Healthiest State 2005

2005 HEALTHIEST STATE
ALPHA ORDER					RANK ORDER
2005 RANK	STATE	SUM	2004 RANK	CHANGE	2005 RANK	STATE	SUM	2004 RANK	CHANGE
41	Alabama	-9.97	47	6	1	Vermont	22.67	2	1
37	Alaska	-4.98	35	-2	2	New Hampshire	21.4	1	-1
39	Arizona	-5.78	40	1	3	Massachusetts	18.69	8	5
40	Arkansas	-5.93	38	-2	4	Minnesota	16.3	5	1
18	California	6.51	14	-4	5	Maine	16.06	9	4
27	Colorado	1.61	27	0	6	Iowa	14.57	4	-2
10	Connecticut	12.63	10	0	7	Utah	14.19	6	-1
35	Delaware	-1.49	44	9	8	Hawaii	13.71	3	-5
44	Florida	-11.21	41	-3	9	Nebraska	12.82	7	-2
42	Georgia	-10	42	0	10	Connecticut	12.63	10	0
8	Hawaii	13.71	3	-5	11	North Dakota	11.47	12	1
20	Idaho	5.42	20	0	12	Rhode Island	10.51	18	6
34	Illinois	-1.17	31	-3	13	Washington	9.87	13	0
24	Indiana	3.33	28	4	14	Wisconsin	8.07	21	7
6	Iowa	14.57	4	-2	15	Kansas	7.85	17	2
15	Kansas	7.85	17	2	16	New Jersey	7.71	11	-5
32	Kentucky	-0.86	29	-3	17	Virginia	6.74	22	5
50	Louisiana	-20.95	48	-2	18	California	6.51	14	-4
5	Maine	16.06	9	4	19	Oregon	5.92	15	-4
29	Maryland	0.77	32	3	20	Idaho	5.42	20	0
3	Massachusetts	18.69	8	5	21	Pennsylvania	5.33	26	5
23	Michigan	3.73	25	2	22	South Dakota	5.29	19	-3
4	Minnesota	16.3	5	1	23	Michigan	3.73	25	2
49	Mississippi	-18.43	50	1	24	Indiana	3.33	28	4
36	Missouri	-2.89	37	1	25	Montana	3.19	23	-2
25	Montana	3.19	23	-2	26	Ohio	3.12	24	-2
9	Nebraska	12.82	7	-2	27	Colorado	1.61	27	0
47	Nevada	-13.37	45	-2	28	West Virginia	1.23	34	6
2	New Hampshire	21.4	1	-1	29	Maryland	0.77	32	3
16	New Jersey	7.71	11	-5	30	Wyoming	-0.19	16	-14
48	New Mexico	-17.69	49	1	31	New York	-0.64	33	2
31	New York	-0.64	33	2	32	Kentucky	-0.86	29	-3
33	North Carolina	-1.03	30	-3	33	North Carolina	-1.03	30	-3
11	North Dakota	11.47	12	1	34	Illinois	-1.17	31	-3
26	Ohio	3.12	24	-2	35	Delaware	-1.49	44	9
46	Oklahoma	-12.07	39	-7	36	Missouri	-2.89	37	1
19	Oregon	5.92	15	-4	37	Alaska	-4.98	35	-2
21	Pennsylvania	5.33	26	5	38	Tennessee	-5	36	-2
12	Rhode Island	10.51	18	6	39	Arizona	-5.78	40	1
43	South Carolina	-10.63	46	3	40	Arkansas	-5.93	38	-2
22	South Dakota	5.29	19	-3	41	Alabama	-9.97	47	6
38	Tennessee	-5	36	-2	42	Georgia	-10	42	0
45	Texas	-11.85	42	-3	43	South Carolina	-10.63	46	3
7	Utah	14.19	6	-1	44	Florida	-11.21	41	-3
1	Vermont	22.67	2	1	45	Texas	-11.85	42	-3
17	Virginia	6.74	22	5	46	Oklahoma	-12.07	39	-7
13	Washington	9.87	13	0	47	Nevada	-13.37	45	-2
28	West Virginia	1.23	34	6	48	New Mexico	-17.69	49	1
14	Wisconsin	8.07	21	7	49	Mississippi	-18.43	50	1
30	Wyoming	-0.19	16	-14	50	Louisiana	-20.95	48	-2

METHODOLOGY--The Healthiest State designation is awarded based on 21 factors chosen from the year 2005 edition of our annual reference book, Health Care State Rankings. These factors reflect access to health care providers, affordability of health care and a generally healthy population. All 21 factors are the same as last year. The 21 factors were divided into two groups: those that are “negative” for which a high ranking would be considered bad for a state, and those that are “positive” for which a high ranking would be considered good for a state. Rates for each of the 21 factors were processed through a formula that measures how a state compares to the national average for a given category. The positive and negative nature of each factor was taken into account as part of the formula. Once these computations were made, the factors then were weighted (factors were weighted equally.) These weighted scores were then added together to get a state’s final score (“SUM” on the table above.) This way, states are assessed based on how they stack up against the national average. The end result is that the farther below the national average a state’s health ranking is, the lower (and less healthy) it ranks. The farther above the national average, the higher (and healthier) a state ranks. This same methodology was used for our Safest/Most Dangerous State and Safest/Most Dangerous City Awards.

The table above shows how each state fared in the 2005 Healthiest State Award as well as its placement in 2004.

Which State Is Healthiest?

#1 ranking is healthiest; #50 rankings is least healthy