Health Risk Behaviors

Physical Inactivity by County — US Rankings

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

PLACES measures the share of adults who report no leisure-time physical activity outside of work in the past month. The framing matters: the measure does not pick up physical labor on the job, which means counties with high agricultural or manual-trades employment can rank as "inactive" while having more total daily movement than office-job counties that record fewer inactivity respondents. Age adjustment helps but does not erase this. High-prevalence counties cluster in the rural South, the lower Mississippi Delta, and central Appalachia.

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 Physical Inactivity Rates — Top 100 Counties

Counties with the lowest reported physical inactivity prevalence — these counties show the most favorable position on this measure.

#	County	Rate	95% CI	State
1	Boulder County	12.2%	9.8 – 14.8	Colorado
2	Pitkin County	12.6%	9.7 – 15.8	Colorado
3	Los Alamos County	12.7%	9.9 – 15.9	New Mexico
4	Jefferson County	12.8%	10.4 – 15.3	Colorado
5	Hinsdale County	12.9%	9.9 – 16.4	Colorado
6	Broomfield County	13.1%	10.4 – 16.4	Colorado
7	Douglas County	13.3%	10.6 – 16.5	Colorado
8	Ouray County	13.5%	10.4 – 16.9	Colorado
9	San Juan County	13.6%	10.7 – 16.9	Washington
10	Summit County	13.7%	10.9 – 16.9	Utah
11	King County	13.8%	12.0 – 15.7	Washington
12	Clear Creek County	13.9%	10.6 – 17.5	Colorado
13	Larimer County	13.9%	11.4 – 16.7	Colorado
14	Chittenden County	14.1%	11.5 – 16.9	Vermont
15	San Miguel County	14.2%	11.0 – 17.8	Colorado
16	Routt County	14.5%	11.6 – 18.2	Colorado
17	Gallatin County	14.5%	11.8 – 17.7	Montana
18	Park County	14.6%	11.4 – 18.4	Colorado
19	Gunnison County	14.7%	11.4 – 18.5	Colorado
20	Island County	14.7%	12.0 – 17.8	Washington
21	Jefferson County	14.7%	11.8 – 18.2	Washington
22	Mineral County	14.9%	12.2 – 17.7	Colorado
23	Morgan County	14.9%	11.8 – 18.9	Utah
24	Gilpin County	15.0%	11.7 – 18.8	Colorado
25	Summit County	15.0%	11.8 – 18.8	Colorado
26	Arlington County	15.1%	12.3 – 18.1	Virginia
27	Elbert County	15.2%	12.0 – 19.1	Colorado
28	La Plata County	15.3%	12.2 – 18.8	Colorado
29	District of Columbia	15.3%	11.9 – 19.0	District of Columbia
30	Falls Church city	15.3%	12.2 – 18.9	Virginia
31	Teller County	15.4%	11.9 – 19.1	Colorado
32	Deschutes County	15.6%	12.5 – 19.2	Oregon
33	Utah County	15.6%	13.2 – 18.5	Utah
34	Hamilton County	15.7%	12.7 – 19.2	Indiana
35	Grand County	15.8%	12.3 – 19.8	Colorado
36	Howard County	15.8%	13.2 – 18.7	Maryland
37	Eagle County	15.9%	12.6 – 19.4	Colorado
38	San Juan County	15.9%	12.5 – 19.9	Colorado
39	Washington County	15.9%	13.1 – 19.2	Utah
40	Kitsap County	16.0%	13.3 – 18.7	Washington
41	Cumberland County	16.1%	13.3 – 19.1	Maine
42	Nantucket County	16.4%	12.8 – 20.6	Massachusetts
