Top 3 Healthiest Counties in the US Revealed: The Importance of Civic Infrastructure and Structural Policies for Good Health

The report from the 2024 County Health Rankings (CHR) has identified Montgomery, Frederick, and Howard counties as some of the healthiest in the United States. The CHR is a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Each year, the CHR compares counties within each state across more than 30 factors that influence health outcomes.

The report emphasizes the importance of civic infrastructure and spaces that allow for connection and information sharing. These include access to local news, broadband internet, and public libraries. It also highlights how structural barriers like policies, laws, and practices can hinder participation in activities like voting and worker unionizing.

These top-performing counties have been recognized as leaders not just in Maryland but across the entire country based on criteria such as education, employment, housing, physical activity, daily commute times among other social determinants of health. For more detailed information on the rankings and key takeaways from the 2024 CHR report visit the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps website. You can also access specific data on health outcomes for each of these top-performing counties: Howard County, Frederick County, and Montgomery County.