Life expectancy is one of the most important and commonly cited indicators of population health — and in the United States, life expectancy is falling at a historic rate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy at birth declined by 1.5 years in 2020, the largest one-year drop since World War II.
The CDC attributes the decline to the COVID-19 pandemic and 93,000 drug overdose deaths — an all-time one-year high. Homicide, diabetes, and liver disease were also contributing factors. Here is a look at the states with the most drug overdose deaths in 2020.
While the national trend is alarming, there are parts of the country where life expectancy is far higher than the national average. Using data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program, 24/7 Tempo identified the county with the longest life expectancy at birth in every state. It is important to note that life expectancy figures are averages for the years 2017 through 2019 — the most recent period for which county-level data is available — so they are pre-pandemic.
Though each county or county equivalent on this list has the longest life expectancy at birth in its state, average life expectancies vary considerably — from as low as 78.7 years up to well over 90. The comparable national average life expectancy stands at 79.2 years.
Variations in life expectancy are tied to a number of both economic and behavioral factors. For example, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., and in a majority of counties and county equivalents on this list, the share of adults who smoke is below the corresponding statewide average. Here is a look at the American cities where the most people smoke.
Income levels are also linked to life expectancy. Poverty, for example, presents challenges and stressors that can take a cumulative toll on both physical and mental health. Additionally, lower-income Americans are less able to afford adequate health care or a range of healthy options related to diet and lifestyle. Recent studies have shown that life expectancy among the wealthiest 1% of Americans exceeds that of the poorest 1% by well over a decade. In most counties on this list, the poverty rate is below the statewide poverty rate.
Click here to see the county with the longest life expectancy in every state
Click here to see our detailed methodology
Source: Jacqueline Nix / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Alabama: Shelby County
> Life expectancy: 80.7 (Alabama: 75.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.8% (Alabama: 21.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 37.7% (Alabama: 36.1%)
> Smoking rate: 15.0% (Alabama: 20.0%)
> Population without health insurance: 6.2% (Alabama: 9.5%)
> Median household income: $77,799 (Alabama: $50,536)
> Poverty rate: 7.5% (Alabama: 16.7%)
[in-text-ad]
Alaska: Haines Borough
> Life expectancy: 87.5 (Alaska: 79.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.4% (Alaska: 15.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.1% (Alaska: 31.9%)
> Smoking rate: 17.9% (Alaska: 18.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 13.4% (Alaska: 13.6%)
> Median household income: $58,059 (Alaska: $77,640)
> Poverty rate: 11.3% (Alaska: 10.7%)
24/7 Wall St.
Arizona: Santa Cruz County
> Life expectancy: 83.1 (Arizona: 80.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 27.8% (Arizona: 18.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.1% (Arizona: 27.9%)
> Smoking rate: 15.7% (Arizona: 14.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 10.2% (Arizona: 10.4%)
> Median household income: $41,259 (Arizona: $58,945)
> Poverty rate: 23.3% (Arizona: 15.1%)
Source: raksyBH / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Arkansas: Benton County
> Life expectancy: 79.9 (Arkansas: 76.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.9% (Arkansas: 23.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.1% (Arkansas: 35.0%)
> Smoking rate: 18.6% (Arkansas: 23.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 8.9% (Arkansas: 8.5%)
> Median household income: $66,362 (Arkansas: $47,597)
