Morris County Ranks Among Healthiest and Safest Communities in the Nation

Morris County, NJ – Morris County has earned the 16th spot in the 2024 U.S. News Healthiest Communities rankings, placing it among the top-performing counties nationwide in terms of health and wellness. The county also placed 23rd in the U.S. News ranking of Safest Communities in America. This achievement underscores the county's strong performance across a range of crucial health-related metrics, particularly in population health, education, and public safety.

The U.S. News Healthiest Communities rankings evaluate nearly 3,000 counties across the United States using 92 indicators spread across 10 categories that influence overall community health. The categories include population health, equity, education, economy, housing, food and nutrition, environment, public safety, community vitality, and infrastructure. The rankings aim to empower citizens, healthcare leaders, and policymakers to make informed decisions that can enhance health outcomes.

Morris County ranks overall as the 16th Healthiest Community in the United States, with no change in ranking position since 2022.

Morris County excelled in several categories, including:

• Population Health: Scored 90
• Education: Scored 85
• Economy: Scored 89
• Food & Nutrition: Scored 86
• Public Safety: Scored 83

The population health category assesses access to care, healthy behaviors, health conditions, mental health and resulting health outcomes within communities.

The county's high ranking in public safety is particularly notable, with a score of 82.84, making it one of the safest communities in the nation. This score reflects Morris County's low vehicle crash fatality rate and strong emergency services infrastructure, factors that significantly contribute to the overall health and well-being of its residents.

The public safety category aims to reward communities with low crime rates, few deaths tied to accidents and motor vehicle crashes, and a robust health and public safety infrastructure.

Morris County's strong economic performance and robust educational system further bolster its position as a leader in community health. These factors, combined with effective public safety measures, create an environment that supports both the physical and mental well-being of its residents.

The education category examines the strength of a community's education system and the education level of its residents through measures of participation, infrastructure and achievement.

With a population of 508,816, Morris County is recognized as an urban area with a high-performing economy. The county's overall score of 86.75 in the Healthiest Communities rankings highlights its ability to provide a high quality of life for its residents.

The economy category captures measures of employment, opportunity and wealth. It serves as a backbone to the Healthiest Communities peer group rankings, which account for the complex challenges and limited resources within many communities.

As local leaders continue to focus on improving community health outcomes, Morris County serves as a model for how strategic investments in health, safety, and education can create a thriving and healthy community.

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