New Rankings Show Healthiest and Least Healthy Counties in Texas

AUSTIN, TX — According to a newly released study on health rankings across the state, the healthiest counties in Texas are Collin, Hartley, Denton, Williamson and Travis, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation annual study released on Wednesday.

Conversely, the counties with the poorest health, in descending order, are: Duval, San Augustine, Real, Brooks and Baylor, according to the report.

The findings are detailed in the eighth annual County Health Rankings compiled by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. A new feature of this year's rankings is the premature death rates category tracking deaths under the age of 75 showing rates improving in 99 counties and worsening in 22 others.

"Texas Health Institute is pleased to be involved for the eighth year release of the County Health Rankings," said Camille Miller, Texas Health Institute president and CEO. "Someone said, 'if you don't know where you are, and don't know where you are going -- any road will get you there.' County Health Rankings lets us know where we are and where we want to go so we can use our community resources more efficiently and effectively to get there."

The data contained in the study is exhaustively researched, but an easy-to-use snapshot compares counties within states enabling users to see where one resides could influence how well and how long one lives, the study's authors said. Local data illustrates an array of influences affecting health beyond medical care, including housing, education, jobs, access to healthful foods, and more.

"This year we took a closer look at premature deaths, or deaths that occur among people under age 75," the study's authors said. "Exploring Texas's premature death trends from 1997 to 2014, we find 99 counties have seen improvements in premature death rates, while 22 have seen worsening rates and the rest saw no change."

The Rankings Key Findings Report reveals that drug overdose deaths are fueling a dramatic increase in premature deaths nationally because of an increase in deaths among those between the ages of 15 and 44, authors noted. From 2014 to 2015, 85 percent of the increase in premature deaths can be attributed to a swift increase in deaths among these younger populations.

The Rankings Key Findings report revealed that while myriad issues contributed to the rise, the drug overdose epidemic is the leading cause of death among 25- to 44-year olds and is a clear driver of this trend. Drug deaths are also accelerating among 15- to 24- year olds, but nearly three times as many people in this age group die by homicide, suicide, or in motor vehicle crashes, officials said.

"The County Health Rankings show us that where people live plays a key role in how long and how well they live," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, RWJF president and CEO. "The Rankings allow local leaders to clearly see and prioritize the challenges they face — whether it's rising premature death rates or the growing drug overdose epidemic — so they can bring community leaders and residents together to find solutions."

This year's Rankings also introduce a new measure focused on young people between the ages of 16 to 24 who are not in school or working. About 4.9 million young people in the U.S. — or 1 out of 8 — fall into this category. Rates of youth disconnection are higher in rural counties (21.6 percent), particularly those in the South and West, than in urban ones (13.7 percent), according to the findings.

"Young adults who are not in school or working represent untapped potential in our communities and our nation that we can't afford to waste," said Julie Willems Van Dijk, PhD, RN, director of the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. "Communities addressing issues such as poverty, unemployment, and education can make a difference creating opportunities for all youth and young adults. The County Health Rankings are an important springboard for conversations on how to do just that."

The rankings are available at www.countyhealthrankings.org.

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