Unhealthy: Northeast Ohio Counties Rank Low On Health Report

Northeast Ohio counties are among the most unhealthy places to live in Ohio, according to a new report.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation annually examines every county, in every state, in the U.S. The Foundation then ranks each county for its health factors. The report details life expectancy and influencing factors in each county.

In Ohio, affluent Delaware County had the best health outcomes for residents. The next healthiest counties were Putnam County, Geauga County, Medina County, and Holmes County. The five counties in the poorest health, starting with the least healthy, are Adams County, Pike County, Gallia County, Meigs County, and Scioto County.

In Northeast Ohio, Cuyahoga County ranked 66 out of 88 Ohio counties for health outcomes, and Lorain County ranked 51st. Summit County ranked 41st and Lake County ranked 12th.

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“Our homes are inextricably tied to our health,” said Dr. Richard Besser RWJF president and CEO. “It’s unacceptable that so many individuals and families face barriers to health because of what they have to spend on housing. This leaves them with fewer dollars to keep their families healthy. Imagine the stress and pain that come with unplanned moves. We are all healthier and stronger together when everyone has access to safe and affordable housing, regardless of the color of their skin or how much money they make.”

It is of little surprise that Delaware County — the healthiest county in the state — is also the richest county in Ohio. The typical household in the county rakes in about $100,229 a year, according to a report published Wednesday by the financial news and opinion site 24/7 Wall St. That's about $47,822 more than the typical Ohio household, the authors found.

Even less shocking — Ohio's least healthy county, Adams, is also its poorest. That county's median household income is just $36,320. The state average is $52,407.

"Delaware is the only one of Ohio's 88 counties where over a half of all households earn at least $100,000 a year. The typical Ohio household earns roughly half that much a year. Delaware County is located just north of Columbus, providing area residents access to jobs in and around the state capital. Partially as a result, just 3.3% of workers in the county are unemployed, below the 3.8% national unemployment rate. Additionally, just 2.6% of county households live on less than $10,000 per year, roughly a third of the comparable across Ohio as a whole," the authors on 24/7 Wall St. wrote.

Nearly half of Ohio's impoverished children were living in a household that spends half its income on housing costs. Those high housing costs can make it difficult for families to afford other essentials (like healthy food, medical visits, transportation to school, etc.).

In fact, 13 percent of Ohio households are spending more than half their income on housing costs. The housing cost burden is even greater for Ohio's black residents. More than 20 percent of black Ohioans are burdened by housing costs.

“All communities have the potential to be places where everyone enjoys full and equal opportunity. But the data show that’s not happening in most communities yet. Children of color face a greater likelihood of growing up in poverty, and low-income families struggle to pay rent and get enough to eat,” said Sheri Johnson, PhD, acting director of County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. “It is time to do the difficult work of coming together to undo policies and practices that create barriers to opportunity. The Rankings can help communities ground these important conversations in data, evidence, guidance, and stories about challenges and success.”