In general, the largest cities are very rarely among the healthiest. In fact, it is safe to say that the size of the city is often in reverse proportion to its healthiness. However, there are also exceptions to this rule, like in the case of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the 14th largest city in the country and yet it ranks #1 when it comes to health.
The list that Minneapolis topped was published by Livabilty.com and they indicated city’s park system as the main reason for the city’s healthiness. They say that the capital of Minnesota boasts the best park system in the entire country, giving people plenty of opportunity for exercise in a healthy environment and a healthy lifestyle in general.
Another reason why Minneapolis ranked so high is the availability of healthy food choices, as well as an entire network which supports a healthy lifestyle. Besides these, factors that also influenced the list include number of hospitals and doctors per person and more. Editor at Livability, Matt Carmichael had this to say:
“The link between cities and health is increasingly clear. It’s not enough to have a great hospital to take care of you when you’re sick. The city itself can help you lead a healthier life.”
Cambridge, Massachusetts is second on their list and Madison, Wisconsin is third.
One characteristic that was supposed to limit the ability of Minneapolis residents to lead a healthy lifestyle is the cold, but it seems that they are so dedicated to living healthily that they do not allow the limited number of sunny days and fair weather ruin their lifestyle.
