Health starts where we live, learn, work and play. Cultural norms related to the use, access to, and promotion of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis products influence the rate and frequency of use in communities, particularly for youth. When community leaders prioritize health over other interests’, policies are enacted which enable healthy choices and behaviors and these choices become commonplace among youth. For example, a community that has adopted policies to limit where alcohol is sold, research states that communities see less underage drinking, less crime and a reduction in law enforcement costs.  

This analysis provides a brief introduction to the role of community design in improving population health and a snapshot of the demographics, chronic health conditions and associated risk factors of the residents of Chittenden County, followed by recommendations for towns and municipalities.