> Poverty rate: 9.4% (Arkansas: 17.0%)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Spondylolithesis / Getty Images
California: Marin County
> Life expectancy: 85.5 (California: 81.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.8% (California: 17.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 17.6% (California: 24.3%)
> Smoking rate: 9.9% (California: 11.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.5% (California: 7.5%)
> Median household income: $115,246 (California: $75,235)
> Poverty rate: 7.2% (California: 13.4%)
Source: skibreck / iStock via Getty Images
Colorado: Summit County
> Life expectancy: 98.9 (Colorado: 80.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.9% (Colorado: 13.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 15.4% (Colorado: 22.4%)
> Smoking rate: 14.5% (Colorado: 14.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 16.6% (Colorado: 7.6%)
> Median household income: $79,277 (Colorado: $72,331)
> Poverty rate: 8.0% (Colorado: 10.3%)
[in-text-ad]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Connecticut: Fairfield County
> Life expectancy: 83.0 (Connecticut: 80.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.9% (Connecticut: 13.0%)
> Adult obesity rate: 21.2% (Connecticut: 26.3%)
> Smoking rate: 11.7% (Connecticut: 12.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 8.4% (Connecticut: 5.3%)
> Median household income: $95,645 (Connecticut: $78,444)
> Poverty rate: 8.9% (Connecticut: 9.9%)
Source: aimintang / Getty Images
Delaware: Sussex County
> Life expectancy: 78.7 (Delaware: 78.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.9% (Delaware: 16.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 33.3% (Delaware: 32.4%)
> Smoking rate: 19.1% (Delaware: 17.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 6.7% (Delaware: 5.7%)
> Median household income: $63,162 (Delaware: $68,287)
> Poverty rate: 11.3% (Delaware: 11.8%)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Florida: Collier County
> Life expectancy: 86.1 (Florida: 80.2)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.3% (Florida: 19.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 21.9% (Florida: 27.2%)
> Smoking rate: 16.0% (Florida: 14.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 15.4% (Florida: 12.8%)
> Median household income: $69,653 (Florida: $55,660)
> Poverty rate: 11.2% (Florida: 14.0%)
[in-text-ad-2]
Georgia: Echols County
> Life expectancy: 83.6 (Georgia: 77.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 26.2% (Georgia: 18.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 34.3% (Georgia: 32.3%)
> Smoking rate: 23.2% (Georgia: 16.3%)
> Population without health insurance: 23.5% (Georgia: 13.2%)
> Median household income: $39,494 (Georgia: $58,700)
> Poverty rate: 24.1% (Georgia: 15.1%)
Source: Don White / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Hawaii: Maui County
> Life expectancy: 82.9 (Hawaii: 82.3)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.7% (Hawaii: 15.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 24.6% (Hawaii: 24.6%)
> Smoking rate: 16.2% (Hawaii: 14.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 5.0% (Hawaii: 3.9%)
> Median household income: $80,948 (Hawaii: $81,275)
> Poverty rate: 9.3% (Hawaii: 9.4%)
[in-text-ad]
Source: shanecotee / Getty Images
Idaho: Blaine County
> Life expectancy: 85.3 (Idaho: 79.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.1% (Idaho: 15.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 16.5% (Idaho: 29.0%)
> Smoking rate: 15.3% (Idaho: 15.0%)
> Population without health insurance: 12.8% (Idaho: 10.6%)
> Median household income: $56,694 (Idaho: $55,785)
> Poverty rate: 12.5% (Idaho: 13.1%)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Illinois: DuPage County
> Life expectancy: 82.5 (Illinois: 79.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.0% (Illinois: 15.9%)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.3% (Illinois: 29.7%)
> Smoking rate: 14.2% (Illinois: 15.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 5.3% (Illinois: 6.8%)
> Median household income: $92,809 (Illinois: $65,886)
> Poverty rate: 6.4% (Illinois: 12.5%)
