Montgomery County was ranked one of the healthiest counties in Maryland and in the U.S., according to the annual County Health Rankings (CHR) report.
The CHR, a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, compares counties within each state on more than 30 factors that impact health including education, jobs, housing, exercise and commuting times.
The report does not provide rankings for each county within a state, but shows metrics about a county’s health outcomes and underlying factors compared to other counties in the state and nationwide.
“I am proud that we continue to be ranked among the healthiest counties in Maryland and in the United States,” said County Executive Marc Elrich in a press release. “We do have areas that we can improve, but with our County health officials, hospitals, community-based nonprofit health providers and other stakeholders working together, I know that improving health outcomes for our community’s residents remains a priority.”
Montgomery County’s premature death rate is almost half that of Maryland or the nation, according to the report. The county’s life expectancy of 83.5 beat Maryland at 78 and the country at 77.6. The county also has a lower percent of adults who smoke, measuring at 9 percent compared with the country’s 15 percent.
The obesity rate is lower, too; a quarter of Montgomery County adults were considered obese, while over a third of Maryland adults were in the category. The county’s teen birthrate was nearly half of the country’s rate.
In terms of healthcare, Montgomery County has a higher ratio of primary care physicians, dentists and mental health providers per resident than average in Maryland and the U.S. and fewer preventable hospital stays than most areas.
But the county continues to see disparities across racial and ethnic populations who disproportionately perform less on several metrics that indicate health.
“This is an achievement to be celebrated,” county health officer Kisha Davis said in a press release. “While we celebrate this success, we also recognize that there continue to be disparities, especially in our communities of color. We continue to work to break down inequities so that everyone can enjoy these health benefits.”
Einav Tsach contributed to this story