43	Norfolk County	16.4%	13.5 – 19.6	Massachusetts
44	Thurston County	16.4%	13.9 – 19.4	Washington
45	Barnstable County	16.5%	13.2 – 20.0	Massachusetts
46	Washtenaw County	16.5%	13.6 – 19.4	Michigan
47	Missoula County	16.5%	13.4 – 20.0	Montana
48	Wasatch County	16.5%	13.1 – 20.1	Utah
49	Whatcom County	16.5%	13.8 – 19.6	Washington
50	Marin County	16.6%	13.2 – 20.3	California
51	Chaffee County	16.6%	13.1 – 20.9	Colorado
52	Benton County	16.7%	13.3 – 20.4	Oregon
53	Coconino County	16.8%	14.2 – 19.6	Arizona
54	Washington County	16.8%	13.4 – 20.6	Rhode Island
55	Lake County	16.9%	13.4 – 20.9	Colorado
56	Dukes County	16.9%	13.2 – 21.2	Massachusetts
57	Cache County	16.9%	13.5 – 20.5	Utah
58	Juneau City and Borough	17.0%	14.1 – 20.3	Alaska
59	Custer County	17.0%	13.3 – 21.1	Colorado
60	Addison County	17.0%	13.6 – 20.5	Vermont
61	St. Johns County	17.1%	13.8 – 20.9	Florida
62	Delaware County	17.1%	14.1 – 20.5	Ohio
63	Grand Isle County	17.1%	13.4 – 21.2	Vermont
64	Washington County	17.1%	13.8 – 20.9	Vermont
65	Monroe County	17.2%	13.2 – 21.7	Illinois
66	Davis County	17.2%	14.3 – 20.3	Utah
67	Oconee County	17.3%	14.7 – 19.9	Georgia
68	Lewis and Clark County	17.3%	13.7 – 21.3	Montana
69	Madison County	17.3%	13.6 – 21.4	Montana
70	Lincoln County	17.3%	13.9 – 20.7	South Dakota
71	Williamson County	17.3%	13.5 – 21.4	Tennessee
72	Rockingham County	17.4%	14.2 – 20.8	New Hampshire
73	Washington County	17.4%	14.4 – 20.6	Oregon
74	Snohomish County	17.4%	15.1 – 20.1	Washington
75	Denver County	17.5%	14.7 – 20.6	Colorado
76	Multnomah County	17.5%	14.5 – 20.6	Oregon
77	Skamania County	17.5%	14.1 – 21.2	Washington
78	Arapahoe County	17.7%	14.8 – 20.9	Colorado
79	Archuleta County	17.7%	13.9 – 21.9	Colorado
80	Hampshire County	17.7%	14.4 – 21.7	Massachusetts
81	Burleigh County	17.7%	14.7 – 21.0	North Dakota
82	Windsor County	17.7%	14.3 – 21.6	Vermont
83	Teton County	17.7%	14.1 – 21.7	Wyoming
84	Bristol County	17.8%	13.9 – 22.3	Rhode Island
85	El Dorado County	17.9%	14.4 – 22.0	California
86	Placer County	17.9%	14.6 – 21.6	California
87	Ada County	17.9%	14.8 – 21.4	Idaho
88	Middlesex County	17.9%	15.0 – 20.9	Massachusetts
89	Leelanau County	17.9%	13.8 – 22.5	Michigan
90	Hunterdon County	17.9%	14.3 – 21.9	New Jersey
91	Wake County	17.9%	14.8 – 21.2	North Carolina
92	Kane County	17.9%	14.2 – 22.2	Utah
93	Clallam County	17.9%	14.7 – 21.2	Washington
94	Garfield County	17.9%	14.4 – 21.6	Washington
95	Alpine County	18.0%	14.3 – 22.1	California
96	Rio Blanco County	18.0%	14.7 – 22.0	Colorado
97	Carroll County	18.0%	14.5 – 21.7	New Hampshire
98	Wallowa County	18.0%	14.1 – 22.7	Oregon
99	Flathead County	18.1%	14.6 – 21.6	Montana
100	Morris County	18.1%	14.8 – 21.5	New Jersey

Highest Physical Inactivity Rates — Bottom 100 CountiesCounties with the highest reported physical inactivity prevalence.