Source: Jose A Perez / Getty Images
Indiana: Hamilton County
> Life expectancy: 82.0 (Indiana: 77.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.0% (Indiana: 18.2%)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.7% (Indiana: 33.9%)
> Smoking rate: 13.9% (Indiana: 21.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.4% (Indiana: 8.4%)
> Median household income: $98,173 (Indiana: $56,303)
> Poverty rate: 4.6% (Indiana: 13.4%)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
Iowa: Sioux County
> Life expectancy: 83.9 (Iowa: 79.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.3% (Iowa: 13.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.4% (Iowa: 34.3%)
> Smoking rate: 17.1% (Iowa: 17.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.2% (Iowa: 4.7%)
> Median household income: $69,844 (Iowa: $60,523)
> Poverty rate: 6.3% (Iowa: 11.5%)
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Kansas: Lincoln County
> Life expectancy: 82.6 (Kansas: 78.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.5% (Kansas: 16.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.2% (Kansas: 33.0%)
> Smoking rate: 19.9% (Kansas: 17.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 8.7% (Kansas: 8.8%)
> Median household income: $45,076 (Kansas: $59,597)
> Poverty rate: 9.2% (Kansas: 12.0%)
[in-text-ad]
Kentucky: Oldham County
> Life expectancy: 79.8 (Kentucky: 75.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.8% (Kentucky: 21.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 22.7% (Kentucky: 34.6%)
> Smoking rate: 16.4% (Kentucky: 24.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.5% (Kentucky: 5.7%)
> Median household income: $99,128 (Kentucky: $50,589)
> Poverty rate: 5.9% (Kentucky: 17.3%)
Louisiana: Cameron Parish
> Life expectancy: 81.7 (Louisiana: 76.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.7% (Louisiana: 21.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 39.1% (Louisiana: 36.3%)
> Smoking rate: 24.3% (Louisiana: 21.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.7% (Louisiana: 9.5%)
> Median household income: $53,423 (Louisiana: $49,469)
> Poverty rate: 9.9% (Louisiana: 19.2%)
![Cuckhold Light by Paul VanDerWerf [Off for awhile]](https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/imageForEntry19-sas.jpg "Cuckhold Light by Paul VanDerWerf [Off for awhile]")
Maine: Lincoln County
> Life expectancy: 80.2 (Maine: 78.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.5% (Maine: 17.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.4% (Maine: 29.8%)
> Smoking rate: 18.5% (Maine: 19.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 10.0% (Maine: 7.9%)
> Median household income: $57,720 (Maine: $57,918)
> Poverty rate: 12.3% (Maine: 11.8%)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Maryland: Montgomery County
> Life expectancy: 84.6 (Maryland: 79.2)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.3% (Maryland: 15.2%)
> Adult obesity rate: 21.9% (Maryland: 31.6%)
> Smoking rate: 9.2% (Maryland: 12.6%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.1% (Maryland: 6.1%)
> Median household income: $108,820 (Maryland: $84,805)
> Poverty rate: 6.8% (Maryland: 9.2%)
Source: OlegAlbinsky / E+ via Getty Images
Massachusetts: Nantucket County
> Life expectancy: 83.3 (Massachusetts: 80.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.0% (Massachusetts: 13.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.1% (Massachusetts: 25.0%)
> Smoking rate: 13.2% (Massachusetts: 13.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.4% (Massachusetts: 2.7%)
> Median household income: $107,717 (Massachusetts: $81,215)
> Poverty rate: 8.7% (Massachusetts: 10.3%)
[in-text-ad]
Source: simplycmb / Getty Images
Michigan: Leelanau County
> Life expectancy: 82.7 (Michigan: 78.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.5% (Michigan: 18.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.8% (Michigan: 32.4%)
> Smoking rate: 17.1% (Michigan: 20.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 5.2% (Michigan: 5.5%)
> Median household income: $65,249 (Michigan: $57,144)
> Poverty rate: 6.1% (Michigan: 14.4%)
24/7 Wall St.
