Disability

Independent Living Disability by County — US Rankings

CDC PLACES 2023 · Age-adjusted prevalence · All 3,144 US counties

Independent living disability captures adults with serious difficulty doing errands alone — shopping, visiting a doctor — because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition. PLACES age-adjusts. It is one of the most consequential disability indicators for community-based services planning, because it identifies the population most dependent on caregivers, transportation services, and home-delivered support. Counties with high prevalence often need disproportionate investment in Medicaid HCBS waivers and Area Agencies on Aging.

How this ranking is built

Source: CDC PLACES 2023 release. Methodology: BRFSS survey responses pooled across years, fitted with a small-area statistical model, age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population. Confidence intervals (95%) are shown for each county — wider intervals indicate more uncertainty in the modeled estimate, typically driven by smaller populations.

Lowest Independent Living Disability Rates — Top 100 Counties

Counties with the lowest reported independent living disability prevalence — these counties show the most favorable position on this measure.

#	County	Rate	95% CI	State
1	Falls Church city	4.4%	3.7 – 5.3	Virginia
2	Los Alamos County	4.6%	3.9 – 5.5	New Mexico
3	Howard County	4.8%	4.0 – 5.6	Maryland
4	Arlington County	4.8%	4.1 – 5.7	Virginia
5	Douglas County	4.9%	4.0 – 6.0	Colorado
6	Hamilton County	4.9%	4.1 – 6.0	Indiana
7	Somerset County	4.9%	4.2 – 5.7	New Jersey
8	Morris County	5.0%	4.1 – 5.9	New Jersey
9	Delaware County	5.0%	4.1 – 6.0	Ohio
10	Pitkin County	5.1%	4.2 – 6.1	Colorado
11	Loudoun County	5.1%	4.3 – 5.9	Virginia
12	Broomfield County	5.2%	4.3 – 6.2	Colorado
13	Hunterdon County	5.2%	4.3 – 6.3	New Jersey
14	King County	5.2%	4.4 – 6.0	Washington
15	Teton County	5.2%	4.3 – 6.2	Wyoming
16	Forsyth County	5.3%	4.4 – 6.4	Georgia
17	Montgomery County	5.3%	4.6 – 6.1	Maryland
18	Summit County	5.3%	4.3 – 6.4	Utah
19	Fairfax County	5.3%	4.5 – 6.3	Virginia
20	Santa Clara County	5.4%	4.7 – 6.3	California
21	Hinsdale County	5.4%	4.5 – 6.4	Colorado
22	Dallas County	5.4%	4.4 – 6.4	Iowa
23	Johnson County	5.4%	4.6 – 6.5	Kansas
24	Nantucket County	5.4%	4.5 – 6.5	Massachusetts
25	Carver County	5.4%	4.5 – 6.5	Minnesota
26	Bergen County	5.4%	4.6 – 6.3	New Jersey
27	Oconee County	5.5%	4.7 – 6.5	Georgia
28	Washington County	5.5%	4.6 – 6.6	Minnesota
29	Monmouth County	5.5%	4.6 – 6.5	New Jersey
30	Ouray County	5.6%	4.6 – 6.7	Colorado
31	Rockingham County	5.6%	4.6 – 6.7	New Hampshire
32	San Mateo County	5.7%	4.9 – 6.6	California
33	Clear Creek County	5.7%	4.6 – 6.9	Colorado
34	San Miguel County	5.7%	4.8 – 6.8	Colorado
35	DuPage County	5.7%	4.8 – 6.8	Illinois
36	Frederick County	5.7%	4.8 – 6.7	Maryland
37	Sarpy County	5.7%	4.7 – 6.6	Nebraska
