After declining for several years, life expectancy in the U.S. is beginning to level off. An American born in 2020 has an average life expectancy of 79.1 years — but this can vary widely from place to place across the country.
Most rural areas actually have a lower 2020 life expectancy than a decade earlier. Yet in cities, where people have better access to health care and high-paying jobs, life expectancy is relatively high. In fact, in many cities, people can expect to live well into their 80s.
To determine the cities where people live the longest, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on life expectancy in U.S. metropolitan areas from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Of the 40 American major metro areas where people live the longest, the majority, 23, are in the western part of the country — including a dozen metro areas in California. The only other state with more than two metro areas on this list is Florida, with four.
In the vast majority of the metro areas on this list, residents tend to be wealthy. Of the 40 metro areas, 28 have median annual household incomes higher than the U.S. median income of $65,712. These relatively high incomes allow residents to afford high quality health care, while lower incomes can hinder access to quality health care and nutritious diets. These are the cities with the lowest poverty rates.
Click here to see the cities where people live the longest.
40. Bellingham, Washington
> Life expectancy: 81.32 years — 2.23 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 27.9% — 296th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 13.7% — 317th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 14.4% — 375th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 6.8% — 242nd out of 382
> Median household income: $69,372 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 229,247
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39. Ann Arbor, Michigan
> Life expectancy: 81.41 years — 2.32 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 24.5% — 350th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 12.1% — 357th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 15.3% — 369th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 3.7% — 362nd out of 382
> Median household income: $76,576 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 367,601
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38. Madison, Wisconsin
> Life expectancy: 81.41 years — 2.32 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 26.9% — 318th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 12.9% — 337th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 15.3% — 370th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 3.7% — 362nd out of 382
> Median household income: $75,545 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 664,865
37. Austin-Round Rock, Texas
> Life expectancy: 81.44 years — 2.35 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 26.6% — 322nd out of 382
> Smoking rate: 12.9% — 338th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.2% — 336th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 13.6% — 40th out of 382
> Median household income: $80,954 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 2,227,083
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36. Bend-Redmond, Oregon
> Life expectancy: 81.45 years — 2.36 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 22.9% — 364th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 13.6% — 320th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 14.4% — 375th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 7.0% — 236th out of 382
> Median household income: $71,643 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 197,692
35. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, California
> Life expectancy: 81.50 years — 2.41 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 25.5% — 340th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 10.8% — 369th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 15.0% — 372nd out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 5.8% — 284th out of 382
> Median household income: $77,265 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 283,111
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34. Fort Collins, Colorado
> Life expectancy: 81.56 years — 2.47 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 20.2% — 378th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 12.7% — 347th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 13.1% — 379th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 5.8% — 284th out of 382
> Median household income: $75,186 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 356,899
33. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida
> Life expectancy: 81.58 years — 2.49 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 24.0% — 353rd out of 382
> Smoking rate: 15.1% — 261st out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.1% — 240th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 11.5% — 84th out of 382
> Median household income: $65,526 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 836,995
32. St. Cloud, Minnesota
> Life expectancy: 81.61 years — 2.52 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 29.2% — 266th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 15.1% — 262nd out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.9% — 267th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 5.4% — 309th out of 382
> Median household income: $66,076 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 201,964
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31. Santa Fe, New Mexico
> Life expectancy: 81.62 years — 2.53 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 14.4% — 382nd out of 382
> Smoking rate: 13.7% — 318th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 12.1% — 380th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 12.0% — 74th out of 382
> Median household income: $61,298 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 150,358
30. El Centro, California
> Life expectancy: 81.66 years — 2.57 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 34.6% — 92nd out of 382
> Smoking rate: 12.8% — 341st out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 31.4% — 31st out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 8.3% — 177th out of 382
> Median household income: $48,472 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 181,215
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29. Wenatchee, Washington
> Life expectancy: 81.72 years — 2.63 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 28.9% — 275th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 13.2% — 330th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.3% — 331st out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 11.0% — 100th out of 382
> Median household income: $60,532 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 120,629
28. St. George, Utah
> Life expectancy: 81.77 years — 2.68 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 23.6% — 359th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 8.9% — 380th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 19.0% — 318th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 14.4% — 29th out of 382
> Median household income: $63,595 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 177,556
27. Napa, California
> Life expectancy: 81.77 years — 2.68 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 23.8% — 356th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 9.9% — 375th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.5% — 327th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 6.6% — 250th out of 382
> Median household income: $92,769 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 137,744
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26. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Florida
> Life expectancy: 81.91 years — 2.82 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 22.8% — 365th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 15.8% — 232nd out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.4% — 193rd out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 15.4% — 21st out of 382
> Median household income: $60,141 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 6,166,488
25. Ames, Iowa
> Life expectancy: 81.98 years — 2.89 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 26.2% — 329th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 14.9% — 269th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 17.2% — 348th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 6.2% — 267th out of 382
> Median household income: $62,181 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 123,351
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24. Santa Rosa, California
> Life expectancy: 81.99 years — 2.90 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 22.4% — 367th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 10.1% — 374th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 15.5% — 368th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 5.8% — 284th out of 382
> Median household income: $87,828 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 494,336
23. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, South Carolina
> Life expectancy: 82.04 years — 2.95 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 26.2% — 330th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 13.8% — 312nd out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.6% — 325th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 10.2% — 125th out of 382
> Median household income: $71,252 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 222,195
22. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
> Life expectancy: 82.10 years — 3.01 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 34.4% — 101st out of 382
> Smoking rate: 14.6% — 283rd out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.6% — 277th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 32.2% — 1st out of 382