Minnesota: Carver County
> Life expectancy: 83.3 (Minnesota: 80.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 9.9% (Minnesota: 12.9%)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.2% (Minnesota: 29.0%)
> Smoking rate: 12.9% (Minnesota: 15.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.0% (Minnesota: 4.5%)
> Median household income: $101,496 (Minnesota: $71,306)
> Poverty rate: 4.1% (Minnesota: 9.7%)
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Mississippi: Lamar County
> Life expectancy: 79.9 (Mississippi: 74.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.4% (Mississippi: 22.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 36.0% (Mississippi: 39.1%)
> Smoking rate: 18.0% (Mississippi: 21.0%)
> Population without health insurance: 13.2% (Mississippi: 12.3%)
> Median household income: $60,328 (Mississippi: $45,081)
> Poverty rate: 18.3% (Mississippi: 20.3%)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Missouri: Ralls County
> Life expectancy: 80.9 (Missouri: 77.3)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.0% (Missouri: 19.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.3% (Missouri: 32.5%)
> Smoking rate: 23.2% (Missouri: 20.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 8.3% (Missouri: 9.3%)
> Median household income: $55,377 (Missouri: $55,461)
> Poverty rate: 13.7% (Missouri: 13.7%)
Source: Rachel Lodin / iStock via Getty Images
Montana: Liberty County
> Life expectancy: 91.2 (Montana: 78.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.0% (Montana: 14.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 37.0% (Montana: 27.1%)
> Smoking rate: 23.5% (Montana: 18.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 8.6% (Montana: 9.0%)
> Median household income: $44,875 (Montana: $54,970)
> Poverty rate: 16.2% (Montana: 13.1%)
[in-text-ad]
Source: BenjaminSullivan / iStock via Getty Images
Nebraska: Frontier County
> Life expectancy: 85.5 (Nebraska: 79.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.5% (Nebraska: 13.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 38.9% (Nebraska: 33.4%)
> Smoking rate: 17.0% (Nebraska: 16.6%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.6% (Nebraska: 8.2%)
> Median household income: $54,659 (Nebraska: $61,439)
> Poverty rate: 9.0% (Nebraska: 11.1%)
Nevada: Lincoln County
> Life expectancy: 83.1 (Nevada: 78.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.1% (Nevada: 19.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.6% (Nevada: 27.1%)
> Smoking rate: 20.8% (Nevada: 15.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.4% (Nevada: 11.1%)
> Median household income: $58,462 (Nevada: $60,365)
> Poverty rate: 5.5% (Nevada: 13.1%)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
New Hampshire: Rockingham County
> Life expectancy: 80.9 (New Hampshire: 79.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.5% (New Hampshire: 12.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.2% (New Hampshire: 28.6%)
> Smoking rate: 14.2% (New Hampshire: 16.6%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.4% (New Hampshire: 5.9%)
> Median household income: $93,756 (New Hampshire: $76,768)
> Poverty rate: 4.6% (New Hampshire: 7.6%)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: KenWiedemann / Getty Images
New Jersey: Hunterdon County
> Life expectancy: 83.6 (New Jersey: 80.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.3% (New Jersey: 15.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 22.3% (New Jersey: 27.0%)
> Smoking rate: 12.9% (New Jersey: 13.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 2.6% (New Jersey: 7.8%)
> Median household income: $115,379 (New Jersey: $82,545)
> Poverty rate: 4.5% (New Jersey: 10.0%)
Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images
New Mexico: Los Alamos County
> Life expectancy: 83.8 (New Mexico: 78.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 9.4% (New Mexico: 20.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 23.4% (New Mexico: 27.3%)
> Smoking rate: 9.6% (New Mexico: 15.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.2% (New Mexico: 9.6%)
> Median household income: $121,324 (New Mexico: $49,754)
> Poverty rate: 4.4% (New Mexico: 19.1%)
[in-text-ad]
Source: gregobagel / Getty Images
New York: New York County
> Life expectancy: 85.3 (New York: 81.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.6% (New York: 16.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 15.6% (New York: 26.4%)
> Smoking rate: 11.9% (New York: 13.0%)
> Population without health insurance: 5.2% (New York: 5.8%)
> Median household income: $86,553 (New York: $68,486)
> Poverty rate: 15.8% (New York: 14.1%)
Source: BSPollard / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
North Carolina: Orange County
> Life expectancy: 82.3 (North Carolina: 78.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.8% (North Carolina: 18.0%)
