Jefferson, Walworth counties named among America’s healthiest communities by U.S. News and World Report

By Kim McDarison

U.S. News and World Report has ranked 500 counties, naming them as the healthiest communities nationwide in 2024.

In the Fort Atkinson Online and WhitewaterWise readership area, both Jefferson County, ranking No. 196, and Walworth County, ranking No. 419, made the list.

Wisconsin was well represented among the top 500 counties nationwide, with 30 of the state’s 72 counties making the cut.

Among counties in Wisconsin, Ozaukee County was listed among the top 10, finding its place as No. 7. Other top 10 scoring counties were found in Virginia, New Mexico, Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, and Utah.

Each of the counties were scored across 10 categories that “drive community health,” the report stated. Communities were scored on a scale of zero to 100, with scores calculated within each category, along with an overall score. 

According to the report, U.S. News and World Report used “crucial health-related components of society,” to score some 3,000 counties, using “92 indicators across the 10 categories.” 

The project, the report continued, was “guided by a pioneering framework developed by a committee appointed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.” 

The report further noted that two of the 10 categories — population health and equity — “are the most heavily weighted,” with that decision “based on the assessments of more than a dozen leading experts on what matters most to a community’s health.”

Among the 500 counties nationwide receiving a rank, along with Ozaukee, those making the list in Wisconsin include: Waukesha County received a rank of 23, and Washington County, which came in at 46. Also making the top 500 list, St. Croix County was ranked 65, Iowa County received a ranking of 79, and Calumet County achieved a rank of 89. Dane County was ranked as No. 97, Outagamie County ranked 120, Green County ranked 132, Portage County ranked 194, Jefferson County ranked 196, Eau Claire County, ranked 238, Pierce County ranked 245, Door County ranked 262, La Crosse County ranked 268, Columbia County ranked 316, Kewaunee County ranked 337, followed by Sheboygan County, at 338, Dodge County ranked 347, Chippewa County ranked 357, Fond du Lac County ranked 374, Marathon County ranked 383, Sauk County ranked 391, Trempealeau County ranked 404, Wood County ranked 406, Brown County ranked 417, Walworth County ranked 419, Grant County ranked 429, Lafayette County ranked 437, and Winnebago County ranked 453.   

Jefferson County

Information presented within the report ranks Jefferson County No. 196 out of 500. The county was ranked No. 200 in 2022.

The county has a population, according to the report of 85,932, and a land area of 556 square miles.

After ranking the county within 10 categories, it received an overall score of 72. The state average is 61.

Looking at scores within 10 categories, the county showed a “population health” of 73, an “equity” score of 83, an education score of 57, an economy score of 64, a housing score of 63, a food and nutrition score of 85, an environment score of 42, a public safety score of 63, a community vitality score of 60, and an infrastructure score of 70.

Among information provided within the category of “overall population health,” 6.3% of the county’s population was without health insurance. The national average is 11.5%. Just over 14% was listed as a “smoking rate.” The national average is 19%. Life expectancy in the county is 78.7 years, while the national average is 75.8 years.

Within the category of equity, under a heading of “racial disparity in educational attainment,” the county received a score of 0.25. The national average is 0.18. Under a heading of “premature death disparity index,” the county received a score of 0.048. The national average is 0.238. Under a heading of “segregation index,” the county received a score of 0.29. The national average is 0.39.

Within the category of education, 95.6% of the county’s population graduated from high school. The national average is 88.0%. Some 38.4 percent of the population has achieved an advanced degree. The national average is 33.1%. Within the county, per-pupil expenditures are $17,377. The national average is $16,485.

Calculated as part of the overall economy score, the county’s unemployment rate is 2.8%, while the national average is 3.6%. The median household income in the county is $87,214, while the national average is $69,434, and the county’s poverty rate is 7.6%, while the national average is 14.4%.

Looking at the category of housing, the report noted that 23.3% of households within the county are spending at least 30% of their income on housing. The national average is 23.5%. Work hours required to pay for affordable housing in the county were listed at 37.4. The national average is 40.2. Within the county, 6.5% of the housing stock is vacant. The national average is 17.6%.

Within the category of public safety, the report stated that, within the county, violent crime was less than the national average, with the former reported as 148.0 out of 100,000 and the latter reported as 255.2 out of 100,000.

Per capita spending on health and emergency services within the county was $563, while the national average was $440. In Jefferson County, public safety professionals in population were reported at 0.61% while the national average was reported at 0.82%.

Within the community vitality score, the report noted a home ownership rate within the county of 73.1%. The national average is 72.7%.

The report noted a net migrant rate of 2.4% in the county. The national average is 1.6%. Within Jefferson County, there is a voter participation rate of 73.8%. The national average is 66.0%.

The full overview for Jefferson County as produced by the U.S. News and World Report as part of its “Healthiest Communities” presentation is here: https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/wisconsin/jefferson-county.

In a recent news release, several Jefferson County officials expressed their thoughts about the achieved ranking.

“I think our improvement in the ranking really recognizes the hard work and dedication of the JCHD staff. In the last year the state elevated the department to a Level III Health Department, reflecting its ability to focus on systemic and strategic approaches to improve local public health and tackle gaps in the social determinants of health through such things as healthcare access, risk prevention, and education,” County Board Supervisor and Vice-Chair of the Jefferson County Board of Health Meg Turville-Heitz said. 

“The Jefferson County Health Department was recently designated a level III Health Department showing their strength in leading data collection, providing public health expertise, and the work they do to address the social determinates of health. Jefferson County is also very fortunate to not only have stakeholders who are dedicated to improving the health of the residents of Jefferson County, but also committed to enhancing partnerships that allow for innovate ways to tackle health barriers seen across our county as a united front,” Director/Health Officer for the Jefferson County Health Department Elizabeth McGeary said.

