What is the most unhealthiest city in the United States?

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Brownsville, Texas, is ranked as the unhealthiest city in America, according to a WalletHub Study.

Key Rankings and Details

  • Rank #182 (Lowest Score): Brownsville scored a total of 24.34 out of 100 points.
  • Evaluated Metrics: The study compared 182 large U.S. cities across 41 health indicators divided into four equal categories: Health Care, Food, Fitness, and Green Space.
  • Main Factors: Brownsville struggled with high rates of physical inactivity, limited green space, fewer healthy restaurants per capita, and low access to affordable healthcare or nutritious food options.

Top 10 Unhealthiest Cities in America

  1. Brownsville, TX
  2. Gulfport, MS
  3. Laredo, TX
  4. Shreveport, LA
  5. Fort Smith, AR
  6. Huntington, WV
  7. Toledo, OH
  8. Corpus Christi, TX
  9. Montgomery, AL
  10. Memphis, TN

What are the top 10 unhealthiest cities in the US?

According to WalletHub's 2026 study on the healthiest and unhealthiest cities in America, Brownsville, Texas is ranked as the unhealthiest city in the United States.

The rankings are based on 182 major U.S. cities evaluated across 41 key indicators, including healthcare, food access, fitness resources, and green space.

Top 10 Unhealthiest Cities in America (2026)

  1. Brownsville, TX
  2. Gulfport, MS
  3. Laredo, TX
  4. Shreveport, LA
  5. Fort Smith, AR
  6. Huntington, WV
  7. Toledo, OH
  8. Corpus Christi, TX
  9. Montgomery, AL
  10. Memphis, TN

Common Factors in Unhealthy Cities

  • Limited Access: Fewer healthy food options, grocery choices, and dietitians per capita.
  • Fitness Barriers: Lower rates of physical activity and fewer fitness/recreation centers.
  • Health Outcomes: Higher rates of chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, coupled with weaker local healthcare infrastructure.

What are the top 5 unhealthiest states?

According to recent public health evaluations like those from World Population Review, the top 5 unhealthiest states in the U.S. are West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky.

Why These States Rank Lowest

  • West Virginia: Often ranks at the very bottom due to high rates of adult obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity.
  • Mississippi: Struggles with low average life expectancy and high rates of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
  • Tennessee: Faces significant challenges regarding disease prevalence and limited access to preventative care.
  • Arkansas: Reports high levels of childhood poverty, physical inactivity, and obesity.
  • Kentucky: Exhibits high smoking rates and low levels of physical leisure-time activity.

What is the most unhealthiest city in the world?

There is no single official "most unhealthy city in the world," but global studies often point to major urban areas suffering from severe air pollution, high obesity, or poor health infrastructure.

Global Air Pollution and Unhealthy Cities

When measuring health risks from toxic air and pollution (PM2.5 levels), cities in South Asia frequently rank as the most polluted globally:

  • New Delhi, India and Bhiwadi, India routinely record some of the highest levels of fine particulate matter air pollution in the world.
  • Jakarta, Indonesia struggles with severe smog, poor waste management, and heavy vehicle emissions that rank it among the dirtiest and most environmentally strained major capitals.

Lifestyle and Global Rankings

Broader lifestyle indices (such as historical studies by Lenstore) have analyzed global megacities based on obesity, life expectancy, and working hours:

  • Cities like New York City and Washington D.C. have ranked surprisingly high on global unhealthiness lists due to extreme work stress, high obesity rates, and expensive fitness access.

Unhealthiest Cities in the United States

In domestic tracking, WalletHub's Healthiest and Unhealthiest Cities study evaluates U.S. hubs across healthcare, food, fitness, and green space:

  • Brownsville, Texas ranks as the unhealthiest city in the U.S., driven by high rates of physical inactivity, limited green space, and high rates of diabetes and obesity.
  • Other low-ranking U.S. cities include Gulfport, Mississippi, Laredo, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana.

What is the #1 healthiest city in America?

San Francisco, California, is ranked as the #1 healthiest city in America by WalletHub's analysis of large U.S. cities.

Why San Francisco Ranks #1

  • Low Obesity: It has one of the lowest adult obesity rates in the nation at roughly 18%.
  • Green Spaces: Every resident lives within walking distance of a park or green space, featuring major areas like Golden Gate Park.
  • Food and Nutrition: The city ranks first in the food category, offering extensive access to fresh produce, farmers' markets, and healthy restaurants.
  • Active Lifestyle: The urban layout heavily supports walking and biking as part of daily routines.

Note: Rankings can change depending on the study. For example, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) American Fitness Index ranks Arlington, Virginia, as the #1 fittest city, while other publications use different metrics.

I Investigated the Most Obese City in America…

9 related questions found

What city is ranked the worst in the US?

There is no single "worst" city in the United States, as rankings depend entirely on the specific criteria used—such as crime rates, economic hardship, or operational efficiency.

