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The 50 Healthiest Cities in America

The meccas for active, healthy people—from coast to coast.

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By Alex Daniel
August 15, 2017
Avatar for
By Alex Daniel
August 15, 2017

If cities are indeed living organisms—as certain world-class theoretical physicists believe—then consider these the healthiest giant living organisms in the country. That's right: we've crunched the numbers, pulling together medical statistics, insurance numbers, fitness levels and other healthy behaviors (such as percentages of the population who get medical checkups and take advantage of preventative services), as well as the prevalence heart disease and cancer. The result is the definitive list of America's healthiest metropolises. So read on and be inspired. And if being simply "healthy" isn't good enough for you, don't miss our exhaustive list of The 50 Fittest Cities in America.

50
Tampa, FL

Tampa, fittest cities, drunkest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 377,165
Coronary Heart Disease: 6.1
High Blood Pressure: 34.9
Cancer Prevalence: 5.6
Annual Checkup: 70.2
Preventative Services: 30
Healthy City Score: 61.4

If healthy living is your goal, don't miss the 100 Easy Ways to Be Healthier Right Now.

49
Worcester, MA

Worcester, happiest cities, longest-living cities, drunkest cities, fattest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 184,508
Coronary Heart Disease: 6
High Blood Pressure: 28.6
Cancer Prevalence: 6.1
Annual Checkup: 76.8
Preventative Services: 28.65
Healthy City Score: 61.42

48
Long Beach, CA

Long Beach, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 470,130
Coronary Heart Disease: 5.1
High Blood Pressure: 26.7
Cancer Prevalence: 4.9
Annual Checkup: 65.5
Preventative Services: 25.3
Healthy City Score: 61.86

47
Oakland, CA

Oakland, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 420,005
Coronary Heart Disease: 5.2
High Blood Pressure: 28.6
Cancer Prevalence: 5.2
Annual Checkup: 65.9
Preventative Services: 26.4
Healthy City Score: 61.87

And speaking of Oakland, it's also of The 100 Best Places to Raise a Family.

46
Aurora, IL

Aurora, happiest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 201,110
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.8
High Blood Pressure: 25.9
Cancer Prevalence: 4.3
Annual Checkup: 62.7
Preventative Services: 27.8
Healthy City Score: 62.07

For more great healthy-living tips, check out how to Stay Younger Every Day with These 25 Longevity Secrets.

45
Glendale, CA

Glendale, happiest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 200,831
Coronary Heart Disease: 6.3
High Blood Pressure: 29.1
Cancer Prevalence: 6.7
Annual Checkup: 67.4
Preventative Services: 26.65
Healthy City Score: 62.27

44
Anaheim, CA

Anaheim, happiest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 351,043
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.9
High Blood Pressure: 25.5
Cancer Prevalence: 4.7
Annual Checkup: 63.1
Preventative Services: 25.55
Healthy City Score: 62.53

43
Charlotte, NC

Charlotte, happiest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities

Population : 842,051
Coronary Heart Disease: 5.1
High Blood Pressure: 31.8
Cancer Prevalence: 4.9
Annual Checkup: 73.1
Preventative Services: 37.65
Healthy City Score: 62.88

For great longevity secrets, here are The 7 Best Foods for Your Heart (and Your Lifespan).

42
Chesapeake, VA

Chesapeake, happiest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 237,940
Coronary Heart Disease: 5.4
High Blood Pressure: 35.1
Cancer Prevalence: 5.7
Annual Checkup: 76.8
Preventative Services: 36.6
Healthy City Score: 63.29

If you're getting checked out soon, don't miss The Secrets for Maximizing Any Doctor's Visit.

41
Peoria, AZ

Peoria, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 164,173
Coronary Heart Disease: 6
High Blood Pressure: 28.4
Cancer Prevalence: 6.9
Annual Checkup: 66.8
Preventative Services: 33.85
Healthy City Score: 63.48

40
Santa Rosa, CA

Santa Rosa, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 175,155
Coronary Heart Disease: 5.9
High Blood Pressure: 27.5
Cancer Prevalence: 6.6
Annual Checkup: 62
Preventative Services: 30
Healthy City Score: 63.56

Next, check out The Best Ways to Bulletproof Your Immune System.