38	Nassau County	5.7%	4.8 – 6.7	New York
39	Lincoln County	5.7%	4.6 – 6.8	South Dakota
40	Williamson County	5.7%	4.6 – 6.9	Tennessee
41	Collin County	5.7%	4.8 – 6.7	Texas
42	Boulder County	5.8%	4.8 – 6.9	Colorado
43	Jefferson County	5.8%	4.8 – 6.9	Colorado
44	Routt County	5.8%	4.8 – 7.0	Colorado
45	Western Connecticut Planning Region	5.8%	5.4 – 6.3	Connecticut
46	Boone County	5.8%	4.7 – 7.0	Indiana
47	Norfolk County	5.8%	4.8 – 6.9	Massachusetts
48	Middlesex County	5.8%	5.0 – 6.8	New Jersey
49	Putnam County	5.8%	4.9 – 7.0	New York
50	Wake County	5.8%	5.0 – 6.8	North Carolina
51	Warren County	5.8%	4.8 – 7.0	Ohio
52	Morgan County	5.8%	4.9 – 6.9	Utah
53	Chittenden County	5.8%	4.8 – 7.0	Vermont
54	San Francisco County	5.9%	5.0 – 6.9	California
55	Gunnison County	5.9%	4.9 – 7.0	Colorado
56	Summit County	5.9%	4.9 – 7.1	Colorado
57	Scott County	5.9%	5.0 – 7.1	Minnesota
58	Sussex County	5.9%	4.8 – 6.9	New Jersey
59	Wasatch County	5.9%	4.9 – 7.1	Utah
60	Albemarle County	5.9%	5.0 – 7.3	Virginia
61	Fairfax city	5.9%	5.0 – 7.1	Virginia
62	Ozaukee County	5.9%	4.9 – 7.0	Wisconsin
63	Waukesha County	5.9%	4.9 – 7.0	Wisconsin
64	Marin County	6.0%	5.0 – 7.1	California
65	St. Johns County	6.0%	5.0 – 7.2	Florida
66	Carroll County	6.0%	4.9 – 7.1	Maryland
67	Washington County	6.0%	5.0 – 7.2	Nebraska
68	Westchester County	6.0%	5.1 – 7.0	New York
69	Bristol County	6.0%	4.8 – 7.3	Rhode Island
70	Newport County	6.0%	5.0 – 7.2	Rhode Island
71	Rockwall County	6.0%	5.1 – 7.0	Texas
72	Alexandria city	6.0%	5.0 – 7.0	Virginia
73	Eagle County	6.1%	5.0 – 7.2	Colorado
74	Lake County	6.1%	5.1 – 7.2	Colorado
75	Monroe County	6.1%	5.1 – 7.4	Illinois
76	Warren County	6.1%	5.1 – 7.1	Iowa
77	Anne Arundel County	6.1%	5.2 – 7.2	Maryland
78	Calvert County	6.1%	5.2 – 7.1	Maryland
79	Middlesex County	6.1%	5.1 – 7.2	Massachusetts
80	Dakota County	6.1%	5.1 – 7.2	Minnesota
81	Olmsted County	6.1%	5.1 – 7.4	Minnesota
82	Kearney County	6.1%	5.0 – 7.2	Nebraska
83	Burlington County	6.1%	5.2 – 7.0	New Jersey
84	Burleigh County	6.1%	5.1 – 7.2	North Dakota
85	Union County	6.1%	5.0 – 7.2	Ohio
86	Denton County	6.1%	5.2 – 7.2	Texas
87	Fort Bend County	6.1%	5.2 – 7.0	Texas
88	Kendall County	6.1%	5.1 – 7.2	Texas
89	Williamson County	6.1%	5.2 – 7.2	Texas
90	Goochland County	6.1%	5.0 – 7.1	Virginia
91	York County	6.1%	5.2 – 7.2	Virginia
92	San Juan County	6.1%	5.0 – 7.4	Washington
93	Elbert County	6.2%	5.2 – 7.4	Colorado
94	Gilpin County	6.2%	5.1 – 7.5	Colorado
95	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	6.2%	5.7 – 6.7	Connecticut
96	Fayette County	6.2%	5.3 – 7.4	Georgia
97	Kendall County	6.2%	5.3 – 7.1	Illinois
98	Oakland County	6.2%	5.1 – 7.1	Michigan
99	Hennepin County	6.2%	5.3 – 7.3	Minnesota
100	Wright County	6.2%	5.2 – 7.3	Minnesota

Highest Independent Living Disability Rates — Bottom 100 CountiesCounties with the highest reported independent living disability prevalence.

