Our Runners Up

Our top ten healthiest cities are great, but the following are impressive, too.

by: Sarah Mahoney, Brad Edmondson | from: AARP The Magazine | September/October 2008 issue

Our Selections

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Thanks to the boom in credit card jobs, Sioux Falls has blossomed in the past 20 years, and its healthy, educated residents are among the fittest in the country. Extensive bike trails circle the city, linking its 70 parks to the crown jewel: the waterfalls at Falls Park. And free trolley service makes using the downtown area fun and easy.

Population: 142,396
Median housing price: $159,500
Average number of sunny days: 211
Healthy bragging rights: Of our top-rated cities, Sioux Falls comes in number one for hospital beds and number two for teaching hospitals, on a per capita basis.

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Massachussetts

Okay, winters are cold and sleety, and housing is expensive. But residents love the area’s world-class arts, shopping, and restaurants. Walking and biking are easy, and the core of college students—some 250,000, attending more than 80 colleges—makes for one of the most educated addresses around; one in five persons is affiliated with higher education. Sports fans are fierce, whether worshiping at the feet of the Red Sox, New England Patriots, Celtics, or Bruins.

Population: 4,455,217
Median housing price: $479,700
Average number of sunny days: 205
Healthy bragging rights: Long known as America’s Walking City, Boston is home to the Freedom Trail, a fascinating 2.5-mile hike through history, offering cardio with a view of the old North Church (“One if by land…”) and Faneuil Hall.

St. Cloud, Minnesota

A Prairie Home Companion fans already know St. Cloud as a spiritual neighbor to fictitious Lake Wobegon, but few others have heard just how livable this classic low-key, midwestern town is. Locals of St. Cloud—which is set along the banks of the Mississippi—treasure Munsinger Gardens, a 14-acre gem from the Works Progress Administration era, as well as the newer Clemens Garden. Residents have some of the lowest rates of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes in the country.

Population: 66,228
Median housing price: $192,300
Average number of sunny days: 196
Healthy bragging rights: Of our top-rated cities, St. Cloud scores highest for its residents’ getting regular exercise and routine health checkups—no wonder St. Cloud is number two in the stress-free category.

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut

City, country, and coast combine in these suburban standouts. Residents also love having their feet in two worlds: set on the shores of lovely Long Island Sound, this area offers coastal New England charm, right down to the oysters, sailboats, and a rich Revolutionary War history; yet New York City is an easy commuter-train ride away.

Population: 900,440
Median housing price: $815,100
Average number of sunny days: 208
Healthy bragging rights: Loads of transportation alternatives keep these cities clean and accessible, with plenty of trains, buses, and a beautiful ferry.

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria, California

For those who crave the sunny, outdoorsy life, this area offers plenty, what with its beautiful south-facing beaches, impressive Santa Ynez Mountains, hike-friendly Los Padres National Forest, and Channel Islands. But despite its California casual vibe, the area holds its own in sophistication, with restaurants and wine tastings that rival those in Los Angeles or San Francisco.

Population: 400,335
Median housing price: $854,100
Average number of sunny days: 285
Healthy bragging rights: Long live the locavore (the noble soul who tries to eat a only locally grown food). Santa Barbara is on the cutting edge of the latest healthy (and chic) dining trend, based on the area’s legendary produce, fish, and wine.