Life expectancy varies by nearly 10 years across U.S. cities. While the United States is the global leader for health spending, it trails many much poorer nations in health outcomes. While a typical resident of San Jose, California has among the highest life expectancies in the world at 82.7 years, a typical resident of Gadsden, Alabama has the same life expectancy as someone living in Honduras — a country which spends 45 times less per person on health care than the United States.
Health outcomes can differ dramatically even within a single state. Within California, for example, there are such stark differences. While only 11.6% of adults in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area report fair or poor health, more than 25% do in the Visalia-Porterville area. However, more than one in four adults in the Visalia-Porterville area report fair or poor health.
To determine the least healthy city in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed measures of healthy behavior, clinical care, social and economic conditions, the physical environment and other factors in all U.S. metro areas. We constructed an index out of these factors that can capture the health of a city’s residents.
Click here to see the least health city in every state.
Click here to see the healthiest city in every state.
While residents in these cities are the least healthy compared to the other cities in their state, they are not necessarily the least healthy of all residents statewide. Because of limited access to quality clinical care, poor social and economic conditions, and many other factors, people living in rural areas tend to be less healthy than those living in large cities. Consequently, by some measures, residents of even some of the least healthy metro areas in the country can lead longer, healthier lives than many Americans living in rural areas.
For example, one of the most important measures of an area’s health is the premature death rate. This rate measures the number of deaths of residents younger than 75 years old per 100,000 area residents. Only nine of the 50 cities on this list have a premature death rate higher than the national rate. The highest premature death rate of any metro area is in Beckley, West Virginia.
Smoking and obesity rates are among the most significant behavioral factors affecting a population’s health. As these rates rise, so does the increased risk of many preventable diseases as well as of premature deaths. The smoking and obesity rates in the majority of the cities on this list are higher than the nationwide rates.
Social and economic conditions can also affect the health of residents in a metro area. Because low-income or unemployed residents may not be able to afford adequate health care, the least healthy city in a state tends to be among the poorest. In all but 12 of the 50 cities on this list, the median household income is lower than the national median income. Also, in the majority of these cities, the unemployment rate is higher than the country.
To identify the least healthy city in every state, 24/7 Wall St. created an index modelled after an analysis conducted by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program. The index rankings are based on overall health outcomes, a weighted composite of length of life, quality of life, and overall health factors. The health factors component is itself a weighted composite of healthy behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment measures. All data used are for the most recent available year. The index was used to compare all U.S. metropolitan statistical areas as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Four states — Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont — have only one metropolitan statistical area. In these states, the sole metro area is listed by default.
1. Mobile, Alabama
> Premature death rate: 490.3 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 36.1%
> Adults without health insurance: 12.9%
> Median household income: $43,844
2. Anchorage, Alaska
> Premature death rate: 345.0 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.4%
> Adults without health insurance: 15.7%
> Median household income: $76,453
3. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Arizona
> Premature death rate: 498.7 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.1%
> Adults without health insurance: 17.3%
> Median household income: $38,456
4. Pine Bluff, Arkansas
> Premature death rate: 500.9 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 38.3%
> Adults without health insurance: 10.0%
> Median household income: $36,856
5. Visalia-Porterville, California
> Premature death rate: 353.9 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.5%
> Adults without health insurance: 15.3%
> Median household income: $42,863
6. Pueblo, Colorado
> Premature death rate: 401.9 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.3%
> Adults without health insurance: 9.1%
> Median household income: $41,974
7. New Haven-Milford, Connecticut
> Premature death rate: 290.8 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.3%
> Adults without health insurance: 6.7%
> Median household income: $61,646
8. Dover, Delaware
> Premature death rate: 379.0 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 33.2%
> Adults without health insurance: 7.4%
> Median household income: $55,169
9. Homosassa Springs, Florida
> Premature death rate: 445.8 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.1%
> Adults without health insurance: 13.3%
> Median household income: $38,109
10. Albany, Georgia
> Premature death rate: 480.3 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 35.9%
> Adults without health insurance: 17.8%
> Median household income: $36,805
11. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii
> Premature death rate: 288.1 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 22.4%
> Adults without health insurance: 7.7%
> Median household income: $64,563
12. Lewiston, Idaho
> Premature death rate: 384.6 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 32.4%
> Adults without health insurance: 12.8%
> Median household income: $44,993
13. Danville, Illinois
> Premature death rate: 428.0 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 37.3%
> Adults without health insurance: 7.7%
> Median household income: $42,548
14. Muncie, Indiana
> Premature death rate: 455.6 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.7%
> Adults without health insurance: 13.1%
> Median household income: $37,900
15. Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Iowa
> Premature death rate: 343.4 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.9%
> Adults without health insurance: 8.0%
> Median household income: $51,263
16. Wichita, Kansas
> Premature death rate: 370.0 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.9%
> Adults without health insurance: 11.6%
> Median household income: $51,059
17. Bowling Green, Kentucky
> Premature death rate: 415.5 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.9%
> Adults without health insurance: 9.8%
> Median household income: $43,396
18. Hammond, Louisiana
> Premature death rate: 496.1 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 40.3%
> Adults without health insurance: 16.4%
> Median household income: $40,721
19. Lewiston-Auburn, Maine
> Premature death rate: 361.7 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 32.4%
> Adults without health insurance: 9.9%
> Median household income: $45,765
20. Cumberland, Maryland
> Premature death rate: 379.3 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.4%
> Adults without health insurance: 5.9%
> Median household income: $37,276
21. Springfield, Massachusetts
> Premature death rate: 310.5 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.6%
> Adults without health insurance: 3.5%
> Median household income: $52,546
22. Flint, Michigan
> Premature death rate: 437.8 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 36.0%
> Adults without health insurance: 6.6%
> Median household income: $41,879
23. Duluth, Minnesota
> Premature death rate: 338.9 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.8%
> Adults without health insurance: 5.9%
> Median household income: $47,574
24. Jackson, Mississippi
> Premature death rate: 453.2 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 33.8%
> Adults without health insurance: 12.1%
> Median household income: $45,366
24/7 Wall St.
