A ranking of the 100 fittest cities in America found that Washington and Arlington, Virginia, claim the top two spots, thanks to strong scores for personal health and overall well-being.
Arlington earned the top spot for the ninth consecutive year in the 2026 American College of Sports Medicine American Fitness Index. Washington ranked second overall and led the nation in community and environmental well-being.
The annual Fitness Index evaluated the 100 largest U.S. cities using a combination of publicly available data on health behaviors, chronic health conditions, community infrastructure such as parks and bike access, and local policies that support active lifestyles.
The rankings are designed to help local leaders, health organizations, and residents better understand the factors that contribute to community health and quality of life.
To create the Fitness Index, the Translational Journal of the ACSM first identified health and community factors that influence physical fitness and overall well-being.
