3/20/13 - A new ranking of Michigan's healthiest places to live ranks Livingston County in the top five. The study, released today by researchers at the University of Wisconsin, ranks counties against each other within each state. In Michigan, Leelanau County topped the list, followed by Ottawa and Clinton counties. Livingston County ranked fourth and Washtenaw County rounded out the top five. University of Wisconsin associate researcher Angela Russell said that the survey makes it clear that communities with higher incomes and higher education levels are more likely to be healthier. That paradigm seems to be in play for Livingston County, which was first in Michigan when it came to income, with the lowest percentage of children in poverty. Livingston was also first in low teen birth rates and sexually transmitted diseases. Livingston ranked third in education, with a high rate of residents experiencing at least some college education. The county scored lowest in the areas of alcohol use, ranking 48 out of 83 counties in the state. That was based on a combination of drinking rates and motor vehicle crash deaths. The county also ranked 59th in environmental quality, based on drinking water safety and daily fine particulate matter. Amber Myers, a health data analyst with the Michigan Department of Community Health, says the goal of the study is to nudge health organizations into taking action by highlighting differences in longevity and in health behavior -- such as smoking, heavy drinking and exercise. (JK)
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