> Median household income: $41,800 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 868,707
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21. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, California
> Life expectancy: 82.10 years — 3.01 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 24.6% — 347th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 11.4% — 363rd out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 16.4% — 357th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 10.8% — 109th out of 382
> Median household income: $75,653 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 446,499
20. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, District of Columbia
> Life expectancy: 82.16 years — 3.07 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 28.0% — 293rd out of 382
> Smoking rate: 11.9% — 358th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.8% — 320th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 7.5% — 209th out of 382
> Median household income: $105,659 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 6,280,697
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19. New York-Newark-Jersey City, New Jersey
> Life expectancy: 82.17 years — 3.08 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 24.3% — 352nd out of 382
> Smoking rate: 13.1% — 333rd out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 25.1% — 168th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 6.9% — 238th out of 382
> Median household income: $83,160 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 19,216,182
18. Iowa City, Iowa
> Life expectancy: 82.19 years — 3.10 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 27.7% — 302nd out of 382
> Smoking rate: 14.6% — 281st out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 17.4% — 346th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 7.7% — 204th out of 382
> Median household income: $63,761 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 173,105
17. San Diego-Carlsbad, California
> Life expectancy: 82.21 years — 3.12 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 20.3% — 377th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 10.8% — 370th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 14.4% — 375th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 8.0% — 191st out of 382
> Median household income: $83,985 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 3,338,330
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16. Rochester, Minnesota
> Life expectancy: 82.22 years — 3.13 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 29.6% — 252nd out of 382
> Smoking rate: 12.8% — 343rd out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 21.5% — 278th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 5.5% — 307th out of 382
> Median household income: $75,926 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 221,921
15. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida
> Life expectancy: 82.26 years — 3.17 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 25.9% — 334th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 14.3% — 294th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 24.8% — 175th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 12.2% — 68th out of 382
> Median household income: $62,240 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 770,577
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14. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, California
> Life expectancy: 82.47 years — 3.38 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 20.7% — 375th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 10.6% — 371st out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 17.2% — 348th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 9.4% — 146th out of 382
> Median household income: $92,236 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 846,006
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13. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
> Life expectancy: 82.48 years — 3.39 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 23.4% — 361st out of 382
> Smoking rate: 11.0% — 368th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 20.6% — 300th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 3.6% — 368th out of 382
> Median household income: $87,470 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 974,563
12. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California
> Life expectancy: 82.49 years — 3.40 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 21.2% — 374th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 10.5% — 372nd out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 16.1% — 361st out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 9.3% — 150th out of 382
> Median household income: $77,774 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 13,214,799
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11. Salinas, California
> Life expectancy: 82.50 years — 3.41 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 27.7% — 301st out of 382
> Smoking rate: 12.2% — 354th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 19.8% — 310th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 9.7% — 136th out of 382
> Median household income: $77,514 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 434,061
10. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut
> Life expectancy: 82.71 years — 3.62 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 21.3% — 372nd out of 382
> Smoking rate: 10.2% — 373rd out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 17.7% — 342nd out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 9.1% — 159th out of 382
> Median household income: $97,053 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 943,332
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9. Corvallis, Oregon
> Life expectancy: 82.80 years — 3.71 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 24.9% — 346th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 13.3% — 329th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 13.2% — 378th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 4.7% — 336th out of 382
> Median household income: $70,835 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 93,053
8. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California
> Life expectancy: 82.83 years — 3.74 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 19.0% — 380th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 11.4% — 362nd out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 11.4% — 381st out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 5.3% — 312nd out of 382
> Median household income: $89,269 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 273,213
7. State College, Pennsylvania
> Life expectancy: 82.92 years — 3.83 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 25.2% — 342nd out of 382
> Smoking rate: 17.0% — 160th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 18.1% — 337th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 8.2% — 179th out of 382
> Median household income: $60,706 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 162,385
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6. Yuma, Arizona
> Life expectancy: 82.93 years — 3.84 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 36.9% — 39th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 13.3% — 327th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 26.3% — 135th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 14.0% — 34th out of 382
> Median household income: $46,419 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 213,787
5. Boulder, Colorado
> Life expectancy: 82.97 years — 3.88 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 15.2% — 381st out of 382
> Smoking rate: 11.3% — 364th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 9.5% — 382nd out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 5.4% — 309th out of 382
> Median household income: $88,535 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 326,196
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4. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii
> Life expectancy: 83.29 years — 4.20 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 24.0% — 354th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 12.3% — 353rd out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 20.0% — 304th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 6.3% — 263rd out of 382
> Median household income: $80,754 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 167,488
3. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California
> Life expectancy: 83.37 years — 4.28 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 20.7% — 376th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 9.7% — 377th out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 14.8% — 374th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 4.3% — 347th out of 382
> Median household income: $114,696 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 4,731,803
2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California
> Life expectancy: 84.55 years — 5.46 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 20.0% — 379th out of 382
> Smoking rate: 8.3% — 381st out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 16.2% — 359th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 4.8% — 329th out of 382
> Median household income: $130,865 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 1,990,660
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1. Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, Florida
> Life expectancy: 86.06 years — 6.97 more than US average
> Obesity rate: 21.3% — 372nd out of 382
> Smoking rate: 14.4% — 291st out of 382
> Adults who don’t exercise regularly: 23.2% — 238th out of 382
> Adults without health insurance: 13.1% — 49th out of 382
> Median household income: $76,025 (US average: $65,712)
> Population: 384,902
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