Larimer County ranks among the healthiest counties in the state of Colorado, according to the
new County Health Rankings data report from the University of Wisconsin Population Health
Institute. The report, which is released annually, shows that Larimer County scores high in many
areas:
- 92% of Larimer County residents have adequate access to locations with physical
activity, which is higher than state and national rates. - Larimer County has a low teen birth rate (9 births per 1,000 females 15-19 years old,
compared to Colorado’s rate of 16 births per 1,000) and has seen a 70% drop in teen
births between 2007 to 2020. - The county has a lower rate than the state in deaths related to injuries such as homicides,
suicides, motor vehicle crashes, sudden unexpected infant deaths, and poisonings.
While ranking among the top 25% healthiest counties in Colorado, there are opportunities for
improvement:
- Air pollution – Larimer County is ranked 18th out of 226 metropolitan areas for high
ozone days, and 30th out of 221 metropolitan areas for 24-hour particle pollution. - Tobacco use and vaping use remain elevated among youth and adults, and 13% of adults
in Larimer County smoke. Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, which is
the leading cause of death in the United States. - 17% of Larimer County residents are experiencing a severe housing problem, including
high housing costs, and overcrowding.
“Having robust public health data helps us determine where we should focus our efforts to
ensure we’re addressing the greatest needs in our communities,” says Tom Gonzales, Larimer
County Public Health Director.
County Health Rankings reports that counties with well-resourced civic infrastructure have
higher rates of high school completion, higher household incomes, less income inequality, and
lower rates of children in poverty and uninsured adults. In these communities, people also tend to
live longer.