shares many of the same factors that make York such a healthy place. In particular, James City offers the 2nd highest ranked clinical care in the state, as well as high ranking for healthy behaviors. While James City only ranks 20th and 8th in social/economic factors and physical environment, James City’s overall numbers make it one of the healthiest places in Virginia.

Hanover County Parks and Recreation / flickr

Located just north of Richmond, Hanover County offers a unique combination of urban and rural advantages. With access to larger cities like Richmond, Hanover residents enjoy a 7th place ranking for clinical care and 8th for social and economic factors. Physical environment factors are a bit lower than some of the higher ranking areas. Smoking and obesity are also a bit higher here, but still impressively low compared to the rest of the country. Besides, you’ve got to love an area that holds events like the Papa John’s 4k Pizza Run shown here.

Bob Mical / flickr

Albemarle County includes many small communities, with Scottsville as the only incorporated town and the county seat. Located in central Virginia, Albemarle offers impressive access to clinical care, coming in 4th in the state. Healthy behaviors are also in evidence here, with moderate smoking and obesity rates, as well as high levels of physical activity. Physical environment and social and economic factors bring Albemarle’s overall rank down, but remain strong enough to keep it in the Top 10.

smilla4 / flickr

With a population of more than 150,000, the city of Alexandria, just south of Washington, D.C., has continued to rise in the health rankings. In 2008, Alexandria was officially named an “eco-city,” and today, Alexandria ranks 5th for positive health behaviors, including high activity levels and low smoking and obesity rates. Even with lower scores for clinical care and social and economic factors, Alexandria is a top-performer for health.

Bill Dickinson / flickr

Poquoson is an independent city on the Virginia Peninsula and serves as part of the larger Hampton Roads area. While often, Poquoson is included as part of York County for statistical purposes, County Health Rankings looks at Poquoson independently. What they found is that Poquoson offers lower numbers for healthy behaviors and physical environment (25th and 15th respectively), but strong numbers for clinical care and a #3 ranking for social and economic factors. The result is a strong top 10 finish for this small coastal city.

Rounding out the Top 20, according to County Health Rankings, are the following:

  1. Goochland County 

  2. Roanoke County 

  3. City of Fairfax 

  4. Botetourt County 

  5. Fauquier County 

  6. Chesterfield County

  7. City of Salem 

  8. Fluvanna County 

  9. Isle of Wight County 

  10. Stafford County 

Even if your town or city didn’t make the list, it’s important to note that we are all lucky to live in Virginia when it comes to health. With top-ranked healthcare systems and other high ranking social and environmental factors, Virginia is in the top 10% nationally for healthy living.

Do any of these findings surprise you? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

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