Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common heart health problem Americans face. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the disease kills more than 370,000 people every year.
CHD specifically refers to artery blockage as a result of cholesterol buildup, which wreaks havoc on the heart’s ability to function. While diet and intrinsic factors—like age, genetics, and family history—play significant roles in your likelihood to develop CHD, there's another determinant that might not have crossed your mind: geography. (Yes, "location, location, location" can apply to more than just savvy real estate deals.)
When it comes to CHD, where you live might matter just as much as what you eat—and we have the data to prove it. Using figures from the CDC's 500 Cities Project database, we've rounded up the 50 American cities with the highest rates of coronary heart disease.
50 | Memphis, Tennessee
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.1 percent
Population: 652,236
Molasses-based BBQ is baked into this city's heritage. The upside: It's delicious. The downside: It isn't exactly healthy.
49 | Waukegan, Illinois
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.1 percent
Population: 87,729
Wedged between Chicago and Wisconsin, Waukegan is located smack in the center of a region famous for deep dish pizza, hot dogs, and sausage. Tasty, yes, but also not so healthy.
48 | Hialeah, Florida
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.1 percent
Population: 239,673
Florida’s fifth biggest city is so anonymous, it was once named by Forbes as one of America's most boring cities. That said, it stands out for its rate of coronary heart disease, which of course isn't a good thing.
47 | Cicero, Illinois
Teemu08/Wikimedia CommonsCoronary heart disease rate: 7.2 percent
Population: 82,552
Just west of downtown Chicago, all of the culinary issues that plague its neighbor, Waukegan, exist here, too.
46 | Lansing, Michigan
Coronary heart disease rate: 7.2 percent
Population: 116,986
According to Yelp, there are nearly 100 fast food restaurants in this mid-sized Midwestern city.
45 | Albany, Georgia
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.2 percent
Population: 73,179
With nearly one-third of the population below the poverty line, the vivid reality for most residents of Albany, Georgia, is a severe lack of healthy food options.
44 | Mobile, Alabama
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.2 percent
Population: 190,265
This one's not a surprise since, according to Best Life data, Mobile is the fattest city in America.
43 | Lake Charles, Louisiana
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.2 percent
Population: 77,117
It's particularly alarming that Lake Charles actually has one of the lower obesity rates in Louisiana, according to the Department of Health.
42 | Shreveport, Louisiana
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.3 percent
Population: 192,036
In 2019, Shreveport came in second on WalletHub's fattest cities in America list, thanks to its residents' poor dietary and exercise habits, health problems, and obesity rate.
41 | South Bend, Indiana
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.3 percent
Population: 102,245
Like many mid-sized Midwestern cities, South Bend experienced a steep decline in prosperity following the 1960s. These days, fast food chains are prominent.
40 | Rochester, New York
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.3 percent
Population: 208,046
Considering Rochester’s signature dish is the "Garbage Plate" (a decadent combo of hamburger patties, hash browns, macaroni, melted cheese, ground beef, Italian bread, and hot sauce, all thrown together), this one's no surprise.
39 | Syracuse, New York
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.3 percent
Population: 143,396
When you get 124 inches of snow each winter, it can be hard to reap the benefits of the great outdoors. It also may explain the impulse to hibernate and snack on comfort food.
38 | Hartford, Connecticut
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.3 percent
Population: 123,400
It's a bit ironic that the self-proclaimed Insurance Capital of the World is a leader in a significant health issue like CHD.
37 | Pharr, Texas
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.3 percent
Population: 79,487
Located smack in the middle of hurricane country, the good folks of Pharr, Texas, may have bigger things to fear than heart disease.
36 | San Bernardino, California
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.4 percent
Population: 216,995
Situated on the iconic Route 66, San Bernardino was once a pit stop for drive-ins and cheap eats of all kinds. But the most famous, by far, is the original McDonald's restaurant, before Ray Kroc turned it into a franchise.
35 | Hammond, Indiana
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.4 percent
Population: 76,618
Like Cicero, Hammond, Indiana, is another working-class town in Chicago’s orbit. With a per capita income of only $16,254 and 14.3 percent of residents below the poverty line, a picture emerges of a locale under stress—and underserved by quality food options.
