Hunterdon Ranked As New Jersey's Healthiest County, Cumberland Least Healthy
PRINCETON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Hunterdon County is considered New Jersey's healthiest county and Cumberland County the least healthy in a survey released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute examine how education, housing, violent crime, jobs, diet and exercise influence the health of residents.
"While not at first glance something that you think about when you think about health, they're all things that we know influence our health in really meaningful ways," Abbey Cofsky, senior program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, told WCBS 880's Levon Putney.
The rankings show the counties that score better nationally have higher college attendance, fewer preventable hospital stays and better access to parks and gyms.
The counties that rank lower have more smokers, teen births and alcohol-related motor vehicle accident deaths.
Hunterdon is followed by Somerset, Morris, Bergen and Middlesex counties as the healthiest.
Atlantic, Camden, Salem and Essex counties are among the least healthy.
Cofsky said the rankings, which are done for every state, are a call to action. They point out where improvements can be made so local groups, officials and residents can make them.
In New York, Rockland County ranked as the state's healthiest while Bronx County came in last. New York County was eighth of the 62.
Tolland County was ranked the healthiest in Connecticut, while New Haven was considered the worst of the eight. Fairfield was second.
For the complete rankings, visit CountyHealthRankings.org.
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