San Diego Among Healthiest Cities In U.S.: Report

SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego is one of the healthiest cities in the country, according to a new study from WalletHub.

The personal finance website published its 2024 Healthiest and Unhealthiest Cities in America report on Monday. San Diego ranked as the fourth healthiest city on the list.

"Staying healthy is a personal responsibility, and everyone should strive to eat nutritious food, exercise regularly and look after their mental health," said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. "However, where people live can have a big influence on how successful they are at staying in good health, so the best cities are the ones that provide the greatest access to high-quality healthcare, green spaces, recreation centers, and healthy food."

WalletHub compared 182 of the most populous cities in the U.S. across 41 key indicators of good health. These metrics were divided across four categories: health care, food, fitness and green space.

WalletHub analysts graded each metric on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for a healthy lifestyle. The data set ranged from the cost of a medical visit to fruit and vegetable consumption to the share of physically active adults.

San Diego ranked first in hiking trails per capita, ninth in healthy restaurants per capita, and 15th in share of physically active adults, according to the report. America's Finest City also ranked 36th in percentage of adults with 14 or more mental unhealthy days reported in the past month, as well as 95th in dietitians and nutritionists per capita.

Two other cities in San Diego County landed on the list. Oceanside ranked 45th overall. The city ranked 22nd in share of physically active adults, but 108th in hiking trails per capita, according to the report. Chula Vista ranked 93rd overall. The city ranked 36th in percentage of adults with 14 or more mental unhealthy days reported in the past month, but 167th in healthy restaurants per capita.

San Francisco ranked as the healthiest city in the U.S., followed by Honolulu, Hawaii, and Seattle, Washington. Brownsville, Texas, landed in the last spot on the list.

Read the full report.