25. Joplin, Missouri
> Premature death rate: 452.1 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 32.3%
> Adults without health insurance: 14.4%
> Median household income: $41,562
26. Great Falls, Montana
> Premature death rate: 364.4 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.0%
> Adults without health insurance: 12.2%
> Median household income: $45,091
27. Grand Island, Nebraska
> Premature death rate: 309.3 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 32.7%
> Adults without health insurance: 12.9%
> Median household income: $50,237
28. Carson City, Nevada
> Premature death rate: 417.8 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 24.1%
> Adults without health insurance: 12.7%
> Median household income: $50,108
29. Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire
> Premature death rate: 279.4 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.3%
> Adults without health insurance: 8.3%
> Median household income: $70,906
30. Vineland-Bridgeton, New Jersey
> Premature death rate: 409.2 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 33.6%
> Adults without health insurance: 12.4%
> Median household income: $50,603
31. Farmington, New Mexico
> Premature death rate: 383.7 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.3%
> Adults without health insurance: 17.9%
> Median household income: $48,824
32. Elmira, New York
> Premature death rate: 350.8 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.9%
> Adults without health insurance: 5.2%
> Median household income: $49,685
24/7 Wall St.
33. Rocky Mount, North Carolina
> Premature death rate: 444.3 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 34.1%
> Adults without health insurance: 13.4%
> Median household income: $39,763
34. Bismarck, North Dakota
> Premature death rate: 355.6 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.4%
> Adults without health insurance: 7.2%
> Median household income: $62,375
35. Springfield, Ohio
> Premature death rate: 462.2 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.4%
> Adults without health insurance: 9.3%
> Median household income: $43,011
36. Lawton, Oklahoma
> Premature death rate: 439.2 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 34.9%
> Adults without health insurance: 14.0%
> Median household income: $46,283
37. Grants Pass, Oregon
> Premature death rate: 405.3 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.3%
> Adults without health insurance: 11.8%
> Median household income: $37,447
38. Johnstown, Pennsylvania
> Premature death rate: 396.5 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.2%
> Adults without health insurance: 6.1%
> Median household income: $42,304
39. Providence-Warwick, Rhode Island
> Premature death rate: 309.9 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.0%
> Adults without health insurance: 6.1%
> Median household income: $56,267
40. Florence, South Carolina
> Premature death rate: 513.5 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 36.3%
> Adults without health insurance: 12.8%
> Median household income: $40,673
41. Rapid City, South Dakota
> Premature death rate: 309.4 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.8%
> Adults without health insurance: 11.2%
> Median household income: $51,041
42. Morristown, Tennessee
> Premature death rate: 477.9 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.8%
> Adults without health insurance: 13.2%
> Median household income: $39,822
43. Odessa, Texas
> Premature death rate: 497.6 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.9%
> Adults without health insurance: 21.6%
> Median household income: $54,903
44. Salt Lake City, Utah
> Premature death rate: 307.4 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.4%
> Adults without health insurance: 13.6%
> Median household income: $61,529
24/7 Wall St.
45. Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont
> Premature death rate: 265.2 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 22.7%
> Adults without health insurance: 4.0%
> Median household income: $62,175
46. Roanoke, Virginia
> Premature death rate: 396.2 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.9%
> Adults without health insurance: 10.8%
> Median household income: $50,056
47. Yakima, Washington
> Premature death rate: 341.1 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.1%
> Adults without health insurance: 16.0%
> Median household income: $43,956
48. Beckley, West Virginia
> Premature death rate: 553.4 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 34.5%
> Adults without health insurance: 9.6%
> Median household income: $38,606
49. Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisconsin
> Premature death rate: 347.3 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.6%
> Adults without health insurance: 7.8%
> Median household income: $53,628
50. Casper, Wyoming
> Premature death rate: 395.2 (per 100,000 residents)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.1%
> Adults without health insurance: 13.7%
> Median household income: $56,769
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