3. Connecticut
Connecticut rose three spots this year and is now the third-healthiest state on the list. It has the highest child immunization rates in the country, with more than 80 percent of children getting their recommended vaccines. Over the past nine years, cancer deaths in Connecticut have fallen 9 percent.
Strengths: Low prevalence of smoking; low incidence of infectious disease; high immunization coverage among children.
Challenges: High prevalence of excessive drinking; high levels of air pollution; large disparity in health status by educational attainment.
