Williamson County is the healthiest county in the state, according to a ranking released today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin. Travis County ranked sixth in the survey. The least healthy county was Marion, an area about half-an-hour northeast of San Antonio.
Researchers say they used these criteria to rank counties:
1. Overall Health Outcomes 2. Health Outcomes – Mortality 3. Health Outcomes – Morbidity 4. Overall Health Factors 5. Health Factors – Health behaviors 6. Health Factors – Clinical care 7. Health Factors – Social and economic factors 8. Health Factors – Physical environment
Williamson County had a slightly higher obesity rate than Travis County, but fewer residents smoke and drink excessively. WilCo has fewer teen births, sexually transmitted infections, and a lower rate of uninsured adults. Williamson County also has a higher high school graduation rate, fewer children in poverty, and less crime.
This is the second year in a row Williamson County received the highest ranking in the survey.
Marion County, which received the lowest ranking in the survey, was dragged down by factors like a high premature death rate, high rate of teen births, and low socioeconomic factors, including an unemployment rate above 10 percent.
