NEW HEALTH STUDY SHOWS WASHINGTON CO. ONE OF TEXAS’ HEALTHIEST COUNTIES

  

A new report analyzing health factors and outcomes across the state of Texas ranked Washington County as one of the healthiest counties statewide.

According to the 2019 County Health Rankings Report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Washington County ranked 24^th among all counties in health outcomes, and 37^th in health factors.

The rankings for health outcomes were based on statistics like number of days individuals were sick, premature deaths and birth weights. The health factor ratings were based on health behaviors; clinical care; and social, economic, and physical environment factors.

According to the study, the average life expectancy in Washington County is 80.2 years, above the state average of 79. The premature death rate—defined as years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000 population—was also slightly better than the state average.

Results were mixed when looking at area counties:

Austin County: 40^th in health outcomes, 46^th in health factors;

Burleson County: 113^th in outcomes, 126^th in factors;

Brazos County: 14^th in outcomes, 44^th in factors;

Fayette County: 17^th in outcomes, 20^th in factors;

Lee County: 60^th in outcomes, 63^rd in factors;

Grimes County: 204^th in outcomes, 207^th in factors;

Waller County: 70^th in outcomes, 221^st in factors.

The highest ranking county for health outcomes was Hartley County in the panhandle, and the highest for health factors was Collin County near Dallas.

You can view the full results from the study at www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/texas/2019/overview.