Rochester, Minn., ranks as the top U.S. metro area for healthcare access, according to data Indeed shared with Becker’s from its Best Cities for Work 2026 index.
The ranking reflects a single metric — primary care physicians per 100,000 residents — that sits within the index’s Job Quality & Security pillar, Indeed said in a statement shared with Becker’s. That pillar carries a 15% weight in the overall index and contains seven metrics, according to the methodology. Healthcare access is not a standalone pillar.
Indeed said the ranking suggests the metro areas have better healthcare access, shorter appointment wait times, more choice in selecting a physician and stronger healthcare infrastructure. The company said the top-ranked areas are home to nationally recognized hospitals and academic medical centers.
The index scores 40 metrics across six pillars for 228 U.S. metro areas with more than 200,000 residents. Physician supply figures come from County Health Rankings, according to the methodology.
The 25 best metro areas for healthcare access:
1. Rochester, Minn.
2. Ann Arbor, Mich.
3. Burlington-South Burlington, Vt.
4. Charlottesville, Va.
5. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.
6. Boulder, Colo.
7. Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.
8. Madison, Wis.
9. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass./N.H.
10. Sioux Falls, S.D./Minn.
11. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.
12. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash.
13. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Md.
14. Urban Honolulu
15. Columbus, Ohio
16. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn./Wis.
17. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, Colo.
18. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C./Va./Md./W.Va.
19. Omaha, Neb./Iowa
20. Syracuse, N.Y.
21. Manchester-Nashua, N.H.
22. Fargo, N.D./Minn.
23. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.
24. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas
25. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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