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 Wall St. identified the metro area with the longest life expectancy at birth in every state. Four states — Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont — have only one metro area. As a result, these areas rank as having the longest average life expectancy in the state by default only.
It is important to note that life expectancy figures are averages for the years 2017 through 2019 — the most recent period for which metro-level data is available — so they are pre-pandemic.
Though each metro area on this list has the longest life expectancy at birth in its state, average life expectancies vary considerably — from as low as 76.5 years up to over 86. The comparable national average life expectancy stands at 79.2 years.
Variations in life expectancy are tied to a number of factors. Tobacco use, for example, is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., and in the majority of metro areas 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.
Click here to see the metro area with the longest life expectancy in every state
Click here to read our detailed methodology
Alabama: Daphne-Fairhope-Foley
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 78.2 (Alabama: 75.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.5% (Alabama: 21.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.0% (Alabama: 36.1%)
> Smoking rate: 18.5% (Alabama: 20.0%)
> Population without health insurance: 8.1% (Alabama: 9.7%)
> Median household income: $56,439 (Alabama: $51,734)
> Poverty rate: 10.1% (Alabama: 15.5%)
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Alaska: Fairbanks
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 80.5 (Alaska: 79.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.0% (Alaska: 15.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.0% (Alaska: 31.9%)
> Smoking rate: 17.4% (Alaska: 18.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 8.2% (Alaska: 12.2%)
> Median household income: $72,065 (Alaska: $75,463)
> Poverty rate: 5.9% (Alaska: 10.1%)
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Arizona: Yuma
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 83.0 (Arizona: 80.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 26.1% (Arizona: 18.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 37.9% (Arizona: 27.9%)
> Smoking rate: 16.7% (Arizona: 14.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 14.0% (Arizona: 11.3%)
> Median household income: $46,419 (Arizona: $62,055)
> Poverty rate: 21.4% (Arizona: 13.5%)
Arkansas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 78.8 (Arkansas: 76.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 21.8% (Arkansas: 23.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.6% (Arkansas: 35.0%)
> Smoking rate: 20.2% (Arkansas: 23.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 11.2% (Arkansas: 9.1%)
> Median household income: $61,674 (Arkansas: $48,952)
> Poverty rate: 12.6% (Arkansas: 16.2%)
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California: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 84.8 (California: 81.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.5% (California: 17.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 20.4% (California: 24.3%)
> Smoking rate: 9.7% (California: 11.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.8% (California: 7.7%)
> Median household income: $130,865 (California: $80,440)
> Poverty rate: 6.3% (California: 11.8%)
Colorado: Boulder
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 82.9 (Colorado: 80.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.2% (Colorado: 13.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 14.3% (Colorado: 22.4%)
> Smoking rate: 12.8% (Colorado: 14.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 5.4% (Colorado: 8.0%)
> Median household income: $88,535 (Colorado: $77,127)
> Poverty rate: 10.9% (Colorado: 9.3%)
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Connecticut: Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 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: 9.1% (Connecticut: 5.9%)
> Median household income: $97,053 (Connecticut: $78,833)
> Poverty rate: 9.1% (Connecticut: 10.0%)
Delaware: Dover*
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 77.8 (Delaware: 78.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 21.0% (Delaware: 16.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 38.4% (Delaware: 32.4%)
> Smoking rate: 19.7% (Delaware: 17.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.0% (Delaware: 6.6%)
> Median household income: $58,001 (Delaware: $70,176)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (Delaware: 11.3%)
*Because Dover is the only eligible metro in Delaware, it is the metro with the longest life expectancy by default.