> Adult obesity rate: 21.8% (North Carolina: 32.3%)
> Smoking rate: 15.1% (North Carolina: 17.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.0% (North Carolina: 10.7%)
> Median household income: $71,723 (North Carolina: $54,602)
> Poverty rate: 13.7% (North Carolina: 14.7%)
Source: JeffGoulden / E+ via Getty Images
North Dakota: Golden Valley County
> Life expectancy: 90.6 (North Dakota: 79.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.6% (North Dakota: 13.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.2% (North Dakota: 33.9%)
> Smoking rate: 19.1% (North Dakota: 19.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.1% (North Dakota: 7.4%)
> Median household income: $58,690 (North Dakota: $64,894)
> Poverty rate: 7.5% (North Dakota: 10.7%)
[in-text-ad-2]
Ohio: Delaware County
> Life expectancy: 82.3 (Ohio: 77.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.8% (Ohio: 17.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.6% (Ohio: 33.5%)
> Smoking rate: 15.3% (Ohio: 21.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.7% (Ohio: 6.1%)
> Median household income: $106,908 (Ohio: $56,602)
> Poverty rate: 4.8% (Ohio: 14.0%)
Source: GracedByTheLight / iStock via Getty Images
Oklahoma: Cimarron County
> Life expectancy: 81.1 (Oklahoma: 76.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 22.1% (Oklahoma: 20.9%)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.9% (Oklahoma: 34.5%)
> Smoking rate: 21.2% (Oklahoma: 19.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 14.8% (Oklahoma: 14.1%)
> Median household income: $46,328 (Oklahoma: $52,919)
> Poverty rate: 16.8% (Oklahoma: 15.7%)
[in-text-ad]
Oregon: Gilliam County
> Life expectancy: 84.6 (Oregon: 79.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.7% (Oregon: 18.2%)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.1% (Oregon: 29.3%)
> Smoking rate: 19.5% (Oregon: 15.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.0% (Oregon: 6.7%)
> Median household income: $47,500 (Oregon: $62,818)
> Poverty rate: 10.4% (Oregon: 13.2%)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: aimintang / Getty Images
Pennsylvania: Centre County
> Life expectancy: 83.0 (Pennsylvania: 78.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.0% (Pennsylvania: 17.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 24.0% (Pennsylvania: 30.8%)
> Smoking rate: 18.5% (Pennsylvania: 17.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 5.6% (Pennsylvania: 5.7%)
> Median household income: $60,403 (Pennsylvania: $61,744)
> Poverty rate: 18.2% (Pennsylvania: 12.4%)
Source: Image Source / Getty Images
Rhode Island: Newport County
> Life expectancy: 81.6 (Rhode Island: 79.8)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.1% (Rhode Island: 16.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.4% (Rhode Island: 28.5%)
> Smoking rate: 14.9% (Rhode Island: 15.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.8% (Rhode Island: 4.5%)
> Median household income: $79,454 (Rhode Island: $67,167)
> Poverty rate: 8.7% (Rhode Island: 12.4%)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: VisionsbyAtlee / iStock via Getty Images
South Carolina: Beaufort County
> Life expectancy: 82.9 (South Carolina: 77.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.4% (South Carolina: 17.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.0% (South Carolina: 34.0%)
> Smoking rate: 16.4% (South Carolina: 18.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 10.7% (South Carolina: 10.5%)
> Median household income: $68,377 (South Carolina: $53,199)
> Poverty rate: 10.2% (South Carolina: 15.2%)
South Dakota: Stanley County
> Life expectancy: 89.2 (South Dakota: 78.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 10.9% (South Dakota: 13.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.9% (South Dakota: 32.4%)
> Smoking rate: 16.1% (South Dakota: 20.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.8% (South Dakota: 9.5%)
> Median household income: $71,382 (South Dakota: $58,275)
> Poverty rate: 4.7% (South Dakota: 13.1%)
[in-text-ad]
Source: mavdesign / iStock via Getty Images
Tennessee: Williamson County
> Life expectancy: 81.7 (Tennessee: 76.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.2% (Tennessee: 21.2%)
> Adult obesity rate: 22.5% (Tennessee: 33.3%)
> Smoking rate: 13.9% (Tennessee: 20.8%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.5% (Tennessee: 9.7%)
> Median household income: $112,962 (Tennessee: $53,320)
> Poverty rate: 4.4% (Tennessee: 15.2%)
Texas: Presidio County
> Life expectancy: 88.8 (Texas: 79.2)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 39.9% (Texas: 18.7%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.0% (Texas: 31.4%)
> Smoking rate: 21.9% (Texas: 14.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 26.1% (Texas: 17.2%)
> Median household income: $25,098 (Texas: $61,874)
