4 NJ counties among healthiest in nation, according to US News & World Report

The assessment of health of Central Jersey counties has revealed that two of them are in the fifty healthiest in the United States. 
 
Hunterdon was ranked 35th in the survey conducted by U. S. News & World Report and at the same position was Somerset. 
 
It also placed Hunterdon fourth out of the 100 best communities in which to live for health results. 
 
Middlesex was ranked 277th while Union County did not make it into the list of the 500. The rankings contained only 500 out of nearly 3000 counties of the country. 
 
Healthiest counties in NJ 
 
16. Morris (87 overall score) 
35. Hunterdon (83) 
41. Bergen (81) 
47. Somerset (81) 
123. Monmouth (75) 
237. Sussex (71) 
248. Burlington (70) 
277. Middlesex (69) 
351. Warren (67) 
371. Gloucester (66) 
 
The remaining non-ranked counties: 
 
Mercer (61 overall score) 
Hudson (59) 
Ocean (58) 
Cape May (54) 
Camden (54) 
Passaic (53) 
Union (52) 
Essex (52) 
Atlantic (48) 
Salem (48) 
Cumberland (34) 
 
The rankings were determined by 92 metrics across 10 categories: general welfare, fairness, sustainability, economic strength, knowledge, physical structure, food, people’s well-being, shelter and transportation, security. 
 
To collect and analyze data U. S. News partnered with the University of Missouri Extension Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES). Moreover, to determine which categories matter most, U. S. News consulted with a blue-ribbon panel of 12 people who are outside advisers and members of the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics. The health statistics of Hunterdon County has for the past two years ranked the County as the healthiest in New Jersey, a statistic that has been compiled by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. 
 
Falls County Virginia ranked highest in the healthiest County within the United States based on the U. S News survey. These were followed by other five states: Los Alamos County New Mexico, Douglas County Colorado, Sioux County Iowa and Hamilton County Indiana.