Crime and Safety Rankings

When ranked by violent and property crime rates using FBI data, U.S. News and Security.org frequently place Memphis, Tennessee at the top of the list for highest overall and violent crime risk per capita. Other cities frequently high on crime risk lists include Oakland, California, St. Louis, Missouri, and Detroit, Michigan.

Poverty and Economic Hardship

When evaluating cities based on poverty rates, low median household incomes, and lack of education or employment opportunities, studies compiled by platforms like the World Population Review frequently point to smaller economically distressed municipalities like Mendota, California or Highland Park, Michigan as having the highest concentrations of poverty.

City Management and Services

When evaluating major metropolitan areas based on the operating efficiency and quality of city services relative to budgets, WalletHub's analysis of well-run vs. poorly-run cities places cities like San Francisco, California at the lower end of operational rankings for large cities.

Which city is considered the healthiest in the world?

Oslo, Norway is ranked as the healthiest city in the world according to the Healthy City Index 2026.

Different studies use different rules to measure health. Because of this, other global reports highlight different cities as top destinations for wellness and longevity.

Top Healthiest Cities Globally

  • Oslo, Norway: Ranked number one overall in recent index data for high quality of life and environmental standards.
  • Uppsala, Sweden: Secured the second spot globally with strong scores in urban mobility and clean air.
  • Helsinki, Finland: Placed third globally, praised for its public health infrastructure and green spaces.
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands: Frequently tops lifestyle indices for its high levels of daily cycling and walkability.
  • Copenhagen, Denmark: Hailed for bike-friendly urban planning and low pollution.

Key Factors That Make a City Healthy

  • Clean Air: Low pollution and strict emissions controls protect residents from chronic respiratory illnesses.
  • Green Spaces: Easy access to parks and trees encourages people to exercise outside every day.
  • Active Transport: Safe bike lanes and walkable streets make physical movement part of a normal routine.
  • Healthcare Access: Affordable and high-quality medical care ensures long life expectancies.

What is the #1 worst state in America?

Depending on the specific metrics used in the study, Louisiana ranks as the #1 worst overall state in America according to the U.S. News & World Report Best States Study, while Tennessee ranks as the #1 worst for quality of life in CNBC's Top States for Business study.

Because "worst" depends entirely on what a study measures, different reports point to different states:

Overall Performance & Infrastructure

  • Louisiana: Ranked #50 overall (last place) by U.S. News & World Report, scoring in the bottom 10 across multiple categories including crime and corrections, education, and economy.
  • Other low-ranking states in this index: Alaska (#49), Mississippi (#48), and New Mexico (#47).

Quality of Life & Inclusiveness

  • Tennessee: Ranked #1 worst for quality of life by CNBC, receiving an "F" grade due to high violent crime rates according to FBI data, high drug-death rates, and low scores in worker protections and reproductive rights/inclusiveness.
  • Other low-ranking states in this specific index: Texas, Indiana, Louisiana, and Georgia.

What is the #1 healthiest state in the US?

New Hampshire is frequently ranked as the #1 healthiest state in the U.S. according to comprehensive public health analyses like the United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings, though other reports place states like Hawaii, New Jersey, or Utah at the top depending on the specific metrics used.

Why Rankings Differ

Different organizations measure "health" using varying criteria, which changes which state claims the top spot:

  • Overall Public Health & Social Factors: America's Health Rankings places New Hampshire at #1 due to high educational attainment, low rates of non-medical drug use, and strong social and economic support systems.
  • Clinical Care & Public Health Policy: U.S. News Best States frequently highlights New Jersey or Massachusetts for low smoking rates, excellent mental health access, and top-tier clinical care infrastructure.
  • Lifestyle & Physical Activity: The SmartAsset Healthiest States Study ranks Utah at #1 because of its exceptionally low smoking rates and high levels of physical activity, while indexes focused on low disease risks and outdoor access often put Hawaii or Colorado first.

Which states get sick the most?

According to recent studies and rankings, southern states like West Virginia, Mississippi, and Tennessee rank as the unhealthiest overall, while states like Oregon, Hawaii, and Iowa report the highest rates of workers calling in sick.

Because "getting sick the most" can mean chronic illness, infectious disease, or taking sick leave, different metrics highlight different states:

Unhealthiest Overall (Chronic Illness & Lifestyle)

According to comprehensive rankings analyzing chronic disease, obesity, smoking, and overall life expectancy, the top unhealthiest states are:

  • West Virginia
  • Mississippi
  • Tennessee
  • Arkansas
  • Kentucky

Most Frequent Sick Leave (Calling in Sick)

Based on workforce data and search trends regarding absenteeism and sick days, the states where people report or call in sick the most are:

  • Oregon
  • Hawaii
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Minnesota

Seasonal and Infectious Disease Hotspots

During peak respiratory or flu seasons (tracked via CDC regional data), southern and south-central states like Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas frequently experience the highest surges in acute viral and flu-like illness activity.