Healthiest State 2003

2003 HEALTHIEST STATE AWARD
ALPHA ORDER					RANK ORDER
2003 RANK	STATE	SUM	2002 RANK	CHANGE	2003 RANK	STATE	SUM	2002 RANK	CHANGE
47	Alabama	-13.32	47	0	1	Vermont	18.25	1	0
36	Alaska	-3.84	29	-7	2	New Hampshire	17.68	4	2
41	Arizona	-7.41	35	-6	3	Nebraska	16.80	5	2
43	Arkansas	-8.29	40	-3	4	Iowa	16.30	3	-1
14	California	8.30	13	-1	5	Minnesota	13.84	2	-3
25	Colorado	3.49	21	-4	6	Massachusetts	13.02	9	3
11	Connecticut	10.20	8	-3	7	Maine	12.65	11	4
38	Delaware	-6.56	43	5	8	Hawaii	12.55	6	-2
44	Florida	-9.37	44	0	9	Utah	12.39	10	1
42	Georgia	-8.00	41	-1	10	North Dakota	11.20	7	-3
8	Hawaii	12.55	6	-2	11	Connecticut	10.20	8	-3
21	Idaho	5.29	22	1	12	Washington	8.87	14	2
32	Illinois	-2.85	31	-1	13	South Dakota	8.60	20	7
27	Indiana	0.97	28	1	14	California	8.30	13	-1
4	Iowa	16.30	3	-1	15	Kansas	8.19	12	-3
15	Kansas	8.19	12	-3	16	New Jersey	7.64	15	-1
31	Kentucky	-1.63	33	2	17	Rhode Island	7.34	16	-1
49	Louisiana	-16.12	49	0	18	Montana	7.28	17	-1
7	Maine	12.65	11	4	19	Oregon	6.99	18	-1
35	Maryland	-3.70	37	2	20	Wyoming	5.88	25	5
6	Massachusetts	13.02	9	3	21	Idaho	5.29	22	1
28	Michigan	-0.04	27	-1	22	Virginia	4.85	19	-3
5	Minnesota	13.84	2	-3	23	Wisconsin	4.82	26	3
50	Mississippi	-18.65	50	0	24	Pennsylvania	3.62	23	-1
34	Missouri	-3.39	39	5	25	Colorado	3.49	21	-4
18	Montana	7.28	17	-1	26	Ohio	1.09	24	-2
3	Nebraska	16.80	5	2	27	Indiana	0.97	28	1
45	Nevada	-12.25	46	1	28	Michigan	-0.04	27	-1
2	New Hampshire	17.68	4	2	29	North Carolina	-1.38	34	5
16	New Jersey	7.64	15	-1	30	West Virginia	-1.60	30	0
46	New Mexico	-12.34	48	2	31	Kentucky	-1.63	33	2
33	New York	-3.36	38	5	32	Illinois	-2.85	31	-1
29	North Carolina	-1.38	34	5	33	New York	-3.36	38	5
10	North Dakota	11.20	7	-3	34	Missouri	-3.39	39	5
26	Ohio	1.09	24	-2	35	Maryland	-3.70	37	2
40	Oklahoma	-6.84	32	-8	36	Alaska	-3.84	29	-7
19	Oregon	6.99	18	-1	37	Tennessee	-4.67	36	-1
24	Pennsylvania	3.62	23	-1	38	Delaware	-6.56	43	5
17	Rhode Island	7.34	16	-1	39	Texas	-6.70	42	3
48	South Carolina	-13.74	45	-3	40	Oklahoma	-6.84	32	-8
13	South Dakota	8.60	20	7	41	Arizona	-7.41	35	-6
37	Tennessee	-4.67	36	-1	42	Georgia	-8.00	41	-1
39	Texas	-6.70	42	3	43	Arkansas	-8.29	40	-3
9	Utah	12.39	10	1	44	Florida	-9.37	44	0
1	Vermont	18.25	1	0	45	Nevada	-12.25	46	1
22	Virginia	4.85	19	-3	46	New Mexico	-12.34	48	2
12	Washington	8.87	14	2	47	Alabama	-13.32	47	0
30	West Virginia	-1.60	30	0	48	South Carolina	-13.74	45	-3
23	Wisconsin	4.82	26	3	49	Louisiana	-16.12	49	0
20	Wyoming	5.88	25	5	50	Mississippi	-18.65	50	0

METHODOLOGY--The Healthiest State designation is awarded based on 21 factors chosen from the year 2003 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 Dangerous State and Safest/Dangerous City Awards.

The table above shows how each state fared in the 2003 Healthiest State Award as well as its placement in 2002.

Which State Is Healthiest?

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