Arlington has ranked as the fittest “city” in the country for the eighth year straight, edging out D.C. at No. 2.
According to the new 2025 Fitness Index, Arlington has the highest percentage of residents “in excellent or very good health” (67.2%), the highest percentage sleeping 7+ hours per day (76.4%) and the lowest percentage of smokers (3.3%).
It also received the top “community/environment” score to claim an overall fitness score of 85.7 — leagues above the average score of 50.8 among all 100 cities in the ranking.
“We congratulate the city of Arlington, Virginia, and its residents for being the 2025 Fittest City in America,” an accompanying report says. “Their ongoing commitment to ensuring the health, fitness and vitality of their community is exemplary.”
The index additionally tipped its hat to Arlington’s high number of pickleball courts: 9.0 tennis or pickleball courts per 20,000 residents, the sixth highest among examined cities.
One dark spot on Arlington’s scoreboard, however, was mental health. The county ranked below average in this category, with almost half of Arlington residents — 49.2% — recorded as having poor mental health in the previous month.
No. 2 in the 2025 Fitness Index was Arlington’s neighbor across the Potomac, which received an overall score of 78.3.
Compared to Arlington, D.C. has significantly more people biking, walking or using transit to get to work. However, it has substantially fewer days with good air quality (51.8% compared to 82.7%) and almost triple the percentage of smokers (9.8%), according to the ranking.
Overall, this year’s fitness index found slight declines in air quality and increases in food insecurity nationwide, which researchers attributed to wildfires and the end of pandemic-era programs supporting access to food. Of the 100 cities studied, 99 saw an increase in food insecurity.
On the other hand, the report noted an overall increase in residents meeting aerobic activity guidelines, decreased rates of smoking and increased funding for parks.
“Healthy living starts where we live, learn, work and play,” previous American College of Sports Medicine President Stella Volpe said in a press release. “By getting involved in grassroots advocacy, you can help create a community that encourages and supports a health, active life.”
