Most Healthy Cities for Women
November 7, 2009 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Women's Health
Find out how your city rates on women’s health issues like cancer rates, water quality and even sleeping well, plus more. SELF recently researched 100 metro areas in the US to give you an idea of how your city ranks up.
SELF analyzed lots of data in around 50 categories like disease and mortality rates, lifestyle factors, environmental indicators and community resources. They utilized Sperling’s BestPlaces with the help of experts who weighed in on the importance of different factors.
To find out where the most fit, happy and healthy women live, view the complete rankings listed straight through to 100, or search by state to find your city.
If your city is near the bottom of the list, it’s rated a less healthy place to live for women. For example, Jackson, MS came in at number 86 with women there facing a 35% greater risk for rape than women living in other areas. Plus, there’s an above average rate of deaths from cervical, breast and colon cancers.
SELF isn’t trying to pick on cities though. They have something positive to say about all 100 metro areas listed. For example, Memphis, TN ranks at 89, but women in the city have lower rates of asthma and the water quality is good.
View the complete list at SELF, but here’s a peek at the Top Five Best Places for Women:
- Burlington–South Burlington, VT
- Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, MD
- Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, ME
- Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA
- San Francisco-Oakland, CA
How does your city rank? While factors like air and water quality may be out of your control, any woman living in any city can take charge of doctor’s visits, getting proper exercise, and maintaining a healthy diet. Living in a less healthy area doesn’t mean you have to be less healthy too!
(Image via stock.xchng)
