The secret to a long, healthy life lies just 65 miles southwest of Manhattan.
Hunterdon County, a rural town in western New Jersey, was named the fourth-best community in the nation for a health outcomes index that takes into account the number of adults with poor health and life expectancy.
The rolling countryside, site of the 1935 Lindbergh baby abduction trial, is ranked 35th in the overall U.S. News & World Report rankings. 2024 Healthiest Communities Ranking.
It’s another honor for Hunterdon’s 129,000 people. Recently ranked #1 in New Jersey The average life expectancy is 82.9 years. U.S. Life Expectancy I am 77.5 years old.
“Open space and less developed areas offer great benefits in terms of quality of life and reduced stress,” Hunterdon County Commissioner Jeff Kuhl told The Washington Post.
Kuhl, who represents the sixth generation of his family to live on the same farmland in Hunterdon, credits the county for preserving about 38,000 acres of open space, hosting free monthly health seminars for seniors and allowing the expansion of locally grown produce stands offering farm-to-table options.
The median home sales price in Hunterdon is $450,000. According to Realtor.com.
Besides Hunterdon County, New Jersey’s Morris County ranked 16th on Tuesday’s list of healthiest communities, while Nassau County was 29th. New York County, Manhattan, lagged behind at 372nd.
Morris County Commissioner Christine Myers touted the county’s park system, top-notch schools and access to top-notch health care.
“We invite you to come and play golf, boat, swim, hike, bike, tour our farms, attend one of our many festivals or shop on our local Main Street,” Myers told the Post. “When you visit, you’ll find Morris County is refreshing with some fresh air – literally – as our air is ranked year after year as one of the cleanest in the nation.”
The top five communities in the U.S. are Falls Church, Virginia, Los Alamos County, New Mexico, Douglas County, Colorado, Sioux County, Iowa, and Hamilton County, Indiana.
U.S. News analyzed 92 health-related indicators, including the environment, access to health care, education, housing and public safety.