34 | Evansville, Indiana
Coronary heart disease rate: 7.4 percent
Population: 118,930
At the start of every October, the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival in Evansville attracts nearly 200,000 annual visitors, making it one of the largest street festivals in the country. Among the main attractions? Endless deep-fried Twinkies.
33 | Akron, Ohio
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.4 percent
Population: 197,846
Akron was once home to a visionary named Charles E. Menches, who blessed the world with such wonderful creations as the ice cream cone and caramel corn. On the flip side, it’s also the location of the headquarters for Quaker Oats, a wholesome, heart-healthy food. (Seemingly, the ice cream and caramel corn has won out.)
32 | Erie, Pennsylvania
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.4 percent
Population: 97,369
Situated next to its eponymous Great Lake, Erie is known for an abundance of amusement parks, which feature plenty of artery-clogging fried dough.
31 | Buffalo, New York
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.4 percent
Population: 258,612
As legend has it, Buffalo is where the buffalo wing was invented, at local mainstay watering hole Anchor Bar.
30 | Allentown, Pennsylvania
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.4 percent
Population: 121,283
The anchor of Lehigh Valley's history dates back to before the Revolutionary War. For centuries, the food scene has revolved around the hale and hearty cuisine of the Pennsylvania Dutch—heavy on foods like egg noodles, bacon gravy, apple dumplings, and, of course, scrapple, a mix of pork scraps and cornmeal that remains a staple.
29 | Fall River, Massachusetts
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.4 percent
Population: 89,42o
A jewel of New England’s once-thriving textile and seafaring south coast, Fall River retains its Portuguese heritage with an abundance of old-world, calorie-dense foods (like chourico and heavy breads).
28 | New Bedford, Massachusetts
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.4 percent
Population: 95,120
Just east of Fall River on the Massachusetts Gold Coast, "The Whaling City" checks in as third highest in the state when it comes to coronary heart disease.
27 | Birmingham, Alabama
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.5 percent
Population: 210,710
This hard-working town prides itself on some of the best food in the South, including favorites like country fried steak, skillet cornbread, barbecue pulled pork, and fried catfish.
26 | Muncie, Indiana
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.5 percent
Population: 68,625
Muncie is the prototypical mid-sized, all-American town, a bellwether for all manner of cultural trends. Unfortunately, its heart health index is not one to emulate.
25 | Dearborn, Michigan
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.5 percent
Population: 94,491
This diverse working class Detroit suburb follows a similar pattern for heart disease as the Metro area at large does. (As you'll soon see, there are four Michigan towns on this list.)
24 | Charleston, West Virginia
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.5 percent
Population: 47,929
The capital of West Virginia is the originator of the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet.
23 | Gulfport, Mississippi
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.5 percent
Population: 71,822
As a sub-tropical climate on the southern tip of Mississippi, the resulting heat and humidity may contribute to this sleepy town’s inactive lifestyle and active CHD rate.
22 | Brownsville, Texas
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.5 percent
Population: 183,299
Brownsville was the site of several important battles of the Mexican-American war. It boasts a rich history, complete with rich Tex-Mex cuisine.
21 | Laredo, Texas
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.5 percent
Population: 260,654
“The Republic of the Rio Grande” just barely beats out Brownsville to have the worst rate of CHD in Texas.
20 | Paterson, New Jersey
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.6 percent
Population: 148,678
Passaic County, which counts Patterson among its cities, has a significantly high rate of heart failure among Medicare beneficiaries at a rate of almost 17 percent, according to the North Jersey Health Collaborative.
19 | Springdale, Arkansas
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.7 percent
Population: 79,599
Nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, Springdale is home to the headquarters of Tyson Foods, the world’s biggest meat producer.
18 | Louisville, Kentucky
Coronary heart disease rate: 7.7 percent
Population: 602,011
This historic city is known for baseball bats, the Kentucky Derby, and world-class bourbon—a well-known contributor to heart issues.
17 | Macon, Georgia
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.7 percent
Population: 152,663
Macon has a high concentration of unhealthy dining options. According to Yelp, there are more than 120 fast food locations—including local fried chicken favorite Bojangles—in the area.
16 | Newark, New Jersey
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.7 percent
Population: 285,154
Newark, the most populous city in the Garden State, is where, according to legend, the Italian hot dog—a deep fried frankfurter paired with onions and peppers and tossed on a butter-lathered bun—was invented, at Jimmy Buff's.
