Healthy Living: One of the Many Benefits of Living in DC

If you're looking for a health-conscious city, Washington, D.C., is the place for you! The Washington metropolitan area took the top spot on the 2014 American Fitness Index, published by the American College of Sports Medicine.  Of the many benefits of living in DC, healthy living takes the cake (figuratively of course)!

Among the top five were last year's winner, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, along with Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; and San Francisco, California.

Healthy Benefits of Living In DC

Washington, D.C., was reported to have a great number of strengths in the areas of personal health behaviors.  

The D.C. metro area scored top marks for:

• parkland as a percentage of city land: 19.5%
• park-related expenditures: $398 per resident
• farmers' markets per capita: 28.5 per 1,000,000 sq. ft.
• percent of commuters using public transportation: 14.1%
• average percent of commuters biking and walking: 4.0%;
• Walk Score: 74.0

The metro area has a high number of amenities that support physical activity and healthy living. Some of these amenities include an above-average number of recreation centers, swimming pools, and tennis courts per capita.  In regards to physical health, D.C. was at or better than the target goal for lower death rates from cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The people of Washington, D.C. are staying healthy, active and setting an example for other cities to follow.  Healthy living in the city isn't only good for the citizens, it's good for the environment too! Who wouldn't want to live in such a beneficial community?

If you're interested in buying a home in the D.C. metro area, we're happy to help you find the best neighborhood for your lifestyle. Reach out to us today for a conversation about what your best move is.

Source: USA Today