This Virginia City Was Just Named "America's Healthiest Community"

Drumroll please! U.S. News chose the "Little City" of Falls Church, Virginia, as the healthiest community in the country for 2024.

The suburb located about 20 minutes from Washington, D.C. is known for walkable neighborhoods and a small-town atmosphere. Falls Church has plenty of historic attractions within its two square miles, as well as more than a dozen parks, well-kept trails, and a diverse food scene.

U.S. News noted the diamond-shaped city also ranked No. 1 in 2018. Falls Church has reemerged to unseat Los Alamos, New Mexico, which now resides in the No. 2 spot.

U.S. News looked at about 3,000 communities around the country and ranked the top 500. Among its metrics, Falls Church is No.1 in the country for education and has a 97% high school graduation rate. The city came in at No. 4 for population health.

“We have that small-town feel, but also a big-city vibe as far as offerings,” Dana Jones, Falls Church's human services director, told U.S. News. “And you can walk to all of it.”

The burb is also within minutes of favorite sites around Washington, like Arlington National Cemetery, Smithsonian museums, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Sounds like a great place to retire or raise a family, though the magazine noted that housing is very expensive in Falls Church. If cost is a factor for you, check out our list of affordable small towns and cities.