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Health rankings · 50 states · life expectancy, obesity, insurance · CDC, Census

The Healthiest States in America, Ranked

Massachusetts and Hawaii tie as the healthiest states in 2026, scoring 88.6 out of 100; Massachusetts takes #1 on the tiebreak. Massachusetts residents can expect to live 79.8 years, and 2.8% lack health insurance. Mississippi ranks last at 18.1.

This page ranks every state by how long its residents live, how many adults have obesity and how many people lack health insurance, then goes further: diabetes, heart disease, smoking, exercise, mental distress and whether people can afford a doctor, plus the healthiest and unhealthiest large cities. It measures population health, not hospital quality. How the score works →

#1 for health · Grade A+
Massachusetts88.6
Health score out of 100
Life expectancy
79.8 years
Adult obesity
27.0%
Uninsured
2.8%
Overall rank
#13
Full Massachusetts profile →

Pick your state to see where it ranks for health, the numbers behind its rank, and how it compares with the #1 state. We'll remember it on the other ranking pages.

America's Health by the Numbers

The national lines every state is measured against, from the CDC and the Census Bureau.

Average health score
54.4
Median state: 57.9
Life expectancy at birth
77.3 yrs
Population-weighted · 72.2 to 80.0 by state
Adults with obesity
34.0%
Average of states · 20 states at 35%+
Uninsured residents
7.6%
Average of states · 2.8% to 16.7%
Adults with diabetes
12.3%
Median state · CDC BRFSS
Skipped a doctor over cost
11.9%
Median state · adults, past year
Read the national overview

The typical state scores 54.4 out of 100 for health. Each input sits on a fixed scale, so gaps between states reflect measured differences: 8 states score 75 or higher and 7 score below 30. Weighted by population, Americans can expect to live 77.3 years, but the state figures span 7.8 years, from 72.2 in West Virginia to 80.0 in Hawaii. Adult obesity runs from 25.0% to 41.4%, and the uninsured rate from 2.8% to 16.7%. Geography matters: the Northeast averages 70.6 while the South averages 35.9, and 9 of the 10 lowest-scoring states are in the South. Money tracks the ranking too: the 10 healthiest states have a median household income of $94,235, against $65,988 in the bottom 10.

Health Score Map: All 50 States

Darker states score higher. Hover, focus, or tap a state to see its health rank, score, and grade in the panel.

Map life expectancy, obesity or insurance yourself →

Healthiest and Unhealthiest States

The 10 highest and 10 lowest health scores, with each state's life expectancy, obesity and uninsured rates. Massachusetts and Hawaii tie at the top; Mississippi is last.

10 healthiest states

Score · grade
  1. 1Massachusetts79.8 yrs · 27.0% obese · 2.8% uninsured88.6A+
  2. 2Hawaii80.0 yrs · 27.0% obese · 3.5% uninsured88.6A+
  3. 3New York79.5 yrs · 29.5% obese · 5.0% uninsured79.7A+
  4. 4New Jersey79.6 yrs · 27.7% obese · 7.7% uninsured78.1A+
  5. 5California79.3 yrs · 29.1% obese · 5.9% uninsured77.6A+
  6. 6Rhode Island79.2 yrs · 31.1% obese · 4.6% uninsured76.5A
  7. 7Colorado78.5 yrs · 25.0% obese · 7.9% uninsured75.4A
  8. 8Vermont78.3 yrs · 29.0% obese · 4.2% uninsured75.1A
  9. 9Minnesota79.3 yrs · 32.3% obese · 5.1% uninsured74.5A
  10. 10Connecticut79.4 yrs · 32.0% obese · 5.8% uninsured74.3A

