Residents in Benton County are the healthiest in the state. That’s according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundations’ County Health Rankings report.
Lili’a Neville with Benton County says the rankings are due a number of things including being home to Oregon State University. There is a high population of college students who are well educated, younger and tend to have better health.
“Healthy behaviors and active lifestyles is kind of a value of the people who live, work and play in Benton County so I think that it’s not something necessarily that our Health Department doing but it’s really a combination of the people who live here and their values and how they like to spend their time,” she says.
One health behavior that needs improvement in the county is related to sexually transmitted diseases. Its rates have increased over the last 10 years.
The county is also actively trying to improve its income inequality and housing.