39
Aurora, CO

Aurora, happiest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 361,710
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.5
High Blood Pressure: 26.5
Cancer Prevalence: 5.1
Annual Checkup: 59.9
Preventative Services: 34.35
Healthy City Score: 63.75

38
Pembroke Pines, FL

Pembroke Pines, happiest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 168,587
Coronary Heart Disease: 6.3
High Blood Pressure: 29.9
Cancer Prevalence: 6.4
Annual Checkup: 75.6
Preventative Services: 27.85
Healthy City Score: 63.82

37
Glendale, AZ

Glendale, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 245,895
Coronary Heart Disease: 5.5
High Blood Pressure: 26.9
Cancer Prevalence: 5.4
Annual Checkup: 63.4
Preventative Services: 30.25
Healthy City Score: 63.91

36
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fort Lauderdale, drunkest cities, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 178,752
Coronary Heart Disease: 7.2
High Blood Pressure: 33.9
Cancer Prevalence: 6.9
Annual Checkup: 74.7
Preventative Services: 29.4
Healthy City Score: 64.31

35
Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs, longest-living cities, drunkest cities, happiest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 465,101
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.7
High Blood Pressure: 27.1
Cancer Prevalence: 5.8
Annual Checkup: 64.7
Preventative Services: 35.55
Healthy City Score: 64.68

34
Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 472,522
Coronary Heart Disease: 5
High Blood Pressure: 32
Cancer Prevalence: 4.8
Annual Checkup: 74.5
Preventative Services: 28.4
Healthy City Score: 64.80

33
Orlando, FL

Orlando, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 277,173
Coronary Heart Disease: 5.4
High Blood Pressure: 29.7
Cancer Prevalence: 5
Annual Checkup: 68.6
Preventative Services: 28.2
Healthy City Score: 65.46

32
San Diego, CA

San Diego, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 1,406,630
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.6
High Blood Pressure: 24.6
Cancer Prevalence: 5.1
Annual Checkup: 65.1
Preventative Services: 28.65
Healthy City Score: 66.19

31
San Jose, CA

San Jose, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 1,025,350
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.4
High Blood Pressure: 25.5
Cancer Prevalence: 4.7
Annual Checkup: 64.1
Preventative Services: 27.95
Healthy City Score: 66.25

30
Boise, ID

Boise, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 223,154
Coronary Heart Disease: 5.2
High Blood Pressure: 27.1
Cancer Prevalence: 5.9
Annual Checkup: 60.1
Preventative Services: 31.1
Healthy City Score: 66.44

29
Chandler, AZ

Chandler, happiest cities, longest-living cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 247,477
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.2
High Blood Pressure: 24
Cancer Prevalence: 5.2
Annual Checkup: 64.6
Preventative Services: 34.3
Healthy City Score: 66.65

28
Durham, NC

Durham, happiest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities

Population : 263,016
Coronary Heart Disease: 5.1
High Blood Pressure: 31.1
Cancer Prevalence: 4.7
Annual Checkup: 74.8
Preventative Services: 38.25
Healthy City Score: 66.79

27
Garden Grove, CA

Garden Grove, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 174,858
Coronary Heart Disease: 5
High Blood Pressure: 26.9
Cancer Prevalence: 4.7
Annual Checkup: 64.2
Preventative Services: 24.45
Healthy City Score: 66.85

26
Boston, MA

Boston, fittest cities, drunkest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities

Population : 673,184
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.7
High Blood Pressure: 24.6
Cancer Prevalence: 4.7
Annual Checkup: 73.3
Preventative Services: 30
Healthy City Score: 66.93

25
Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Rancho Cucamonga, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities
Kit Leong / Shutterstock

Population : 176,534
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.3
High Blood Pressure: 25
Cancer Prevalence: 5
Annual Checkup: 65.7
Preventative Services: 29.7
Healthy City Score: 67.26

24
Portland, OR

Portland, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 639,863
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.8
High Blood Pressure: 25.9
Cancer Prevalence: 6
Annual Checkup: 57.7
Preventative Services: 31.5
Healthy City Score: 67.28

23
Lincoln, NE

Lincoln, drunkest cities, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 280,364
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.7
High Blood Pressure: 24.7
Cancer Prevalence: 5.2
Annual Checkup: 59.5
Preventative Services: 35.35
Healthy City Score: 67.78

22
Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach, happiest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities

Population : 452,602
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.9
High Blood Pressure: 29
Cancer Prevalence: 5.5
Annual Checkup: 73.1
Preventative Services: 36.25
Healthy City Score: 67.93

21
Denver, CO

Denver, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities,

Population : 693,060
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.3
High Blood Pressure: 25
Cancer Prevalence: 5.1
Annual Checkup: 57.5
Preventative Services: 33.2
Healthy City Score: 68.23

20
Washington D.C.

Washington DC, D.C., drunkest cities, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 681,170
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.2
High Blood Pressure: 28.3
Cancer Prevalence: 5.1
Annual Checkup: 70.4
Preventative Services: 29.55
Healthy City Score: 68.40

19
Gilbert, AZ

Gilbert, happiest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 237,133
Coronary Heart Disease: 3.7
High Blood Pressure: 22.2
Cancer Prevalence: 5
Annual Checkup: 64.2
Preventative Services: 35.65
Healthy City Score: 68.70