10 unhealthiest states

Score · grade
  1. 50Mississippi72.6 yrs · 40.4% obese · 9.7% uninsured18.1F
  2. 49West Virginia72.2 yrs · 41.4% obese · 5.8% uninsured21.3F
  3. 48Oklahoma73.8 yrs · 36.8% obese · 11.5% uninsured26.7D
  4. 47Arkansas73.9 yrs · 38.9% obese · 9.4% uninsured28.0D
  5. 46Tennessee73.8 yrs · 37.6% obese · 9.7% uninsured28.7D
  6. 45Alabama73.8 yrs · 38.9% obese · 8.2% uninsured29.5D
  7. 44Louisiana73.8 yrs · 39.2% obese · 7.7% uninsured29.9D
  8. 43Kentucky73.6 yrs · 37.2% obese · 6.8% uninsured33.1D
  9. 42New Mexico74.5 yrs · 34.5% obese · 10.1% uninsured36.2C
  10. 41Texas77.1 yrs · 35.6% obese · 16.7% uninsured37.7C

Life Expectancy by State

Life expectancy at birth is half of the health score. Hawaii leads at 80.0 years; West Virginia trails at 72.2 years, a gap of 7.8 years.

Longest life expectancy

Years
  1. 1Hawaii#2 for health80.0
  2. 2Massachusetts#1 for health79.8
  3. 3New Jersey#4 for health79.6
  4. 4New York#3 for health79.5
  5. 5Connecticut#10 for health79.4
  6. T-6California#5 for health79.3
  7. T-6Minnesota#9 for health79.3
  8. 8Rhode Island#6 for health79.2

Shortest life expectancy

Years
  1. 50West Virginia#49 for health72.2
  2. 49Mississippi#50 for health72.6
  3. 48Kentucky#43 for health73.6
  4. T-44Oklahoma#48 for health73.8
  5. T-44Tennessee#46 for health73.8
  6. T-44Alabama#45 for health73.8
  7. T-44Louisiana#44 for health73.8
  8. 43Arkansas#47 for health73.9

9 states reach 79 years or more and 9 fall below 75. By region, the Northeast averages 78.4 years and the South 74.8 years. The 10 healthiest states average 79.3 years, the 10 least healthy 73.9 years. The population-weighted figure (77.3 years) sits above the simple average of states (76.9 years) because the largest states tend to live longer.

CDC state life tables →

Obesity Rate by State

Adult obesity is a quarter of the health score. Colorado has the lowest rate at 25.0%; West Virginia the highest at 41.4%.

Lowest adult obesity

Adults
  1. 1Colorado#7 for health25.0%
  2. T-2Massachusetts#1 for health27.0%
  3. T-2Hawaii#2 for health27.0%
  4. 4New Jersey#4 for health27.7%
  5. 5Vermont#8 for health29.0%
  6. 6California#5 for health29.1%
  7. 7New York#3 for health29.5%
  8. 8Florida#19 for health29.6%

Highest adult obesity

Adults
  1. 50West Virginia#49 for health41.4%
  2. 49Mississippi#50 for health40.4%
  3. 48Louisiana#44 for health39.2%
  4. T-46Arkansas#47 for health38.9%
  5. T-46Alabama#45 for health38.9%
  6. 45Indiana#39 for health38.4%
  7. T-42Tennessee#46 for health37.6%
  8. T-42Kansas#33 for health37.6%

Share of adults with a body mass index of 30 or more, from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The 50-state average is 34.0%; 20 states are at 35% or more and 8 below 30%.

Map adult obesity →

Health Insurance and Access to Care by State

The uninsured rate is the last quarter of the score. Massachusetts has the fewest uninsured residents (2.8%); Texas the most (16.7%). Survey measures of cost and access, shown but not scored, fill in the rest.

Lowest uninsured rate

Residents
  1. 1Massachusetts#1 for health2.8%
  2. 2Hawaii#2 for health3.5%
  3. 3Vermont#8 for health4.2%
  4. 4New Hampshire#11 for health4.5%
  5. 5Rhode Island#6 for health4.6%
  6. 6New York#3 for health5.0%
  7. T-7Minnesota#9 for health5.1%
  8. T-7Michigan#27 for health5.1%

Highest uninsured rate

Residents
  1. 50Texas#41 for health16.7%
  2. 49Georgia#40 for health12.0%
  3. 48Oklahoma#48 for health11.5%
  4. 47Nevada#34 for health11.4%
  5. 46Alaska#37 for health11.0%
  6. 45Florida#19 for health10.9%
  7. T-43Arizona#31 for health10.3%
  8. T-43Wyoming#29 for health10.3%

