New Rankings Find Our Area Has Least Healthiest, Healthiest Counties In Pennsylvania
PENNSYLVANIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania's healthiest and least healthy counties are in our area, according to new rankings.
Chester County is the healthiest county in the state, according to the ninth annual county health rankings compiled by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Popluation Health Institute.
The analysis looks at how long and how well residents live, says Francine Axler of the nonprofit Public Health Management Corporation.
"We know that where one lives can affect length of life and quality of life," she tells KYW Newsradio.
The ranking lists factors including poverty, crime, access to health care and healthy food. Philadelphia is last among the state's 67 counties.
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"Unfortunately Philadelphia ranks lowest, for many years," she said.
Montgomery County is fourth healthiest, Bucks is seventh and Delaware County is 49th.
Axler says the rankings are used to help identify gaps in service and address barriers to health care.
In New Jersey, the least-healthy counties are in South Jersey. Cumberland County is last among the Garden State's 21 counties. Salem is 20th. Camden
County is 19th Gloucester ranks 15th and Burlington is the ninth-healthiest.
The full rankings are available at www.countyhealthrankings.org