#	County	Rate	95% CI	State
1	Dimmit County	48.9%	41.9 – 55.5	Texas
2	Zavala County	48.2%	43.3 – 53.2	Texas
3	Starr County	47.6%	40.7 – 54.5	Texas
4	Zapata County	47.1%	40.3 – 54.1	Texas
5	Jim Hogg County	46.6%	41.3 – 51.5	Texas
6	Humphreys County	46.2%	39.9 – 52.9	Mississippi
7	Tunica County	44.8%	38.7 – 51.7	Mississippi
8	Willacy County	44.5%	37.8 – 51.0	Texas
9	Holmes County	44.4%	38.0 – 51.1	Mississippi
10	Sharkey County	44.3%	39.8 – 49.1	Mississippi
11	Desha County	44.3%	38.6 – 50.5	Arkansas
12	East Carroll Parish	44.1%	37.5 – 50.5	Louisiana
13	Quitman County	43.8%	37.2 – 50.5	Mississippi
14	Jefferson County	43.3%	36.1 – 50.3	Mississippi
15	Bullock County	42.7%	36.9 – 48.7	Alabama
16	McDowell County	42.6%	36.6 – 48.7	West Virginia
17	Madison Parish	42.5%	36.4 – 48.8	Louisiana
18	Todd County	42.3%	36.2 – 48.6	South Dakota
19	Yazoo County	42.3%	36.3 – 48.3	Mississippi
20	Maverick County	42.2%	35.6 – 48.8	Texas
21	Issaquena County	42.1%	38.0 – 46.0	Mississippi
22	Coahoma County	42.1%	35.7 – 48.6	Mississippi
23	Claiborne County	42.1%	35.5 – 49.0	Mississippi
24	Brooks County	42.0%	37.2 – 46.5	Texas
25	Greene County	42.0%	35.7 – 48.2	Alabama
26	Phillips County	41.9%	35.8 – 48.0	Arkansas
27	Oglala Lakota County	41.7%	36.3 – 47.5	South Dakota
28	Reeves County	41.6%	35.1 – 47.6	Texas
29	Mingo County	41.5%	35.8 – 48.1	West Virginia
30	Sunflower County	41.5%	35.4 – 47.8	Mississippi
31	Claiborne Parish	41.5%	35.8 – 48.0	Louisiana
32	Bolivar County	41.3%	35.8 – 47.4	Mississippi
33	St. Francis County	41.2%	35.6 – 47.1	Arkansas
34	Lee County	41.2%	35.4 – 47.6	Arkansas
35	Leflore County	41.1%	35.2 – 47.0	Mississippi
36	Presidio County	41.0%	34.5 – 47.2	Texas
37	Cochran County	41.0%	35.1 – 47.4	Texas
38	La Salle County	40.9%	34.4 – 47.0	Texas
39	Dunklin County	40.6%	34.5 – 46.5	Missouri
40	Noxubee County	40.6%	34.6 – 46.5	Mississippi
41	Pemiscot County	40.5%	35.2 – 46.3	Missouri
42	Lafayette County	40.4%	34.7 – 46.1	Arkansas
43	Wilkinson County	40.3%	34.0 – 46.5	Mississippi
44	Perry County	40.3%	34.2 – 46.2	Alabama
45	Duval County	40.2%	34.1 – 46.3	Texas
46	Macon County	40.2%	34.1 – 46.1	Georgia
47	Hudspeth County	40.1%	36.0 – 44.1	Texas
48	Webb County	40.0%	33.6 – 47.0	Texas
49	Bienville Parish	40.0%	34.5 – 46.3	Louisiana
50	Sevier County	40.0%	34.4 – 45.7	Arkansas
51	Deaf Smith County	39.9%	33.9 – 46.2	Texas
52	Mississippi County	39.8%	34.0 – 45.5	Missouri
53	Tallahatchie County	39.8%	34.0 – 45.8	Mississippi
54	Scott County	39.8%	34.1 – 45.7	Mississippi
55	Adams County	39.8%	34.1 – 46.1	Mississippi
56	Tensas Parish	39.8%	33.8 – 45.7	Louisiana
57	Chicot County	39.8%	34.3 – 45.7	Arkansas
58	Adair County	39.7%	34.1 – 45.1	Oklahoma
59	Sioux County	39.7%	33.6 – 46.2	North Dakota
60	Frio County	39.5%	33.5 – 45.8	Texas
61	Randolph County	39.5%	33.4 – 45.4	Georgia
62	Jim Wells County	39.4%	33.1 – 45.6	Texas
63	Washington County	39.4%	33.5 – 45.0	Mississippi
64	Atkinson County	39.4%	33.6 – 45.3	Georgia
65	Ashley County	39.4%	34.0 – 44.9	Arkansas
66	Lowndes County	39.3%	33.0 – 45.3	Alabama
67	Stewart County	39.2%	33.5 – 45.1	Georgia
68	Wilcox County	39.1%	32.9 – 45.0	Alabama
69	Lake County	39.0%	33.1 – 45.1	Tennessee
70	Lawrence County	39.0%	33.4 – 45.1	Mississippi
71	Telfair County	39.0%	33.6 – 44.6	Georgia
72	Culberson County	38.9%	33.0 – 44.7	Texas
73	Jefferson Davis County	38.8%	33.0 – 44.7	Mississippi
74	Bradley County	38.6%	33.3 – 44.6	Arkansas
75	Jackson County	38.5%	32.8 – 44.2	Arkansas
76	Kusilvak Census Area	38.5%	32.4 – 44.9	Alaska
77	Panola County	38.4%	32.6 – 44.1	Mississippi
78	Amite County	38.4%	32.8 – 44.0	Mississippi
79	Nevada County	38.3%	32.5 – 43.9	Arkansas
80	Jasper County	38.1%	32.4 – 43.7	Mississippi
81	Seward County	38.1%	32.4 – 44.1	Kansas
82	Kenedy County	38.0%	31.8 – 44.3	Texas
83	Hidalgo County	38.0%	32.6 – 43.6	Texas
84	Red River Parish	38.0%	32.3 – 44.0	Louisiana
85	Hempstead County	38.0%	32.6 – 43.6	Arkansas
86	Crittenden County	38.0%	32.4 – 44.2	Arkansas
87	Webster County	37.9%	31.6 – 44.4	West Virginia
88	Ziebach County	37.9%	32.3 – 44.0	South Dakota
89	Terrell County	37.9%	32.2 – 43.9	Georgia
90	Hendry County	37.9%	32.8 – 43.3	Florida
91	Calhoun County	37.8%	31.6 – 43.9	West Virginia
92	Harmon County	37.7%	32.7 – 43.1	Oklahoma
93	Yalobusha County	37.7%	31.9 – 43.6	Mississippi
94	Pike County	37.7%	32.2 – 43.5	Mississippi
95	Montgomery County	37.7%	31.9 – 44.2	Mississippi
96	Concordia Parish	37.7%	32.3 – 44.4	Louisiana
97	Hancock County	37.7%	31.4 – 43.6	Georgia
98	Woodruff County	37.7%	31.7 – 43.6	Arkansas
99	Buffalo County	37.6%	31.6 – 43.5	South Dakota
100	Mellette County	37.5%	31.9 – 43.0	South Dakota

What this ranking suggests

Read this ranking as one component of a metabolic-environment profile rather than a fitness ranking. It pairs naturally with the OBESITY, DIABETES, and FOODINSECU rankings on this site. Walkability indices and transit access are not captured here but underwrite a lot of the variance.

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: LPA.

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