To develop the economic scores, US News & World Report analyzed several key elements that contribute to wellbeing. “The economic distinction was based on the“ economy ”category in the ranking of the healthiest communities, measurements of household income, the poverty rate, households with welfare income, people with medical debts, unemployment, labor force participation, weekly wages, job diversity, Employment proximity and business growth, ”the website says. The top 10 healthiest communities all fell in the top 35 percent of the economic ranking.

The 10 Healthiest Communities in the United States

1. Los Alamos County, New Mexico (# 150 for Economics)
2. Douglas County, Colorado (# 2 for Economics)
3. Falls Church City, Virginia (# 3 for Economics)
4. Loudoun County, Virginia (# 1 for Economics)
5. Broomfield County, Colorado (# 4 for Economics)
6. San Miguel County, Colorado (# 177 for Economics)
7. Pitkin County, Colorado (103rd for Economics)
8. Howard County, Maryland (# 10 for Business)
9. Mogan County, Utah (# 114 for Economics)
10. Routt County, Colorado (# 159 for Economics)

2019 census data shows that Los Alamos County, also ranked the healthiest community in 2020, has a median household income of over $ 121,324, nearly double the U.S. median household income of $ 68,703 . Loudoun County, Virginia, which received the top economic rating, has a median household income of $ 142,229, with just 3.1 percent of the population living in poverty.

In many cases, wealth is health. People with higher incomes are more likely to have the money and time flexibility to use preventive health services. And if they do fall ill, they will receive comprehensive medical care and can afford the costs out of pocket. Earlier this year, Matthew Killingsworth, PhD, Senior Fellow and Happiness Researcher at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, published a study that looked at the happiness levels of over 33,000 people. He found that well-being increases with income. “Larger incomes were robustly associated with both greater experienced well-being and greater evaluative well-being,” he wrote in the study.

“Anyone who says money doesn’t make you happy has never done their grocery shopping in the dollar store,” says clinical psychologist Aimee Daramus, PsyD. “Money buys security. It can buy belonging by allowing you to do the same things and wear similar clothes as your friends and co-workers. That means you can have health insurance and leisure and exercise equipment at home or in a neighborhood where you can run safely at night. Holidays, massages and money can be afforded in order to be less afraid of emergencies. “

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