Central Ohio counties rank above average for community health
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Central Ohio counties have above-average community health conditions compared to the rest of the country and are some of the best in the state, according to 2025 County Health Rankings.
Why it matters: Franklin County's above-average health ranking comes from factors like lower rates of preventable hospital stays and significantly higher numbers of primary care physicians.
- Those factors highlight disparities in health care access when compared to rural counties.
How it works: The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's annual report tracks various health metrics like insurance rates, mammograms, dentists and air pollution.
- It also highlights social and economic factors like housing, employment and poverty rates.
Zoom in: Franklin and surrounding counties all rank above average, with Delaware and Union counties among the healthiest in the entire country.
- The latter counties are buoyed by high rates of insurance coverage and very low rates of unemployment and poverty.
Zoom out: Southern and Appalachian communities struggle in comparison, with counties like Adams and Vinton among the lowest rankings in the nation.
- For comparison, Franklin County has a 980:1 ratio of residents to primary care physicians. Vinton County's ratio is 6,350:1.
Between the lines: The disparity between rural and urban communities is no surprise to Amy Rohling McGee, president of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio.
- She tells Axios that access to health care is the most critical factor to health outcomes, but is still a "big challenge" for many communities.
- "We know that people who live in rural and Appalachian areas of our state have more challenges with access, especially when it comes to mental health, substance use disorder, dental care and even OB-GYN services."
Yes, but: Decisions made at the state level can make a major impact on community health, even in counties currently excelling.
- "We're doing really well in Franklin County on a number of metrics, yet those could be impacted by policy changes currently being considered," McGee says.
One example: Gov. Mike DeWine's proposed state budget could roll back Medicaid expansion established by the Affordable Care Act.
- Ohio Medicaid director Maureen Corcoran told the Statehouse News Bureau it's a money issue. Under the proposal, the state's rollback would happen if the federal government lowers its share of Medicaid expansion funding.
- That could eliminate coverage for 770,000 Ohioans, including more than 100,000 in Franklin County, Job and Family Services Director Michelle Lindeboom estimates.