Maryland Counties Lead the Way in Health Rankings: Civic Health and Structural Barriers Highlighted

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

The report specifically focuses on the link between civic participation, known as civic health, and overall well-being. It emphasizes the importance of civic infrastructure and spaces for community engagement, such as access to local news, broadband internet, and public libraries. Structural barriers like policies and laws that can hinder voting and worker unionizing are also discussed.

Montgomery County emerged as a leader in Maryland based on these criteria, while Frederick County and Howard County also made it to the top of the rankings nationwide. For more detailed information on each county’s health outcomes and rankings, visit the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps website. This data provides key insights from the report and allows for a closer look at how each county in Maryland compares in terms of health outcomes.