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Data: American College of Sports Medicine; Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios
Boston is one of America's healthiest metros, clinching a spot in the top 10 of a new national fitness ranking.
Why it matters: Boston ranked No. 10 on the 2026 American Fitness Index, climbing three spots from 13th place last year.
The big picture: The annual list from the American College of Sports Medicine and the Elevance Health Foundation ranks the 100 largest U.S. cities on community infrastructure, environmental factors and healthy behaviors.
- The highest-ranking cities mostly favor walkers and make movement a seamless part of daily life through urban design.
- Boston specifically shines in accessibility to outdoor areas, with 100% of residents living within a 10-minute walk to a park.
Zoom out: Researchers found that the gap between America's healthiest and least healthy cities is widening.
- Top cities have significantly higher rates of biking, walking and public transit use.
- Lower-ranked cities struggle with higher rates of obesity, food insecurity and chronic disease.
Arlington, Virginia, claimed the No. 1 spot for the ninth consecutive year, followed by Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis.