Fewest skipping a doctor over cost

Adults
  1. 1Hawaii#2 for health7.3%
  2. 2Vermont#8 for health8.3%
  3. 3Iowa#20 for health8.6%
  4. 4Massachusetts#1 for health8.9%

Most skipping a doctor over cost

Adults
  1. 50Texas#41 for health18.1%
  2. 49Nevada#34 for health16.7%
  3. 48Georgia#40 for health16.0%
  4. 47Oklahoma#48 for health15.1%

Adults who needed to see a doctor in the past year but could not because of cost (CDC BRFSS).

Well insured, shorter lives

Life rank
  1. #13West Virginia5.8% uninsured · 72.2 yrs#50
  2. #21Kentucky6.8% uninsured · 73.6 yrs#48
  3. #7Michigan5.1% uninsured · 76.8 yrs#28
  4. #12Maine5.5% uninsured · 76.6 yrs#31

Long lives despite coverage gaps

Life rank
  1. #45Florida10.9% uninsured · 77.9 yrs#17
  2. #38Idaho9.2% uninsured · 78.4 yrs#12
  3. #27New Jersey7.7% uninsured · 79.6 yrs#3
  4. #33Utah8.3% uninsured · 79.0 yrs#9

Uninsured-rate rank on the left, life expectancy rank on the right. Where the two disagree most, insurance is not what decides how long people live.

Across states, the share of adults who went without a doctor because of cost runs from 7.3% in Hawaii to 18.1% in Texas. Vermont has the fewest adults without a personal doctor (8.8%) and Nevada the most (26.8%). Routine checkups are most common in Rhode Island (84.0% of adults in the past year) and least common in Wyoming (68.8%). None of these measures says anything about hospital quality or wait times; see the FAQ on the best states for healthcare.

Census health insurance data →

Chronic Disease, Smoking and Exercise by State

Where adults report the most diabetes, heart disease, poor health, mental distress, smoking and inactivity. These CDC survey measures are not part of the score; they show what sits behind it.

Highest diabetes rate

Adults
  1. 50West Virginia#49 for health16.7%
  2. 49Kentucky#43 for health15.9%
  3. 48Alabama#45 for health15.6%
  4. 47Louisiana#44 for health15.5%
  5. 46Mississippi#50 for health15.2%
  6. 45Tennessee#46 for health14.7%

Share of adults ever told they have diabetes. Median state: 12.3%. Lowest: Alaska (8.3%).

Most heart disease

Adults
  1. 50West Virginia#49 for health10.3%
  2. 49Arkansas#47 for health9.2%
  3. 48Kentucky#43 for health9.1%
  4. 47Tennessee#46 for health8.6%
  5. 46Alabama#45 for health8.5%
  6. 45Mississippi#50 for health8.2%

Share of adults ever told they had a heart attack or coronary heart disease. Median state: 6.5%. Lowest: Utah (4.3%).

Most adults in fair or poor health

Adults
  1. 50West Virginia#49 for health25.7%
  2. 49Kentucky#43 for health24.5%
  3. 48Arkansas#47 for health24.4%
  4. 47Mississippi#50 for health23.0%
  5. 46Louisiana#44 for health22.9%
  6. T-44Alabama#45 for health22.0%

Share of adults who rate their own health fair or poor. Median state: 18.7%. Lowest: New Hampshire (13.7%).

Most frequent mental distress

Adults
  1. T-49West Virginia#49 for health19.8%
  2. T-49Louisiana#44 for health19.8%
  3. 48Oregon#14 for health18.8%
  4. 47Pennsylvania#21 for health18.6%
  5. 46Arkansas#47 for health18.2%
  6. T-43Indiana#39 for health18.1%

Share of adults with 14 or more poor mental health days a month. Median state: 15.8%. Lowest: Hawaii (12.7%).

