The 2024 annual County Health Rankings (CHR) report highlights Montgomery County, Frederick County, and Howard County as some of the healthiest counties in the United States. The report specifically focuses on the link between civic participation, known as civic health, and overall well-being. It emphasizes the importance of civic infrastructure and spaces for community engagement, such as access to local news, broadband internet, and public libraries. Structural barriers like policies and laws that can hinder voting and worker unionizing are also discussed.
The CHR is a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, comparing counties within each state based on more than 30 factors that influence health. These factors include social determinants like education, employment, housing, physical activity, and commute times. Montgomery, Frederick, and Howard counties emerged as leaders in Maryland and across the nation based on these criteria.
For more detailed information on each county’s health outcomes and rankings, visit the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps website. This data provides key insights from the report and allows for a closer look at how each county in Maryland compares in terms of health outcomes. Find specific data on Howard County, Frederick County, and Montgomery County to gain a better understanding of their standing in the rankings.