Johnson County continues to be ranked as the healthiest county in Kansas according to the annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. View the Rankings online.

“It’s good that we are able to maintain this ranking while responding to a pandemic the last two years. The county will work to put a high priority on building a culture of health for residents. The programs and services the county provides will continue to focus on health equity, so Johnson County continues to be the best place to live, work and raise a family,” said Sanmi Areola, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.

Johnson County ranked first in the state for health outcomes such as quality of life (low number of poor physical or mental health days) and a low number of premature deaths (life lost before age 75). The county also ranked number one for health factors such as access to medical and dental care, exercise opportunities and a healthy food environment. The county also has a high percentage of adults with some post-secondary education and a low number of children in poverty.

This year’s Rankings indicate that Johnson County is at-risk for poor health when it comes to obesity, excessive drinking and smoking in adults. The report also finds that 81% of the Johnson County work force usually drives alone to work (down from 85% in 2021) – continued reduction of this number could positively impact active living and air quality and reduce traffic crashes.

Johnson County has several initiatives underway to address these and other issues in our community.