Where a woman lives plays a critical role in her health outcomes. It shapes her access to healthcare, safety, and overall quality of life. A new analysis from the nonprofit SmileHub ranked all 50 states on women’s health using a composite score out of 100 based on health and living standards, health care policies, support systems, and safety. These rankings reveal how states balance policy, access to care, and real-world conditions that affect women’s well-being.
For Black women, the Social Determinants of Health are a contributing factor that we should not ignore. Residential segregation is a fundamental cause of racial health disparities, operating through many social institutions (including labor markets and education) to affect health. These are key reasons we have a shorter life expectancy, a higher maternal mortality rate, and a higher disease burden.
1. Massachusetts (Total Score of 75.80)
Massachusetts ranks first overall, driven by its top health and living standards and a strong health care infrastructure, despite a slightly lower safety ranking.
2. Connecticut (74.60)Connecticut’ss high placement is largely due to its strong safety ranking (2nd) and solid performance on health and living standards, even as its health care policy ranking trails those of other states.
3. Hawaii (74.43)
Hawaii ranks highly (2nd) for health and living standards, reflecting strong preventive care, though geographic barriers can affect access to services.
4. New York (72.02)
New York stands out for its health care policies and support systems (3rd).
5. Vermont (70.85)
Vermont ranks 1st in health care policies and support systems, yet its lower safety ranking underscores the need to address community-level conditions alongside policy.
6. Minnesota (69.40)
Minnesota performs consistently across categories, though safety remains an area for improvement.
7. New Jersey (68.76)
New Jersey ranks first in safety, a major factor in its overall standing. Yet it ranks lower in health care policies and support systems.
8. California (68.64)California’ss ranking reflects a mix of strong health protections and ongoing challenges related to access, affordability, and regional disparities.
9. New Hampshire (68.53)
New Hampshire ranks in the top 10 with consistent performance across all categories, particularly in health and living standards.
10. Maryland (68.04)
Maryland benefits from a strong health infrastructure and a high safety ranking, though its health care policy ranking remains mid-range.
11. Washington (65.73)
Washington scores well in health and living standards but falls behind in safety, which underscores the need for more violence prevention inwomen’ss health.
12. Rhode Island (63.39)
Rhode Island maintains moderate rankings across all categories with opportunities to strengthen women-centered health services.
13. Pennsylvania (63.13)Pennsylvania’ss strong health care policy ranking (10th) boosts its overall placement.
14. Wisconsin (62.94)
Wisconsin performs well in health care policy but struggles with safety and living standards, which ultimately reflects gaps between policy and lived experiences.
15. Colorado (62.25)
Colorado ranks in the top 15, with high health and living standards (3rd), but significantly lower safety (46th).
What the Rankings Show: SmileHub’s analysis highlights that women’s health depends on more than health care access alone. States that rank highest tend to have strong policies, high-quality care, and safe living environments. It is important to note that gaps in any area can significantly impact overall rankings and outcomes.
Notably, the analysis exposes regional gaps across the country. In particular, all five lowest-ranking states are located in the South or the greater Southern region.
These states include:
- Tennessee (33.94)
- Texas (33.89)
- West Virginia (33.84)
- Arkansas (30.80)
- Oklahoma (30.58)
This geographic pattern reflects long-standing structural challenges commonly seen across parts of the South. This can include limited access to health care providers, historically lower investment in public health infrastructure, higher poverty rates, and more restrictive health care policies. These factors are rooted in the SDOH, which contribute to poorer outcomes for women and produce barriers to safe, affordable, and comprehensive care.
No matter where we live, we have a right to quality healthcare.
Resources
Best States for Women’s Health
Journal ofWomen’ss Health
New American Better Life Lab Collection
