Hoosier Counties Among ‘Healthiest Communities’

(IIB Photo/Alex Brown)

Six Indiana counties are included in the 2021 Healthiest Communities ranking from U.S. News & World Report. The publication says the ranking is based on an evaluation of 3,000 communities across more than 80 health-related metrics, including access to care, health equity, and food availability.

The metrics were split among 10 categories: Population Health, Equity, Education, Economy, Housing, Food & Nutrition, Environment, Public Safety, Community Vitality, and Infrastructure.

Hamilton County is the highest-ranked Hoosier community on the overall 2021 ranking at No. 19. Hendricks County is ranked No. 159 on the list, followed by Boone County (166), Hancock County (226), Warrick County (330) and Johnson County (338). 

Los Alamos County in New Mexico is the highest-ranked community on the list, followed by Douglas County, Colorado; Falls Church, Virginia; Loudoun County, Virginia; and Broomfield County, Colorado.

“The coronavirus pandemic has inflicted deep wounds on multiple aspects of a community’s well-being – from which it will take time to recover. A county’s population health metrics, including mental health, health outcomes and access to care, have been adversely affected, along with major hits to education, economy and equity,” said Kim Castro, editor and chief content officer at U.S. News. “This year’s Healthiest Communities rankings name not only the leading counties in the country, but also produce data reflecting other predictors of individual and community health as the country begins to recover.”

U.S. News also ranked more than 100 urban communities with up-and-coming economies. Pike County ranks No. 50 on the list, followed by Harrison County (74), Decatur County (95) and Benton County (100).

You can connect to the full rankings by clicking here.