Best places to live for a healthy heart

The heart is our most important organ and it keeps the body going like an engine, but just like with your car, you need to maintain it. Because your heart health can affect your overall health, heart disease and other cardiovascular issues are prominent health concerns. 

This map indicates the amount of heart disease deaths per 100,000 people across the U.S. with the lighter pink colors indicating where is most affected. As you can see, the highest number of deaths are clustered among bordering states in the South, including Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama.

To keep your heart in top shape, there are many lifestyle factors that can make a big difference, such as exercise, diet, and even laughter. 

We have used various data sources to determine an overall “healthy heart” score for the top cities in the U.S. by population. Jersey City, New Jersey, topped the chart with an overall score of 64.7, with the most access to heart-friendly amenities.

All data, methodology, and sources are available here.