Salt Lake City Ranked Fourth Healthiest City In The Whole Country

Salt Lake City has once again earned national recognition as one of the healthiest places to live in the United States, according to a new WalletHub study that evaluated 182 of the nation's largest cities on a variety of health and wellness measures.

The report ranked Salt Lake City fourth overall, trailing only San Francisco, Honolulu and Seattle. The Utah capital received particularly high marks for encouraging active lifestyles, placing third nationwide in both the fitness and green space categories. It also ranked 14th for health care and 38th for food.

Utah Had More Than One Entry On The List

West Valley City also appeared in the national rankings, giving Utah a second city represented in the study. While it ranked considerably lower overall than Salt Lake City, its inclusion reflects the state's presence among the nation's largest metropolitan areas evaluated by WalletHub.

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Researchers based the rankings on 41 metrics divided evenly among four categories: health care, food, fitness and green space. Factors ranged from access to doctors and health insurance to obesity rates, healthy eating habits, fitness centers, hiking trails, parks, walkability and bikeability.

Although southern Utah communities such as Cedar City and St. George were not included because the study examined only the country's largest cities, many of the qualities that helped Salt Lake City earn its top-five ranking are readily available throughout the region.

Read More: Utah Ranks High For Outdoor Fun Activities

Residents of southern Utah enjoy easy access to an extensive network of hiking and biking trails, public lands, state parks and national parks that encourage year-round outdoor recreation. Activities such as hiking, mountain biking, trail running, rock climbing and camping are part of everyday life for many residents, providing opportunities to stay active while enjoying the area's scenic landscapes.

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The WalletHub rankings reinforce Utah's long-standing reputation as one of the nation's healthiest states, with outdoor recreation playing a significant role in that distinction. While access to quality health care and nutritious food remains important, the study suggests that communities offering abundant green space and opportunities for physical activity consistently perform well in national health rankings.

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For southern Utah residents, the report serves as another reminder that many of the region's greatest assets—from nearby hiking trails to expansive public lands—are also among the factors most closely associated with healthier communities.