The Healthiest States In The US (And The Least Healthy)

Well-being is incredibly important, and it's clear that different countries put different amounts of focus on this topic. States also differ in well-being, in everything from access to food and healthcare to physical and social well-being. Sharecare and the Boston University School of Public Health released a report, called Sharecare's 2020 Community Well-Being Index, detailing the healthiest and the least healthy states to live in. Read on to find out which six states did the best and which six did the worst.

Interestingly, nine of the top healthiest states (except Utah), voted for Biden in the 2020 Presidential Election, while nine out of the ten least healthy states (except New Mexico) voted for Trump. Click here to download and read the full report.

Massachusetts beat out Hawaii, which had taken the top spot in the Index for several years. It ranks strong in financial, social, purpose, physical and community well-being. It also ranked first in the nation for access to healthcare and second for housing and transportation.

Hawaii is the second healthiest state in the nation, ranking highly in overall well-being since 2008. It ranks first in the nation for individual well-being, as well as for financial, social, physical and community well-being, as well as housing and transportation.

New Jersey ranks third in the nation for overall well-being, ranking third in physical, financial and social well-being categories, and ranking in the top five for the rest of the index's categories, except in the access to resources, healthcare and economic security categories.

Maryland ranks fourth in the nation, ranking second in physical, financial, social, community and purpose well-being categories, but it ranks lower for access to food, healthcare and resources, as well as economic security and housing and transportation.

New York ranks fifth in the nation, but it ranks second in the Overall Social Determinants for Health category, which includes sub-categories like access to healthcare and food. It ranks second in the nation for access to food, fifth for access to healthcare and third for housing and transportation.

California consistently ranks highly in the index, and this year it ranks sixth in the nation. It takes the first place, however, in the access to food category, and fourth in housing and transportation.

The worst state in the nation for overall well-being is Mississippi. The country ranks 47th in physical well-being, as well as 50th in social, financial and community well-being. It also ranks the worst in the nation for Overall Social Determinants for Health, and it ranks 50th in access to food, 48th in economic security and 49th in housing and transportation.

Arkansas is the second worst state in the nation. It ranks 48th in Overall Social Determinants for Health, and 50th in physical, 46th in community and 46th in purpose well-being categories. It also ranks 46th in housing and transportation.

New Mexico ranks 47th overall in the index. It ranks 49th in Overall Individual Well-being, 49th in financial, social and purpose well-being categories, as well as 50th in the community well-being category. It also ranks 49th for economic security.

West Virginia ranks 46th overall. It ranks 49th in the Overall Social Determinants for Health category, 50th for economic security and 47th for access to food.

Kentucky ranks 45th in the nation. It ranks 48th for Overall Individual Well-being and 47th in Overall Social Determinants for Health. It ranks 46th for financial well-being, 47th for social and 48th for purpose. It also ranks 47th for economic security.

Oklahoma ranks 44th in the nation. It ranks 47th in Overall Individual Well-being, as well as 49th in physical, 48th in financial, 46th in social and 47th in community well-being categories. It also ranks 48th in access to healthcare and 47th in housing and transportation.