Street corner in Yonkers, NY

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

#10. Yonkers

Positive influences are important, especially when you’re trying to stay healthy. With that in mind, Yonkers, N.Y., lands on our list of the Top 10 Healthiest Cities. For the most part, residents of Yonkers exercise on a regular basis, watch what they eat, and don’t smoke or drink excessively. The city fosters healthy living with many walkable neighborhoods and a collection of parks that encourage residents to get outside and get moving.

Approximately 98 percent of the population has access to exercise opportunities, which include yoga studios, fitness centers, sports clubs and golf courses. Fun fact: America’s first golf course was built in Yonkers. Untermyer Park, which overlooks the Hudson River, draws many people who come to walk through gardens, practice tai chi or hike through wooded areas.

See where Yonkers ranked on our 2014 Best Places to Live list. 

City officials recently launched the Yonkers Green City initiative, which includes programs to replace street lights with brighter LED bulbs, and a Styrofoam recycling program. Many rooftops have been fitted with solar panels. When it comes to ratio of doctors, dentists and mental-health providers to residents, Yonkers ranks well above most cities. A large selection of hospitals and doctors offices in Yonkers give residents many choices when it comes to choosing health-care providers. Yonkers also provides residents with many strong social support systems. Beyond the Yonkers Farmers Market, there are a handful of places to pick up fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.

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