II

11-20.

There are many things that influence how well and how long we live. Everything from our
education to our environments impact our health. Health Factors represent those things we can
modify to improve the length and quality of life for residents. They are predictors of how
healthy our communities can be in the future.

There is no one factor that dictates the overall health of an individual or community. A
combination of multiple modifiable factors, from clean air and water to stable and affordable
housing, need to be considered to ensure community health for all. The County Health Rankings
illuminate those opportunities for improvement by ranking the health of nearly every county in
the nation across four Health Factors:

Health Behaviors, providing rates of alcohol and drug use, diet and exercise, sexual activity, and
tobacco use.

Clinical Care, showing the details of access to and quality of health care.

Social and Economic Factors, rating education, employment, income, family and social support,
and community safety.

Physical Environment, measuring air and water quality as well as housing and transit.