#	County	Rate	95% CI	State
1	Oglala Lakota County	20.8%	18.2 – 23.6	South Dakota
2	Todd County	19.8%	17.0 – 23.1	South Dakota
3	Kusilvak Census Area	17.6%	15.2 – 20.2	Alaska
4	East Carroll Parish	17.2%	14.9 – 19.7	Louisiana
5	Sioux County	17.0%	14.9 – 19.6	North Dakota
6	McKinley County	16.8%	14.6 – 19.2	New Mexico
7	Madison Parish	16.4%	14.5 – 18.9	Louisiana
8	Greene County	16.4%	14.1 – 18.7	Alabama
9	Bullock County	16.3%	14.3 – 18.6	Alabama
10	Humphreys County	16.1%	13.6 – 18.7	Mississippi
11	Mellette County	15.9%	13.9 – 18.0	South Dakota
12	Perry County	15.9%	13.8 – 18.1	Alabama
13	Hancock County	15.8%	13.4 – 18.5	Tennessee
14	McDowell County	15.6%	13.5 – 17.9	West Virginia
15	Lake County	15.5%	13.5 – 17.5	Tennessee
16	Corson County	15.5%	13.5 – 17.8	South Dakota
17	Holmes County	15.5%	13.3 – 17.8	Mississippi
18	Tunica County	15.4%	13.2 – 17.9	Mississippi
19	Quitman County	15.4%	13.1 – 17.8	Mississippi
20	Claiborne Parish	15.3%	13.4 – 17.3	Louisiana
21	Wilcox County	15.3%	13.1 – 17.4	Alabama
22	Randolph County	15.2%	13.2 – 17.5	Georgia
23	Mingo County	15.1%	13.0 – 17.5	West Virginia
24	Buffalo County	15.1%	13.1 – 17.2	South Dakota
25	Sharkey County	15.1%	13.2 – 17.1	Mississippi
26	Lowndes County	15.1%	12.8 – 17.4	Alabama
27	Ziebach County	15.0%	13.1 – 17.1	South Dakota
28	Desha County	15.0%	13.2 – 17.1	Arkansas
29	Jackson County	14.9%	13.1 – 17.0	South Dakota
30	Dimmit County	14.8%	12.6 – 17.1	Texas
31	Tensas Parish	14.8%	12.8 – 16.8	Louisiana
32	Coahoma County	14.6%	12.4 – 17.1	Mississippi
33	Phillips County	14.6%	12.6 – 16.8	Arkansas
34	Bethel Census Area	14.6%	12.8 – 16.9	Alaska
35	Bennett County	14.5%	12.6 – 16.6	South Dakota
36	Pemiscot County	14.4%	12.6 – 16.3	Missouri
37	Zavala County	14.3%	12.4 – 16.4	Texas
38	Glacier County	14.3%	12.4 – 16.5	Montana
39	Leflore County	14.3%	12.2 – 16.6	Mississippi
40	Jefferson County	14.3%	11.9 – 16.8	Mississippi
41	Bienville Parish	14.3%	12.5 – 16.3	Louisiana
42	Dewey County	14.2%	12.2 – 16.3	South Dakota
43	Claiborne County	14.2%	11.9 – 16.6	Mississippi
44	Apache County	14.1%	12.2 – 16.3	Arizona
45	Calhoun County	14.0%	11.8 – 16.1	West Virginia
46	Macon County	14.0%	12.1 – 16.0	Georgia
47	Dillon County	13.9%	12.2 – 15.8	South Carolina
48	Robeson County	13.9%	12.3 – 15.6	North Carolina
49	Washington County	13.9%	11.8 – 16.1	Mississippi
50	Morehouse Parish	13.9%	12.0 – 15.9	Louisiana
51	Treutlen County	13.9%	12.1 – 15.7	Georgia
52	Terrell County	13.9%	12.1 – 15.9	Georgia
53	Telfair County	13.9%	12.2 – 15.6	Georgia
54	Taylor County	13.9%	12.0 – 15.9	Georgia
55	Starr County	13.8%	11.5 – 16.2	Texas
56	Noxubee County	13.8%	11.8 – 15.8	Mississippi
57	Concordia Parish	13.8%	12.0 – 15.8	Louisiana
58	Hancock County	13.8%	11.8 – 15.7	Georgia
59	Atkinson County	13.8%	12.1 – 15.6	Georgia
60	Lafayette County	13.8%	12.1 – 15.6	Arkansas
61	Dallas County	13.8%	11.8 – 16.0	Alabama
62	San Augustine County	13.7%	11.9 – 15.7	Texas
63	Adair County	13.7%	12.0 – 15.5	Oklahoma
64	Yazoo County	13.7%	11.8 – 15.6	Mississippi
