A Northern Virginia community is being recognized for its tip-top health status.
Falls Church, Virginia, has been named America’s healthiest community by U.S. News and World Report.
The annual ranking lists the top 500 healthiest communities nationwide using a score of zero to 100 across 10 categories, 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 the city of Falls Church, “The Little City,” a suburb of Washington, D.C. (iStock)
Falls Church scored high in multiple categories — 97 in population health, 96 in economy, 94 in food and nutrition, 95 in infrastructure, and a perfect score of 100 in education.
“The Little City” dethroned 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 landed the top spot in 2018.
The city was found to have the top walkability score and ranked high for its proximity to destinations like libraries, museums or playgrounds, according to U.S. News.
A playground at Graham Park in Falls Church, Virginia, is pictured. The city was found to have the top walkability score and ranked high for its proximity to destinations like libraries, museums or playgrounds. (Benjamin C Tankersley/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Falls Church has a 93% preschool enrollment rate and a 97% high school graduation rate.
Eight in 10 residents have at least an associate’s degree, earning the city a high score in education.
Behind the ranking
There are 92 metrics that make up each of the 10 assessed categories, U.S. News data editor Julia Haines shared with Fox News Digital.
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For example, the population health category considers metrics like cancer prevalence, lack of health insurance, and life expectancy, which is the heaviest weighted of all categories, according to Haines.
This is followed by equity, education and the economy.
Falls Church ranked high in a number 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 our rankings, so doing well in a number of categories and subcategories helps a county succeed,” she told Fox News Digital.
As U.S. News marks its sixth edition of Healthiest Communities, Haines said she hopes the annual list starts conversations among communities and individuals.
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“[The list] allows our readers to not only identify how their communities succeed, but also where they may fall short, perhaps motivating readers and community leaders to find solutions,” she said.
“For example, someone may find that while their county is doing really well, a county just a few miles away could be struggling, indicating that something may be causing that shift down the road.”
The population health category considers metrics like cancer prevalence, population with no health insurance, and life expectancy, which is the heaviest weighted of all categories. (iStock)
Dana Jones, the director of Housing and Human Services in Falls Church, said the local reaction to the designation has been “one of joy that the city has been recognized for something we make a real effort toward.”
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“Residents and employees see the correlation between health, wellness and quality of life,” she told Fox News Digital.
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Jones echoed some attributes that she believes gave Falls Church an advantage, including the city’s nationally recognized farmers market, “outstanding education system” and walkability.
The Eden Center, located 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 displays “fitness in action” by walking and jogging around town and hosting the annual Mayors’ Fitness Challenge, Jones noted.
Some of the other contributing factors to the city’s ranking include “trail improvements, a focus on bike safety and the availability of healthy food,” according to Jones.
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Above all, she added, community members want “the best for themselves and their families, including comprehensive health and a safe and affordable place to live.”
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