Most smokers

Adults
  1. 50West Virginia#49 for health17.8%
  2. 49Louisiana#44 for health15.7%
  3. 48Kentucky#43 for health15.2%
  4. 47Tennessee#46 for health15.0%
  5. 46Ohio#35 for health14.4%
  6. T-44Arkansas#47 for health14.2%

Share of adults who currently smoke cigarettes. Median state: 10.8%. Lowest: Utah (5.7%).

Least exercise

Adults
  1. 50Mississippi#50 for health30.6%
  2. 49West Virginia#49 for health29.3%
  3. 48Arkansas#47 for health28.3%
  4. 47Kentucky#43 for health28.1%
  5. 46Louisiana#44 for health26.4%
  6. 45Alabama#45 for health25.8%

Share of adults with no leisure-time physical activity in the past month. Median state: 21.9%. Lowest: Colorado (15.5%).

Most bottom-10 finishes

Of 8
  1. T-1West Virginia#49 for health8
  2. T-1Arkansas#47 for health8
  3. T-1Louisiana#44 for health8
  4. T-4Mississippi#50 for health7
  5. T-4Tennessee#46 for health7
  6. T-6Alabama#45 for health6
  7. T-6Kentucky#43 for health6
  8. T-8Oklahoma#48 for health4

The health score uses three inputs. To check that it points the right way, this tally counts how often each state lands among the 10 worst on 8 outcome and habit measures: life expectancy, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, fair or poor health, mental distress, smoking, and physical inactivity. West Virginia, Arkansas, and Louisiana each land in the worst 10 on 8. All 8 states listed here are also in the bottom 10 of the health score.

California, Mississippi, and Nevada are missing from the newest CDC survey release, so their figures on these measures come from the previous one.

CDC BRFSS state data →

All 50 States Ranked by Health

Every state's health score with the three scored inputs, or switch the columns to chronic disease and habits or to access to care. Click a column header to re-sort, search for a state, or filter by region or grade. The # column is always the health rank, even after you filter.

Show
Grade
50 states
#GradeRegion
1Massachusetts88.679.827.0%2.8%#13A+Northeast
2Hawaii88.680.027.0%3.5%#17A+West
3New York79.779.529.5%5.0%#29A+Northeast
4New Jersey78.179.627.7%7.7%#28A+Northeast
5California77.679.329.1%5.9%#47A+West
6Rhode Island76.579.231.1%4.6%#19ANortheast
7Colorado75.478.525.0%7.9%#18AWest
8Vermont75.178.329.0%4.2%#8ANortheast
9Minnesota74.579.332.3%5.1%#12AMidwest
10Connecticut74.379.432.0%5.8%#16ANortheast
11New Hampshire73.978.731.1%4.5%#1B+Northeast
12Utah69.279.031.0%8.3%#6B+West
13Washington68.278.431.5%6.5%#20B+West
14Oregon63.877.733.5%5.2%#35B+West
15Maryland63.677.832.7%6.3%#31B+Northeast
16Idaho61.978.432.7%9.2%#4B+West
17Virginia61.477.532.3%6.9%#15B+South
18Wisconsin60.578.137.4%5.3%#11B+Midwest
19Florida60.577.929.6%10.9%#21BSouth
20Iowa60.377.936.6%5.4%#14BMidwest
21Pennsylvania59.677.334.2%5.8%#25BNortheast
22Montana58.977.331.0%8.8%#7BWest
23North Dakota58.877.936.8%6.1%#5BMidwest
24Illinois58.877.534.2%6.9%#39BMidwest
25Nebraska58.278.337.6%7.1%#10BMidwest
26Maine57.676.633.2%5.5%#9BNortheast
27Michigan55.476.836.1%5.1%#45C+Midwest
28South Dakota51.777.337.0%8.1%#3C+Midwest
29Wyoming51.476.832.5%10.3%#2C+West
30Delaware49.976.536.6%6.9%#30C+Northeast
31Arizona49.776.733.3%10.3%#38C+West
32North Carolina46.675.934.5%8.6%#23C+South
33Kansas45.876.537.6%8.5%#27C+Midwest
34Nevada44.976.434.2%11.4%#40C+West
35Ohio44.875.636.9%6.7%#33CMidwest
36Missouri44.175.234.6%7.7%#34CMidwest
37Alaska42.675.834.0%11.0%#42CWest
38South Carolina41.375.134.6%9.0%#36CSouth
39Indiana40.375.438.4%7.5%#22CMidwest
40Georgia39.575.935.4%12.0%#26CSouth
41Texas37.777.135.6%16.7%#32CSouth
42New Mexico36.274.534.5%10.1%#49CWest
43Kentucky33.173.637.2%6.8%#41DSouth
44Louisiana29.973.839.2%7.7%#50DSouth
45Alabama29.573.838.9%8.2%#37DSouth
46Tennessee28.773.837.6%9.7%#24DSouth
47Arkansas28.073.938.9%9.4%#48DSouth
48Oklahoma26.773.836.8%11.5%#43DSouth
49West Virginia21.372.241.4%5.8%#44FSouth
50Mississippi18.172.640.4%9.7%#46FSouth

