NE Iowa News

Winneshiek County ranks eighth in the nation in the rural, high-performing category on U.S. News & World Report's 2020 ratings for the healthiest communities.

The rankings were compiled in cooperation with the Aetna Foundation and examine nearly 3,000 communities around the United States on 84 metrics, according to Decorah News. 

In the population health category, which measures access to care, healthy behaviors, health conditions, mental health and resulting health outcomes, Winneshiek County received a score of 92. The average life expectancy is 82.6 years, longer than the national median. The smoking rate is also lower than the national median. Less than 5% of the county's population does not have health insurance.

High rankings were also noted in the environmental category which measures air and water quality, access to parks and other natural amenities and environmental risk. Just less than half of the county's population live within 0.5 miles of a park. No unsafe drinking water was reported and the county experiences 10 extreme heat days per year.

The county received low scores in racial diversity and economic conditions. The county received a 0.41 segregation index score, the same as the national score but slightly higher than the state score. In the economy, 8.6% live at or below the poverty rate. The median household income is $62,820 and the unemployment rate is 2.7%.