> Poverty rate: 39.0% (Texas: 14.7%)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Utah: Summit County
> Life expectancy: 85.1 (Utah: 80.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 10.9% (Utah: 14.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 14.5% (Utah: 27.0%)
> Smoking rate: 8.3% (Utah: 9.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 6.7% (Utah: 9.4%)
> Median household income: $102,958 (Utah: $71,621)
> Poverty rate: 5.6% (Utah: 9.8%)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: hstiver / Getty Images
Vermont: Chittenden County
> Life expectancy: 81.8 (Vermont: 79.8)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.2% (Vermont: 12.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 22.4% (Vermont: 27.0%)
> Smoking rate: 12.5% (Vermont: 14.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.1% (Vermont: 4.0%)
> Median household income: $73,647 (Vermont: $61,973)
> Poverty rate: 12.1% (Vermont: 10.9%)
Virginia: Manassas Park city
> Life expectancy: 86.5 (Virginia: 79.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.4% (Virginia: 16.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.3% (Virginia: 30.5%)
> Smoking rate: 16.7% (Virginia: 15.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 17.1% (Virginia: 8.6%)
> Median household income: $88,046 (Virginia: $74,222)
> Poverty rate: 6.4% (Virginia: 10.6%)
[in-text-ad]
Washington: San Juan County
> Life expectancy: 86.2 (Washington: 80.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.0% (Washington: 15.0%)
> Adult obesity rate: 20.1% (Washington: 28.6%)
> Smoking rate: 11.6% (Washington: 12.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 6.4% (Washington: 6.3%)
> Median household income: $63,622 (Washington: $73,775)
> Poverty rate: 10.2% (Washington: 10.8%)
West Virginia: Doddridge County
> Life expectancy: 80.6 (West Virginia: 74.8)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 23.4% (West Virginia: 23.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 37.6% (West Virginia: 37.8%)
> Smoking rate: 26.0% (West Virginia: 26.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.2% (West Virginia: 6.0%)
> Median household income: $45,545 (West Virginia: $46,711)
> Poverty rate: 15.7% (West Virginia: 17.6%)
Wisconsin: Pepin County
> Life expectancy: 82.9 (Wisconsin: 79.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.3% (Wisconsin: 14.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.2% (Wisconsin: 31.7%)
> Smoking rate: 21.1% (Wisconsin: 17.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.7% (Wisconsin: 5.4%)
> Median household income: $54,583 (Wisconsin: $61,747)
> Poverty rate: 10.5% (Wisconsin: 11.3%)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: mdesigner125 / iStock via Getty Images
Wyoming: Teton County
> Life expectancy: 87.5 (Wyoming: 78.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.4% (Wyoming: 15.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 11.0% (Wyoming: 29.2%)
> Smoking rate: 12.9% (Wyoming: 19.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 12.7% (Wyoming: 11.4%)
> Median household income: $84,678 (Wyoming: $64,049)
> Poverty rate: 6.1% (Wyoming: 11.0%)
Methodology
To determine the county with the longest life expectancy in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed life expectancy — the average number of years a person can expect to live — data from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program’s 2021 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report. While the CHR report is from 2021, life expectancy data published in the report are from 2017-2019.
Of the 3,220 counties or county equivalents, 3,141 had boundaries that fell within one of the 50 states, while the rest were in the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico. Counties were excluded if life expectancy data was unavailable, if the confidence interval for the estimate was deemed too large, or if the county’s 2019 five-year population estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau was less than 1,000.
The remaining 3,069 places were ranked within their state based on life expectancy. Additional information on the share of adults reporting poor or fair health, the share of adults 20 years and older who report a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher (adult obesity rate), and the share of adults who are current smokers are also from the 2021 CHR. The share of the civilian noninstitutionalized population without health insurance, median household income, and poverty rates are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With A Financial Advisor (Sponsored)
Take the quiz below to get matched with a financial advisor today.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the
advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Take the retirement quiz right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