Score combines life expectancy at birth (50%), adult obesity (25%) and the uninsured rate (25%), each on a fixed 0-100 scale. Life expectancy is from the CDC's state life tables, obesity from the CDC's BRFSS survey and the uninsured rate from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Diabetes, heart disease, fair or poor health, mental distress, smoking, exercise and the access-to-care columns are the latest CDC BRFSS state estimates for adults; they are shown for context and are not scored. Overall is the state's rank across all 11 categories.

The Healthiest and Unhealthiest Large Cities

Among the 346 tracked cities with 100,000 or more residents, Bellevue, WA has the best health score and Detroit, MI the worst. City scores combine adult obesity, diabetes and frequent mental distress.

Healthiest large cities

#CityScoreObesityDiabetesMental distressSmokingNo exerciseUninsured 18-64
1BellevueWashington91.218.8%6.9%12.5%5.5%12.6%5.4%
2SunnyvaleCalifornia87.619.7%8.3%12.9%6.7%18.6%5.2%
3Santa ClaraCalifornia85.320.4%8.2%13.9%7.2%19.1%5.5%
4FremontCalifornia85.017.3%9.8%12.7%7.3%18.1%4.9%
5SeattleWashington84.322.2%6.1%15.3%6.5%12.2%6.1%
6CambridgeMassachusetts83.721.9%5.9%16.0%7.1%15.7%3.8%
7CentennialColorado83.523.1%7.3%13.9%8.0%13.6%6.9%
8BoulderColorado82.816.5%5.7%17.9%9.0%12.3%8.6%
9DenverColorado82.721.6%7.1%15.5%10.2%17.3%13.3%
10IrvineCalifornia82.619.2%8.3%15.4%6.9%18.6%5.0%

Unhealthiest large cities

#CityScoreObesityDiabetesMental distressSmokingNo exerciseUninsured 18-64
1DetroitMichigan12.345.6%19.2%22.6%21.8%38.3%11.6%
2DaytonOhio21.142.9%17.6%21.6%20.5%36.4%11.2%
3JacksonMississippi21.946.0%18.4%18.3%18.1%37.5%12.8%
4ShreveportLouisiana23.843.1%17.6%20.1%19.1%34.2%9.6%
5MemphisTennessee23.942.1%17.6%20.7%19.9%31.1%14.9%
6MaconGeorgia24.144.4%17.3%19.4%17.7%32.6%15.0%
7BirminghamAlabama25.042.2%19.2%18.5%16.6%33.8%11.2%
8AkronOhio25.542.7%16.5%20.6%19.6%33.0%10.4%
9ClevelandOhio25.842.2%17.7%19.6%21.5%33.8%13.4%
10MontgomeryAlabama26.246.4%16.7%17.6%15.3%31.4%11.0%

Figures are CDC PLACES model-based estimates for adults. The city score weighs obesity (40%), diabetes (30%) and frequent mental distress (30%); smoking, exercise and the uninsured rate for adults 18-64 are shown for context. 1,311 of 1,312 tracked cities have a health score; the lists above keep to cities of 100,000+ so small places with wide estimate ranges do not crowd them.