65	Lee County	13.7%	11.9 – 15.5	Arkansas
66	Zapata County	13.6%	11.4 – 16.1	Texas
67	Scott County	13.6%	11.6 – 16.0	Tennessee
68	Jim Hogg County	13.5%	11.6 – 15.4	Texas
69	Sunflower County	13.5%	11.5 – 15.5	Mississippi
70	Webster Parish	13.5%	11.8 – 15.4	Louisiana
71	Red River Parish	13.5%	11.8 – 15.3	Louisiana
72	Franklin Parish	13.5%	11.7 – 15.5	Louisiana
73	Conecuh County	13.5%	11.9 – 15.4	Alabama
74	Marion County	13.4%	11.7 – 15.2	South Carolina
75	Big Horn County	13.4%	11.6 – 15.4	Montana
76	Bolivar County	13.4%	11.5 – 15.6	Mississippi
77	Avoyelles Parish	13.4%	11.7 – 15.2	Louisiana
78	Marlboro County	13.3%	11.7 – 14.9	South Carolina
79	Issaquena County	13.3%	11.7 – 14.8	Mississippi
80	St. Landry Parish	13.3%	11.7 – 15.2	Louisiana
81	Logan County	13.2%	11.2 – 15.5	West Virginia
82	Haywood County	13.2%	11.5 – 15.1	Tennessee
83	Hickory County	13.2%	11.4 – 15.2	Missouri
84	St. Helena Parish	13.2%	11.6 – 15.0	Louisiana
85	Jenkins County	13.2%	11.6 – 15.0	Georgia
86	Ben Hill County	13.2%	11.6 – 14.9	Georgia
87	Escambia County	13.2%	11.5 – 15.0	Alabama
88	Wyoming County	13.1%	10.9 – 15.3	West Virginia
89	Lincoln County	13.1%	11.3 – 15.2	West Virginia
90	Newton County	13.1%	11.4 – 14.8	Texas
91	Okfuskee County	13.1%	11.4 – 14.8	Oklahoma
92	Mississippi County	13.1%	11.4 – 14.9	Missouri
93	Turner County	13.1%	11.4 – 14.9	Georgia
94	Baker County	13.1%	11.5 – 14.9	Georgia
95	St. Francis County	13.1%	11.5 – 14.9	Arkansas
96	Sumter County	13.1%	11.4 – 15.2	Alabama
97	Webster County	13.0%	11.0 – 15.2	West Virginia
98	Hopewell city	13.0%	11.3 – 14.7	Virginia
99	Cochran County	13.0%	11.3 – 14.9	Texas
100	Barnwell County	13.0%	11.3 – 14.9	South Carolina

What this ranking suggests

Independent-living disability rankings are most useful when read at the local level by housing, transportation, and aging-services planners — it identifies the population that drives community-services demand. The MOBILITY and SELFCARE rankings on this site decompose the underlying functional patterns.

Methodology notes & limitations

Estimates are statistical model outputs, not direct measurements. Small counties have wider confidence intervals; treat narrow rank differences in those rows as within-noise. Counties where the underlying population is too small to support modeling are suppressed entirely (about 1% of US counties). All measures are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population. The PLACES dataset uses BRFSS self-reported data — self-report introduces known direction-of-bias in some measures (BMI is under-reported; binge drinking is under-reported), but the bias is roughly uniform across counties so ranking comparability is preserved. See the methodology page for full data-pipeline documentation.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished May 15, 2026Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data source: CDC PLACES 2023 release. Measure ID: INDEPLIVE.

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