A community in northern Virginia is being recognized for its world-class health.
Falls Church, Virginia, was named the healthiest community in America by U.S. News and World Report.
The annual rankings list the 500 healthiest communities in the country, scoring in ten categories on a scale of 0 to 100 and based on assessments of nearly 3,000 counties and county equivalents.
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The categories include population health, equity, education, economy, housing, food and nutrition, environment, public safety, community vitality and infrastructure.
A colorful sign welcomes visitors and residents to Falls Church, “The Little City,” a suburb of Washington, DC. (iStock)
Falls Church scored highly in several categories – 97 in population health, 96 in economy, 94 in food and nutrition, 95 in infrastructure, and the highest score of 100 in education.
“The Little City” displaced Los Alamos County, New Mexico, which took second place in 2024, followed by Douglas County, Colorado, Sioux County, Iowa and Hamilton County, Indiana.
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Falls Church also took the top spot in 2018.
According to US News, the city scored highest in walkability and scored well for its proximity to destinations such as libraries, museums or playgrounds.
Pictured is a playground in Graham Park in Falls Church, Virginia. The city received the highest score for walkability and scored well due to its proximity to destinations such as libraries, museums or playgrounds. (Benjamin C. Tankersley/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)
In Falls Church, the high school enrollment rate is 93% and the graduation rate is 97%.
Eight out of ten residents have at least an associate degree, giving the city a high score in education.
Behind the ranking
Each of the ten categories evaluated consists of 92 metrics, US News data editor Julia Haines told Fox News Digital.
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For example, the “population health” category takes into account indicators such as cancer prevalence, lack of health insurance and life expectancy, which, according to Haines, is the most heavily weighted of all categories.
This is followed by justice, education and economy.
Falls Church ranked highly in several of these categories, Haines said.
A class is pictured at Justice High School in Falls Church, Virginia, on September 11, 2019. (ALASTAIR PIKE/AFP via Getty Images)
“We like to say that consistency is key across all of our rankings, so good results across a range of categories and subcategories contribute to a country’s success,” she told Fox News Digital.
Speaking at the sixth edition of U.S. News’ Healthiest Communities, Haines said he hopes the annual list will spark conversations among communities and individuals.
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“(The list) allows our readers to not only find out how their communities are succeeding, but also where they may not be succeeding, and perhaps motivate readers and community leaders to look for solutions,” she said.
“For example, someone might find that while their county is doing very well, a county just a few miles away is struggling. This suggests that something else may be causing this development in the future.”
The population health category takes into account indicators such as cancer incidence, the population without health insurance and life expectancy, which is the most heavily weighted of all categories. (iStock)
Dana Jones, director of the Falls Church Housing and Human Services Department, said the community’s response to the award was “a joy that the city is being recognized for something we are truly committed to.”
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“Residents and staff recognize the connection between health, well-being and quality of life,” she told Fox News Digital.
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Jones cited several assets that she believes give Falls Church an edge, including the city’s nationally renowned farmers market, “outstanding education system” and easy walkability.
The Eden Center at Seven Corners in Falls Church, Virginia, is a destination for Vietnamese food and specialties. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Mayor Letty Hardi shows “fitness in action” by walking and jogging around town and hosting the annual Mayors’ Fitness Challenge, Jones noted.
Other factors that contributed to the city’s ranking, according to Jones, include “improved walking trails, a focus on bike safety and the availability of healthy food.”
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Above all, she added, community members wanted “the best for themselves and their families, including comprehensive health care and a safe and affordable place to live.”