Search all 1,312 cities →

How the Health Score Is Calculated

Three public measures, each placed on a fixed scale and weighted into one score. Here is what each number means and what it leaves out.

Life expectancy at birth

50%

From the CDC National Center for Health Statistics state life tables. Scaled from 72 to 81 years. It sums up deaths at every age, from infant mortality to overdoses to heart disease.

Adult obesity

25%

Share of adults with a body mass index of 30 or more, from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Scaled from 24% (best) to 42% (worst).

Uninsured rate

25%

Share of residents with no health insurance, from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Scaled from 2.5% (best) to 17% (worst).

Fixed scales, not a curve

Values outside a band count as 0 or 100. Because the bounds are fixed, close states get close scores and every state can improve at once, rather than one state rising only when another slips.

Letter grades

Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1-5, A for 6-10, B+ for 11-18, B for 19-26, C+ for 27-34, C for 35-42, D for 43-48, and F for 49-50. Tied scores are ordered by overall rank.

Weight in the overall score

12%

Health is one of 11 categories in each state's composite score, weighted at 12%, tied with safety and education and behind only the economy. See the overall rankings →

Shown, not scored

Diabetes, heart disease, self-rated health, mental distress, smoking, exercise and access to care come from the latest CDC BRFSS state estimates. City figures come from CDC PLACES. They add context and never change a state's score.

What is not counted

Hospital quality, doctors per resident, wait times, the cost of care and insurance premiums, and public health spending. This ranking describes how healthy people are and whether they are covered, not how good the care is.

Always the latest releases

This page is rebuilt from the most recent file each source has published (checked October 2026). Scores change when a new life table, survey or insurance release moves a state's numbers.

Why health rankings disagree

SourceWhat it measuresBest for
America's Dashboard (this page)Life expectancy, adult obesity and the uninsured rate on fixed scales, with CDC survey measures of chronic disease, habits and access shown alongsideHow healthy a state's people are, from three public numbers you can check
America's Health Rankings (United Health Foundation)Dozens of measures across social and economic factors, environment, clinical care, behaviors and outcomesThe broadest single annual health scorecard
Commonwealth Fund, Scorecard on State Health System PerformanceAccess, quality, avoidable use and cost of care, disparities and health outcomesHow well each state's health care system performs
U.S. News and WalletHub health care rankingsHealth care access, quality and cost alongside public health measures"Best states for healthcare" questions about the care itself

The rankings disagree because they measure different things. A state with excellent hospitals can still have short life expectancy and high obesity, and a state with healthy residents can have long waits for a specialist. Use this page for population health and coverage, and a health-system scorecard for the quality of care.

Read the full methodology →

Key Takeaways

Patterns in the health data that the table alone does not show.

  1. The Northeast dominates the top 10

    6 of the 10 healthiest states are in the Northeast: Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Connecticut. 9 of the bottom 10 are in the South: Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Mississippi. By average score the Northeast leads at 70.6, against 35.9 for the South.

  2. A 7.8-year gap in life expectancy

    A baby born in Hawaii can expect to live 80.0 years; in West Virginia, 72.2 years. The 10 healthiest states average 79.3 years, the 10 least healthy 73.9 years. Life expectancy is half of the health score, so it moves states more than either of the other inputs.

  3. Insurance and long lives do not always go together

    West Virginia has one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country (5.8%, #13) but the #50 life expectancy at 72.2 years. Florida runs the other way: a 10.9% uninsured rate (#45) and the #17 life expectancy. Coverage is a quarter of the score; how long people live is half.

  4. Obesity and diabetes travel together

    6 of the 10 states with the highest adult obesity rates also rank in the 10 highest for diabetes: Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia. Diabetes is not part of the score; the overlap comes straight from the CDC's survey data.

  5. West Virginia, Arkansas, and Louisiana trail on the most measures

    Across eight health outcomes and habits (life expectancy, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, self-rated health, mental distress, smoking and exercise), West Virginia, Arkansas, and Louisiana each land in the worst 10 on 8. Mississippi and Tennessee follow with 7.