“The U.S. News and World Report rankings show how our countywide investments—from healthcare to parks and many other areas impacting quality of life—are providing for the health and well-being of our residents. The outcomes of this report align well with the inputs from our strategic plan that guide and direct our investments,” Jefferson County Administrator Ben Wehmeier said.

Walworth County

Information presented within the report ranks Walworth County No. 419 out of 500. The county was ranked 474 in 2022.

The county has a population, according to the report of 105,127, and a land area of 555 square miles.

The county received an overall score of 65. The state average is 61.

Looking at scores within 10 categories, the county showed a “population health” of 70, an “equity” score of 65, an education score of 59, an economy score of 63, a housing score of 52, a food and nutrition score of 70, an environment score of 54, a public safety score of 66, a community vitality score of 56 and an infrastructure score of 70.

Among information provided within the category of “overall population health,” 7.3% of the county’s population was without health insurance. The national average is 11.5%. Just over 14% was listed as a “smoking rate.” The national average is 19%. Life expectancy in the county is 78.2 years, while the national average is 75.8 years.

Within the category of equity, under a heading of “racial disparity in educational attainment,” the county received a score of 0.37. The national average is 0.18. Under a heading of “premature death disparity index,” the county received a score of 0.080. The national average is 0.238. Under a heading of “segregation index,” the county received a score of 0.27. The national average is 0.39.

Within the category of education, 96.3% of the county’s population graduated from high school. The national average is 88.0%. Some 40.2 percent of the population has achieved an advanced degree. The national average is 33.1%. Within the county, per-pupil expenditures are $17,434. The national average is $16,485.

Calculated as part of the overall economy score, the county’s unemployment rate is 2.9%, while the national average is 3.6%. The median household income in the county is $85,123, while the national average is $69,434, and the county’s poverty rate is 9.6%, while the national average is 14.4%.

Looking at the category of housing, the report noted that 25.2% of households within the county are spending at least 30% of their income on housing. The national average is 23.5%. Work hours required to pay for affordable housing in the county were listed at 40.5. The national average is 40.2. Within the county, 20.8% of the housing stock is vacant. The national average is 17.6%.

Within the category of public safety, the report stated that, within the county, violent crime was less than the national average, with the former reported as 86.0 out of 100,000 and the latter reported as 255.2 out of 100,000.

Per capita spending on health and emergency services within the county was $628, while the national average was $440. In Walworth County, public safety professionals in population were reported at 0.43% while the national average was reported at 0.82%.

Within the community vitality score, the report noted a home ownership rate within the county of  69.7%. The national average is 72.7%.

The report noted a net migrant rate of 2.7% in the county. The national average is 1.6%. Within Walworth County, there is a voter participation rate of 73.7%. The national average is 66.0%.

The full overview for Walworth County as produced by the U.S. News and World Report as part of its “Healthiest Communities” presentation is here:  https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/wisconsin/walworth-county.

Rock County

Information presented within the report does not rank Rock County within the top 500 counties. Instead, the county is shown to have achieved an overall score of 59 on a scale of zero to 100. The state average is 61. The county did not rank within the top 500 counties nationwide in 2022.

The county has a population, according to the report of 163,817, and a land area of 718 square miles.

Looking at scores within 10 categories, the county showed a “population health” of 66, an “equity” score of 66, an education score of 45, an economy score of 60, a housing score of 59, a food and nutrition score of 64, an environment score of 43, a public safety score of 52, a community vitality score of 45, and an infrastructure score of 86.

Among information provided within the category of “overall population health,” 7.0% of the county’s population was without health insurance. The national average is 11.5%. 15.7% was listed as a “smoking rate.” The national average is 19%. Life expectancy in the county is 77.1 years, while the national average is 75.8 years.

Within the category of equity, under a heading of “racial disparity in educational attainment,” the county received a score of 0.31. The national average is 0.18. Under a heading of “premature death disparity index,” the county received a score of 0.093. The national average is 0.238. Under a heading of “segregation index,” the county received a score of 0.30. The national average is 0.39.

Within the category of education, 88.3% of the county’s population graduated from high school. The national average is 88.0%. Some 36.0 percent of the population has achieved an advanced degree. The national average is 33.1%. Within the county, per-pupil expenditures are $18,169. The national average is $16,485.

Calculated as part of the overall economy score, the county’s unemployment rate is 3.4%, while the national average is 3.6%. The median household income in the county is $77,006, while the national average is $69,434, and the county’s poverty rate is 9.9%, while the national average is 14.4%.

Looking at the category of housing, the report noted that 24.3% of households within the county are spending at least 30% of their income on housing. The national average is 23.5%. Work hours required to pay for affordable housing in the county were listed at 31.9. The national average is 40.2. Within the county, 5.4% of the housing stock is vacant. The national average is 17.6%.

Within the category of public safety, the report stated that, within the county, violent crime was less than the national average, with the former reported as 230.5 out of 100,000 and the latter reported as 255.2 out of 100,000.

Per capita spending on health and emergency services within the county was $823, while the national average was $440. In Rock County, public safety professionals in population were reported at 0.60% while the national average was reported at 0.82%.

Within the community vitality score, the report noted a home ownership rate within the county of 69.9%. The national average is 72.7%.

The report noted a net migrant rate of 0.9% in the county. The national average is 1.6%. Within Rock County, there is a voter participation rate of 71.0%. The national average is 66.0%.

The full overview for Rock County as produced by the U.S. News and World Report as part of its “Healthiest Communities” presentation is here: https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/wisconsin/rock-county.

The full nationwide report is here: https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities.