Ohio
Ohio is one of the unhealthiest states, study says. See where it ranks
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Three Ohio counties were named among the unhealthiest in the country in a study released earlier this year.
Now, Ohio takes No. 9 in the least healthy state population rankings, per a Forbes study.
Here’s why Ohio rates as one of the least healthy states in the country.
What makes Ohio one of the unhealthiest states in the U.S.?
Being healthy can allow one to participate in all activities and enjoy their life. Unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that six in 10 American adults have at least one chronic disease and four in 10 have two or more.
So, what makes Ohio No. 9 in the rankings of the unhealthiest states?
The Forbes study utilized 21 metrics across three categories—disease risk factors and prevalence, substance abuse, and lifestyle habits and health outlook. Ohio had a low score in all three categories (where 100 is the worst score):
- Disease Factors and Prevalence Score: 68.02
- Substance Abuse Score: 77.53
- Lifestyle Habits and Health Outlook: 80.89
- Overall score: 78.38
The Buckeye State was among the 10 worst for substance abuse and lifestyle habits/health outlook, and was No. 11 for disease risk factors and prevalence.
Ohio’s relatively poor showing in the Forbes study stands as an improvement from when it ranked close to last for health in a 2021 study by the Columbus-based Health Policy Institute of Ohio.
Cuyahoga County is one of the most unhealthy counties in the country
The Forbes study also looked at 100 of the most populated counties in the US. Cuyahoga County in Ohio is No. 2 in the top five unhealthiest counties in the country, earning a score of 99.38 out of 100.
Cuyahoga County has the highest rate of heart disease (7.2%) in the nation, putting many of its residents at risk for potentially fatal complications such as aneurysms, heart attacks, and strokes.
Other Cuyahoga County statistics include:
- 2nd highest percentage of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (8.5%)
- 4th highest percentage of adults who have had a stroke (3.8%)
- 4th highest percentage of adults with high blood pressure (37.3%)
- 5th highest percentage of adults with chronic kidney disease (3.6%)
- 6th highest percentages of adults with diagnosed diabetes (13.6%), cancer (7.5%), and adults who are current smokers (18%)
Rankings in the Midwest: Where Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan landed
Joining Ohio in the top 10 unhealthiest states are West Virginia (No. 1 overall, 100.0 score), Kentucky (No. 5, 87.46) and Indiana (No. 10, 76.37).
Michigan came in at No. 14 (63.66 score).
Additionally, three other counties in the Midwest join Cuyahoga County in the top five least healthy counties list. Michigan takes two spots, Wayne County (No. 1) and Macomb County (No. 4), and Kentucky takes one with Jefferson County (No. 2)
Top 10 unhealthiest states
The full list of the 10 unhealthiest states in the Forbes study (with overall scores in parentheses):
- West Virginia (100.0)
- Mississippi (96.04)
- Tennessee (94.39)
- Arkansas (88.06)
- Kentucky (87.46)
- Alabama (83.70)
- Louisiana (82.81)
- Oklahoma (81.69)
- Ohio (78.38)
- Indiana (76.37)
Top 10 healthiest states
At the other end of the spectrum, the 10 healthiest states in the US are scattered around the country (with overall scores in parentheses):
- Hawaii (0.00)
- Utah (11.34)
- Connecticut (13.33)
- Minnesota (16.16)
- Massachusetts (17.02)
- Colorado (18.67)
- New Jersey (19.23)
- New Hampshire (20.35)
- Washington (23.01)
- New York (23.04)
LICKING COUNTY, Ohio (WCMH) — When you think of wild animals in central Ohio, a black bear likely isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. That’s why one Licking County family said they couldn’t believe their eyes.
It was an average afternoon drive home for father and son, Justin and Aaron Rhodes, when something walked into the road in front of them.
“I didn’t even think it was real at first, so that’s why I had to do the double take,” Justin said.
Aaron said he thought it was “just a weird looking dog”.
To their disbelief, it was a bear. The sighting comes just one year after the animal was spotted in Licking County for the first time in more than two decades.
“It’s kind of hard to believe that they’re even around this area,” Justin said. “I’ve lived in this area for about 24 years now, so it’s been quite a while, and I’ve never seen one before.”
These sightings are becoming more common. The Ohio Division of Wildlife said the black bear population is growing in the state, and they expect those trends to continue. Ohio saw a record number of confirmed sightings in 2025.
Lindsey Krusling, a wildlife communications specialist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, said they are seeing more breeding females establish homes in the state, signaling the species is returning. Experts said the work restoring natural forest land is a big reason why.
“We’re starting to get some black bears coming in from neighboring states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky,” Krusling said. “They’re naturally crossing those state borders and coming back to Ohio because we have more of that habitat available to them, especially those forested areas.”
As the black bear population grows, the Division of Wildlife is expanding its research. They are putting radio collars on some bears they find in the state to help track data, such as if the bears are staying here, how far they’ve traveled and if they’re successfully having cubs.
“We’re trying to get quite a bit of data from these bears, and we’re super excited to see where this takes us,” Krusling said.
The research is in the beginning stages, but they expect population growth to continue, Krusling said.
Sighting reports can be submitted here to help the Division of Wildlife track black bear populations throughout the state.
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Real estate transfers in Licking County, Ohio, range from $85,000 to $865,000
The following are property transfers recorded in Licking County from June 1-5, 2026.
First name indicates the seller; second name represents the buyer
Buckeye Lake
- 502 Providence Lane; Cohagen, Christopher C and Lori A; Adams, Jeffrey L and Boyce-Adams, Jo Anna; 6/1/2026; $511,000
- 131 Cranberry Lane; Smart, Amy and Kidwell, Kevin K; Sew and Minor, Christian; 6/1/2026; $262,000
Etna Township
- 116 Cameron Drive SW; Ray, Erica L; Darjee, Sanjay and Laxmi and Dil; 6/2/2026; $412,000
- 119 Kraner St. SW; Adkins, Zane and Amy; Culbertson, Brenton Howard; 6/1/2026; $368,500
- 160 Dusky Willow Drive; Willow Reserve LLC; Martin, Alaina K; 6/2/2026; $290,940
Granville
- 119 Derwyn Del Way; Lifer, David C and Julia H; Martin, Michael and Lisa; 6/1/2026; $865,000
- 39 Victoria Drive; Acton, Wendy S and Paul J; Cannon, Matthew Evan and Zywica, Natalie Nicole; 6/2/2026; $835,000
Granville Township
- 49 Alberry Drive; Halliday, Lucas and Breayne; Howe, Jason and Kathryn; 6/2/2026; $570,000
Harrison Township
- 102 Whirlaway Loop; Rice, Dawn (Trustee); Bope, Maria and Shane; 6/2/2026; $420,000
Heath
- 1306 Kacey Court; Fischer Homes Columbus II LLC; Owens, Blake Andrew and Taylor Marie; 6/2/2026; $437,779
- 805 Fieldson Drive; Flowers, Ingrit; Harder, Noah C; 6/2/2026; $250,000
Hebron
- 802 Cumberland Meadows Circle; Lines, Marlene S; Gerhart, Jamie A and Ralph W Jr; 6/2/2026; $232,000
Johnstown
- 101 Bigelow Drive; McGovern, Matthew S and Jennifer L; Sanford, Jessica; 6/2/2026; $442,500
Liberty Township
- 5844 Nichols Lane Road NW; La Jeunesse, Garth E and Debra; Nesselroad, William Heath and Annie; 6/1/2026; $629,000
- 7211 Northridge Road NW; Devault, Robert E Jr and Joann; Esbenshade, Travis M and Lowe, Shelby M; 6/1/2026; $495,000
Newark
- 2110 Overlook Way; D.R. Horton-Indiana LLC; Tarsha, Michele A; 6/1/2026; $433,335
- 1162 Taylor Ave.; Heath Fluid LLC; Anglada, Gabriel P and Salina T; 6/1/2026; $200,000
- 32 Postal Ave. W.; Palmisano, Phil; Moore, Dominic Michael and Miksich, Paige Elizabeth; 6/1/2026; $198,900
- 75 Gay St.; Velez, Marcos A; Camell, Campbell; 6/1/2026; $155,000
- 655 Evans St.; TNL; McRada Properties LLC; 6/1/2026; $145,000
- 63 Wallace St.; FDA Peachtree LLC; Burns, Amber L; 6/2/2026; $86,500
- 404 10th St.; Synergy Group Properties LLC; Busy Boys Restoration LLC; 6/2/2026; $85,000
Reynoldsburg
- 8447 Rodebaugh Road; Collins, Carol J; Thorpe, Kimberley Lynn and Henry, Steven; 6/2/2026; $340,000
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