15 | Passaic, New Jersey
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.7 percent
Population: 71,247
Considering what we mentioned about Patterson, this one is no surprise either. In Passaic County, 33.3 percent of Medicare beneficiaries have been treated for diabetes. On top of that, its residents with diabetes also have a higher than average risk of dying from the disease, the North Jersey Health Collaborative reports.
14 | Springfield, Massachusetts
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.7 percent
Population: 154,758
Though its nicknamed "The City of Firsts"—the dictionary, the gas-powered automobile, and basketball were all invented in Springfield—this western Massachusetts city doesn't quite come out on top in terms of CHD rates.
13 | Lawrence, Massachusetts
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.7 percent
Population: 80,162
Situated in northeast Massachusetts, Lawrence was formerly an important textile mill town, a pillar of the industrial revolution. Today, it bears the distinction of being New England’s worst population center for CHD.
12 | Fort Smith, Arkansas
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.8 percent
Population: 88,037
Located a stone's throw from the Oklahoma border, Fort Smith is smack-dab in the middle of great BBQ country.
11 | Toledo, Ohio
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.8 percent
Population: 276,491
The “Glass City" is the first of five Ohio cities congregated among the top (or bottom, depending on how you look at it) when it comes to CHD rates. Among its surprisingly robust food scene is standout Tony Packo’s delicious and decadent Hungarian hot dogs and chili dogs. ’Nuff said.
10 | Gary, Indiana
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.9 percent
Population: 76,008
Since 1960, Gary's population has dwindled by a jaw-dropping 50 percent. It's left a huge impact on the local infrastructure, including a lack of healthy food options.
9 | Canton, Ohio
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.9 percent
Population: 70,909
Canton sits just south of the Cleveland metropolis, and shares that city’s fondness for stout, Eastern European-based dishes, and contemporary American fast food.
8 | Trenton, New Jersey
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 7.9 percent
Population: 84,964
Trenton’s many, beleaguered low-income neighborhoods have difficulty attracting premium supermarkets, leaving most residents without appropriate fresh food options.
7 | Dayton, Ohio
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 8.1 percent
Population: 140,371
Despite having a robust local healthcare industry—nationally esteemed institutions Miami Valley Hospital and Kettering Medical Center are located here—CHD rates in Dayton stubbornly rank among the top 10 in the nation.
6 | Cleveland, Ohio
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 8.3 percent
Population: 385,525
Between the food courts at Fairview Shopping Center, the Galleria at Erieview, the 5th Street Arcades, the Shops at Church Square, the Westgate Shopping Center, and dozens more malls, it's safe to say that Cleveland isn't exactly the healthiest food destination.
5 | Detroit, Michigan
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 8.4 percent
Population: 673,1o4
Despite the Motor City’s current revival, many neighborhoods in this sprawling metropolis remain "food deserts," meaning they lack access to supermarkets or fresh produce. According to the Institute for Research on Poverty, 19 of Detroit's dozens of neighborhoods are food deserts.
4 | Youngstown, Ohio
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 8.6 percent
Population: 64,604
Youngstown's problems—declining population and degrading infrastructure, like many post-industrial towns—directly affect the health of its citizens, who don't have many of the restaurants and grocery resources found in other communities.
3 | Reading, Pennsylvania
ShutterstockCoronary heart disease rate: 8.7 percent
Population: 88,423
Reading is the self-proclaimed Pretzel Capital of the World. Need we say more?
2 | Camden, New Jersey
Coronary heart disease rate: 8.9 percent
Population: 74,532
Hard against the Delaware River, directly across from Philadelphia, is home to the famous Campbell Soup company.
1 | Flint, Michigan
Coronary heart disease rate: 9 percent
Population: 96,448
Flint entered the nation’s consciousness during the lead-laced water crisis of 2014, which remains to this day unresolved. Its lead-tainted water has also been linked to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, according to The Flint Journal. What’s more, lead exposure has recently been linked to an increase in heart disease mortality among adults, according to 2018 research published in the British medical journal The Lancet. Though this heavy metal can be traced to a variety of sources—including dust and air conditioners—in the case of Flint, the municipal water supply is the likeliest culprit, since it reaches the widest number of people. And for more amazing city rankings, learn about The 50 Most Caffeinated Cities in America.
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