Fairfax County has gained a couple spots in an annual ranking of the healthiest communities in the U.S.
The county snagged 14th place, up from 17th in 2022, in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 rankings of the nation’s healthiest communities. It came in higher than Fairfax City (no. 15) and Arlington County (no. 19) but couldn’t beat Falls Church City, which claimed the top spot.
With an overall score of 87, Fairfax stands out with an average life expectancy of 84.9 years and a low smoking rate of 8.3% — both above the national average, according to U.S. News.
The county got a perfect score of 100 for population health, indicating excellent access to care, healthy behaviors, good physical and mental health outcomes and a low rate of illness. It also excels in food and nutrition, with low diabetes and obesity rates and a high percentage of residents having access to healthy foods.
Environmental challenges include air quality and natural hazards, but the county benefits from a high percentage of the population living near parks.
Despite a healthy populace, Fairfax County has room for improvement in equity, where it got a score of 58 due to higher-than-average disparities in educational attainment, air pollution exposure and poverty rates among different racial groups and neighborhoods.
In terms of education, the county scored a 76, with a high school graduation rate of 92% and a notable 69.7% of residents holding advanced degrees. It also invests more than the U.S. and Virginia average in education, with per-pupil expenditures of $18,256.
According to U.S. News, the economy is robust, with a low unemployment rate of 2.5% and a median household income of $130,408. The poverty rate is lower than average at 6%, but a score of 51 indicates that housing remains a concern due to affordability and capacity issues.
Public safety is a strong point for Fairfax County, per the rankings, with low crime rates and high per-capita spending on health and emergency services.
Community vitality was the county’s lowest score at 42, reflecting a homeownership rate of 68.5% that’s lower than the U.S. average of 72.7%, though it’s slightly higher than the state (66.8%). A shortfall in local government revenue versus expenditures and more people moving out of the county than in also contributed to the score.
For infrastructure, the county scored 87, meaning it’s highly developed with nearly universal internet access and a high walkability index, which indicates how conducive an area is to walking.
According to U.S. News, Falls Church stood out as an “active, engaged community.” The city landed an overall perfect score of 100, receiving high marks for education, population health, economy, nutrition and infrastructure.
“This recognition speaks to the community commitment to provide opportunities for all residents to live a healthy life in the City of Falls Church,” Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi said in a press release. “Being part of a 15-minute city — where all needs can be met within a 15-minute walk or bike ride — has been a core draw for new residents and businesses.”