  6. Healthier states are richer states

    The 10 healthiest states have an average median household income of $94,235, about 43% more than the $65,988 in the 10 lowest-scoring states. Income is not part of the health score, so the gap is a pattern in the data, not something the formula builds in.

  7. Big states spread across the table

    The 10 most populous states land between #3 (New York) and #41 (Texas). 2 of them rank in the top 10.

  8. The healthiest large cities cluster in California and Colorado

    California (4), Colorado (3), and Washington (2) account for 9 of the 10 healthiest cities with 100,000+ residents. Bellevue, WA leads with 18.8% of adults obese and 6.9% with diabetes.

Average health score by region

Mean health score of the states in each Census region, with the region's average life expectancy.

  1. 1Northeast11 states · 78.4 yrs70.6
  2. 2West13 states · 77.6 yrs60.6
  3. 3Midwest12 states · 77.1 yrs54.4
  4. 4South14 states · 74.8 yrs35.9

The Northeast averages 31.3% adult obesity and 5.4%uninsured; the South averages 36.6%and 9.5%.

Go Deeper

Best states for retirees →

Health counts for 20% of the retiree ranking, alongside taxes, housing costs and safety.

Compare two states →

Life expectancy, insurance and every other measure side by side.

All 1,312 cities →

Search and sort every city we track, each with CDC health estimates on its page.

Nurse pay by metro →

Where registered nurses earn the most after cost of living.

Other categoriesEconomySafetyEducationFiscal HealthGrowthAffordabilityEnvironmentOutdoor AccessTransportationLivability

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the healthiest state in America?

Massachusetts and Hawaii tie as the healthiest states with a health score of 88.6 out of 100; Massachusetts takes #1 on the overall-rank tiebreak. New York (79.7) is next. Massachusetts has a life expectancy of 79.8 years (#2), 27.0% of adults with obesity (#2) and 2.8% uninsured (#1). The 50-state averages are 76.9 years, 34.0% and 7.6%.

What are the 10 healthiest states?

The 10 healthiest states are Massachusetts (88.6), Hawaii (88.6), New York (79.7), New Jersey (78.1), California (77.6), Rhode Island (76.5), Colorado (75.4), Vermont (75.1), Minnesota (74.5), and Connecticut (74.3). 6 of the 10 are in the Northeast, and they average a life expectancy of 79.3 years.

What is the unhealthiest state in America?

Mississippi ranks last for health with a score of 18.1 out of 100, behind West Virginia (21.3) and Oklahoma (26.7). Across eight health outcomes and habits tracked on this page, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Louisiana each land in the worst 10 on 8, more than any other state.

What are the 10 unhealthiest states?

From the bottom up, the 10 lowest-scoring states for health are Mississippi (18.1), West Virginia (21.3), Oklahoma (26.7), Arkansas (28.0), Tennessee (28.7), Alabama (29.5), Louisiana (29.9), Kentucky (33.1), New Mexico (36.2), and Texas (37.7). 9 of them are in the South. They average a life expectancy of 73.9 years, against 79.3 years in the 10 healthiest states.

Why does Mississippi rank last for health?

Mississippi has the #49 life expectancy (72.6 years; the state average is 76.9 years), the #49 adult obesity rate (40.4%) and the #40 uninsured rate (9.7%), where #1 is best. Its biggest shortfall is life expectancy, where it earns 3.3 of a possible 50 points.

Which state has the highest life expectancy?

Hawaii has the longest life expectancy at birth, 80.0 years. Massachusetts (79.8), New Jersey (79.6), and New York (79.5) follow. 9 states reach 79 years or more.

Which state has the lowest life expectancy?

West Virginia has the shortest life expectancy at 72.2 years, 7.8 years less than Hawaii. Mississippi (72.6), Kentucky (73.6), and Oklahoma (73.8) are next. 9 states are below 75 years.

What is the average life expectancy in the United States?

Weighted by population, the 50 states average a life expectancy at birth of 77.3 years. The simple average of the 50 state figures is 76.9 years, because several small states sit well below big, long-lived states such as New York and California. State figures run from 72.2 years to 80.0 years.

