CHAMPAIGN — Kendall County, southwest of Chicago, is Illinois' healthiest place to live, according to a new study of health and mortality in more than 3,000 counties across the nation.
Vermilion County was considered one of the state's unhealthiest areas, and local officials are reviewing the data, according to the Vermilion County Health Department in a written statement.
Both Champaign and Vermilion counties improved their rankings in this third annual study, done by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Among Illinois' 102 counties, Champaign County was ranked 26th healthiest, up from 34th last year.
Vermilion was ranked 95th, up from 98th last year.
Researchers assessed the overall health of nearly every county in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They looked at health behaviors such as rates of adult smoking, obesity, sexually transmitted diseases, excessive drinking and physical inactivity, along with clinical care available in each county.
Also included was data on social and economic factors, such as high school graduation rates.
Other East Central Illinois County rankings:
Coles: 51
Douglas: 7
DeWitt: 78
Edgar: 67
Ford: 11
Moultrie: 56
Piatt: 20
Read more in The News-Gazette Wednesday.
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