18
Honolulu, HI

Honolulu, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 351,792
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.5
High Blood Pressure: 27.9
Cancer Prevalence: 5.4
Annual Checkup: 66.4
Preventative Services: 31.15
Healthy City Score: 68.86

17
Tallahassee, FL

Tallahassee, longest-living cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 190,894
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.1
High Blood Pressure: 24.5
Cancer Prevalence: 4.4
Annual Checkup: 68.7
Preventative Services: 33.9
Healthy City Score: 69.14

16
Tempe, AZ

Tempe, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 182,498
Coronary Heart Disease: 4
High Blood Pressure: 22.1
Cancer Prevalence: 4.4
Annual Checkup: 61.4
Preventative Services: 33.1
Healthy City Score: 69.17

15
Santa Clarita, CA

Santa Clarita, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 181,972
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.9
High Blood Pressure: 24.8
Cancer Prevalence: 4.5
Annual Checkup: 66.6
Preventative Services: 28.3
Healthy City Score: 69.74

14
Austin, TX

Austin, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 947,890
Coronary Heart Disease: 3.8
High Blood Pressure: 23.4
Cancer Prevalence: 4.2
Annual Checkup: 63.9
Preventative Services: 32.35
Healthy City Score: 70.06

13
Madison, WI

Madison, longest-living cities, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 252,551
Coronary Heart Disease: 3.8
High Blood Pressure: 23.4
Cancer Prevalence: 4.8
Annual Checkup: 65.7
Preventative Services: 34.4
Healthy City Score: 70.28

12
Huntington Beach, CA

Huntington Beach, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 200,652
Coronary Heart Disease: 5.2
High Blood Pressure: 27.2
Cancer Prevalence: 6.5
Annual Checkup: 66.8
Preventative Services: 30.7
Healthy City Score: 70.44

11
Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale, drunkest cities, happiest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 246,645
Coronary Heart Disease: 6.2
High Blood Pressure: 30.9
Cancer Prevalence: 8
Annual Checkup: 69.3
Preventative Services: 36.95
Healthy City Score: 70.57

10
Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City, drunkest cities, happiest cities, fittest cities, drunkest cities

Population : 193,744
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.3
High Blood Pressure: 23.5
Cancer Prevalence: 4.9
Annual Checkup: 55.9
Preventative Services: 32.8
Healthy City Score: 70.88

9
Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 413,651
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.1
High Blood Pressure: 23.4
Cancer Prevalence: 4.5
Annual Checkup: 64.6
Preventative Services: 34.5
Healthy City Score: 71.05

8
Raleigh, NC

Raleigh, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities

Population : 458,880
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.5
High Blood Pressure: 26.3
Cancer Prevalence: 4.7
Annual Checkup: 70.6
Preventative Services: 39.4
Healthy City Score: 71.29

7
Overland Park, KS

Overland Park, happiest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 188,966
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.7
High Blood Pressure: 27.4
Cancer Prevalence: 6.8
Annual Checkup: 70.5
Preventative Services: 40.9
Healthy City Score: 71.53

6
Fremont, CA

Fremont, happiest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities

Population : 233,136
Coronary Heart Disease: 3.9
High Blood Pressure: 22.8
Cancer Prevalence: 4.9
Annual Checkup: 66.2
Preventative Services: 31.45
Healthy City Score: 71.54

5
San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, drunkest cities, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities

Population : 870,887
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.6
High Blood Pressure: 25.5
Cancer Prevalence: 5.1
Annual Checkup: 61.9
Preventative Services: 27.8
Healthy City Score: 71.87

4
Seattle, WA

Seattle, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities

Population : 704,352
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.1
High Blood Pressure: 25.2
Cancer Prevalence: 5.6
Annual Checkup: 59.5
Preventative Services: 34
Healthy City Score: 72.04

3
Plano, TX

Plano, happiest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities

Population : 286,057
Coronary Heart Disease: 4.2
High Blood Pressure: 27.1
Cancer Prevalence: 5.6
Annual Checkup: 70.9
Preventative Services: 36.2
Healthy City Score: 72.17

2
Irvine, CA

Irvine, happiest cities, longest-living cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 266,122
Coronary Heart Disease: 3.4
High Blood Pressure: 22.8
Cancer Prevalence: 4.7
Annual Checkup: 65.4
Preventative Services: 30.4
Healthy City Score: 74.51

1
Sioux Falls, SD

Sioux Falls, happiest cities, drunkest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities
Shutterstock

Population : 174,360
Coronary Heart Disease: 5.7
High Blood Pressure: 27.1
Cancer Prevalence: 5.8
Annual Checkup: 69.4
Preventative Services: 77.4
Healthy City Score: 76.54

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Alex Daniel
A journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. Read more
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