Contact:

Magen Johnson, Public Information Specialist – Public Health and Social Services, (360) 968-3422 or magen.johnson@co.thurston.wa.us 

​OLYMPIA – Thurston County ranks 8^th healthiest among Washington State's thirty-nine counties, according to County Health Rankings data released last week. The county moved up from a rank of 9^th from 2020. The second ranking the county received was the health factors ranking, which includes scores from health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and the physical environment. Thurston County ranked 6^th in health factors, which is the same ranking as the previous year.

The County Health Rankings are an easy-to-use snapshot that compares counties in each state across the nation on a range of health outcomes, factors, and behaviors. The rankings are produced annually by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, as a way to spark conversations about community health improvement opportunities.

The rankings show how Thurston County ranks on factors that influence the overall health of people in our community. For example, the county scored better than Washington State in areas covered by the County Health Rankings, including lower violent crime, lower income inequality, and a lower number of uninsured adults. The rankings illustrate our continued emphasis and progress toward better health.

The county uses these rankings to help inform programs, allocate resources, and guide our pathway to healthy outcomes. The rankings also indicate where the county has opportunities for improvement, including the need to reduce adult obesity, adult smoking, unemployment, sexually transmitted infections, and driving alone to work.

"It is great news Thurston County increased our overall health ranking this year," said Schelli Slaughter, Director of Public Health and Social Services. "We are very proud to be counted among the top healthiest places to live, work, and play in Washington State. We still have many areas to improve on, and this report highlights the importance of working together to eliminate disparities so everyone in our community has the opportunity to live longer, safer, healthier lives.   

To learn more about the County Health Rankings, visit www.countyhealthrankings.org

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