Which state has the highest obesity rate?

West Virginia has the highest adult obesity rate at 41.4%, followed by Mississippi (40.4%), Louisiana (39.2%), and Arkansas (38.9%). 20 states have an adult obesity rate of 35% or more. Obesity is a quarter of the health score.

Which state has the lowest obesity rate?

Colorado has the lowest adult obesity rate at 25.0%, followed by Massachusetts (27.0%), Hawaii (27.0%), and New Jersey (27.7%). 8 states are below 30%. The 50-state average is 34.0%.

Which state has the highest uninsured rate?

Texas has the highest uninsured rate at 16.7% of residents, followed by Georgia (12.0%), Oklahoma (11.5%), and Nevada (11.4%). Massachusetts has the lowest at 2.8%. 9 states leave 10% or more of residents without coverage.

What are the best states for healthcare?

This ranking measures how healthy residents are and whether they have insurance. It does not measure hospital quality, doctor supply or wait times. On access, Massachusetts has the lowest uninsured rate (2.8%) and Hawaii has the fewest adults who skipped a doctor because of cost (7.3%). Massachusetts, Hawaii, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Minnesota are in the best 10 on both.

Which states have the highest diabetes rates?

West Virginia (16.7%), Kentucky (15.9%), and Alabama (15.6%) have the highest share of adults ever told they have diabetes, from the CDC's BRFSS survey. Alaska has the lowest at 8.3%, and the median state is at 12.3%. Diabetes is shown for context and is not part of the health score.

Which states smoke the most?

West Virginia (17.8%), Louisiana (15.7%), and Kentucky (15.2%) have the highest share of adults who currently smoke cigarettes. Utah has the lowest at 5.7%, and the median state is at 10.8%. Smoking is shown for context, not scored.

Which state has the best mental health?

By the CDC's frequent mental distress measure (adults reporting 14 or more poor mental health days a month), Hawaii (12.7%), Mississippi (13.6%), and New Jersey (13.8%) report the least. West Virginia (19.8%), Louisiana (19.8%), and Oregon (18.8%) report the most. The median state is at 15.8%. Mental health is shown for context and is not part of the state health score.

How is the health score calculated?

The score combines three measures, each on a fixed scale: life expectancy at birth from the CDC's state life tables (50%, scaled from 72 to 81 years), the share of adults with obesity from the CDC's BRFSS survey (25%, 24% to 42%, lower is better) and the share of residents without health insurance from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (25%, 2.5% to 17%, lower is better). Because the bounds are fixed, every state can improve at once. Health is 12% of each state's overall score; Massachusetts, #1 for health, is #13 overall.

Does income affect health rankings by state?

The 10 healthiest states have an average median household income of $94,235, against $65,988 in the 10 lowest-scoring states. Income is not an input to the health score, so the gap is a pattern in the data rather than something the formula builds in.

Which region is the healthiest?

The Northeast has the highest average health score at 70.6, followed by the West (60.6), the Midwest (54.4) and the South (35.9). Average life expectancy runs from 74.8 years in the South to 78.4 years in the Northeast.

What is the healthiest city in America?

Among cities with 100,000 or more residents, Bellevue, WA has the best health score (91.2), followed by Sunnyvale, CA (87.6) and Santa Clara, CA (85.3). Detroit, MI scores lowest. In Massachusetts, the healthiest large city is Cambridge. City scores use CDC PLACES estimates of adult obesity, diabetes and frequent mental distress.

Where does the health data come from, and how current is it?

Life expectancy comes from the CDC National Center for Health Statistics state life tables, adult obesity from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), and the uninsured rate from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, each from its latest release. Diabetes, smoking, exercise, mental distress, self-rated health, heart disease and access-to-care figures come from the latest BRFSS state estimates and are shown for context only. City figures are CDC PLACES model-based estimates for 1,311 tracked cities. The page is rebuilt when a source publishes a new release.

Health Rank for Every State

Every state's health rank, score and life expectancy. Click through for the full profile, including its cities and their health estimates.