| A “snapshot” of health at West Virginia county levels shows no changes at the top and bottom of the annual list from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Again this year, Jefferson County is ranked the healthiest county in the Mountain State while McDowell County rates as the unhealthiest.
Calhoun is ranked at 37th of 55 counties.
“The rankings show us that where we live makes a really big difference in how well and how long we can live and also that not everyone has the same opportunity to be healthy,” said Katrina Badger, program officer for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
In terms of health outcomes, the top five counties were:
1. Jefferson County
2. Monongalia County
3. Putnam County
4. Doddridge County
5. Ohio County
The five counties determined to be the poorest in terms of health were:
51. Mercer County
52. Wyoming County
53. Logan County
54. Mingo County
55. McDowell County
This year's study found that among West Virginiaâs children living in poverty, 44 percent were in a household where more than half of the total household income was spent on housing.
“If you think about spending more than half of what you make every month just to cover your housing costs, whether thatâs rent or mortgage costs, that means that you have less than half of what you make to do things pay for healthy food,” Badger said.
The full rankings with explanations along with potential paths to improvements are available at www.countyhealthrankings.org.
REGIONAL COUNTY RANKINGS
9. Ritchie
11. Wirt
20. Gilmer
30. Braxton
36. Clay
37. Calhoun
40. Roane | 
