Vermont has taken top billing as America’s healthiest state, a new report says.
According to a Healthy States Index released by the health care staffing platform Nursa, the Green Mountain State scored 8.69 out of 10 — earning top marks for low pollution levels, high life expectancy and an abundance of green spaces, gyms and healthy food stores.
Nursa’s index analyzed these factors, using data from the Center for Disease Control, the Environmental Protection Agency and OpenStreetMap to rank states on the 10-point scale.
The study also noted that states with a higher density of parks often have lower hospital readmission rates, a marker of overall community health.
Vermont led in access to healthy stores, with nearly 38 per 100,000 residents, and it maintains a relatively low adult smoking rate of 13.2%. Life expectancy for Vermont residents, too, now sits at 78.4 years.
New Hampshire and Washington round out the