Florida: Naples-Marco Island
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 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: 13.1% (Florida: 13.2%)
> Median household income: $76,025 (Florida: $59,227)
> Poverty rate: 9.3% (Florida: 12.7%)
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Georgia: Gainesville
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 79.5 (Georgia: 77.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.6% (Georgia: 18.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 32.0% (Georgia: 32.3%)
> Smoking rate: 17.4% (Georgia: 16.3%)
> Population without health insurance: 18.4% (Georgia: 13.4%)
> Median household income: $67,467 (Georgia: $61,980)
> Poverty rate: 14.5% (Georgia: 13.3%)
Hawaii: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 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: 6.3% (Hawaii: 4.2%)
> Median household income: $80,754 (Hawaii: $83,102)
> Poverty rate: 11.9% (Hawaii: 9.3%)
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Idaho: Boise City
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 80.3 (Idaho: 79.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.5% (Idaho: 15.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.4% (Idaho: 29.0%)
> Smoking rate: 16.5% (Idaho: 15.0%)
> Population without health insurance: 10.4% (Idaho: 10.8%)
> Median household income: $66,466 (Idaho: $60,999)
> Poverty rate: 9.9% (Idaho: 11.2%)
Illinois: Champaign-Urbana
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 80.2 (Illinois: 79.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.0% (Illinois: 15.9%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.0% (Illinois: 29.7%)
> Smoking rate: 17.7% (Illinois: 15.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.2% (Illinois: 7.4%)
> Median household income: $53,081 (Illinois: $69,187)
> Poverty rate: 20.0% (Illinois: 11.5%)
Indiana: Bloomington
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 79.9 (Indiana: 77.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.8% (Indiana: 18.2%)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.1% (Indiana: 33.9%)
> Smoking rate: 21.4% (Indiana: 21.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 6.4% (Indiana: 8.7%)
> Median household income: $52,526 (Indiana: $57,603)
> Poverty rate: 20.9% (Indiana: 11.9%)
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Iowa: Iowa City
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 82.6 (Iowa: 79.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.9% (Iowa: 13.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.7% (Iowa: 34.3%)
> Smoking rate: 15.1% (Iowa: 17.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.7% (Iowa: 5.0%)
> Median household income: $63,761 (Iowa: $61,691)
> Poverty rate: 16.2% (Iowa: 11.2%)
Kansas: Manhattan
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 80.8 (Kansas: 78.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.7% (Kansas: 16.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.1% (Kansas: 33.0%)
> Smoking rate: 17.4% (Kansas: 17.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 8.4% (Kansas: 9.2%)
> Median household income: $59,010 (Kansas: $62,087)
> Poverty rate: 18.6% (Kansas: 11.4%)
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Kentucky: Lexington-Fayette
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 77.9 (Kentucky: 75.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.7% (Kentucky: 21.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.8% (Kentucky: 34.6%)
> Smoking rate: 19.2% (Kentucky: 24.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 6.4% (Kentucky: 6.4%)
> Median household income: $60,492 (Kentucky: $52,295)
> Poverty rate: 13.3% (Kentucky: 16.3%)
Louisiana: New Orleans-Metairie
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 77.3 (Louisiana: 76.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.6% (Louisiana: 21.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 33.0% (Louisiana: 36.3%)
> Smoking rate: 20.1% (Louisiana: 21.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.2% (Louisiana: 8.9%)
> Median household income: $55,710 (Louisiana: $51,073)
> Poverty rate: 16.4% (Louisiana: 19.0%)
Maine: Portland-South Portland
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 79.8 (Maine: 78.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.2% (Maine: 17.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.9% (Maine: 29.8%)
> Smoking rate: 15.6% (Maine: 19.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 5.6% (Maine: 8.0%)
> Median household income: $71,913 (Maine: $58,924)
> Poverty rate: 7.7% (Maine: 10.9%)
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Maryland: California-Lexington Park
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 78.7 (Maryland: 79.2)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.7% (Maryland: 15.2%)
> Adult obesity rate: 36.9% (Maryland: 31.6%)
> Smoking rate: 16.7% (Maryland: 12.6%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.2% (Maryland: 6.0%)
> Median household income: $87,947 (Maryland: $86,738)
> Poverty rate: 7.3% (Maryland: 9.0%)
Massachusetts: Boston-Cambridge-Newton
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 81.4 (Massachusetts: 80.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.3% (Massachusetts: 13.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 23.9% (Massachusetts: 25.0%)
> Smoking rate: 14.2% (Massachusetts: 13.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.2% (Massachusetts: 3.0%)
> Median household income: $94,430 (Massachusetts: $85,843)
> Poverty rate: 8.6% (Massachusetts: 9.4%)
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Michigan: Ann Arbor
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 81.4 (Michigan: 78.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.4% (Michigan: 18.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.5% (Michigan: 32.4%)
> Smoking rate: 14.8% (Michigan: 20.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.7% (Michigan: 5.8%)
> Median household income: $76,576 (Michigan: $59,584)
> Poverty rate: 13.4% (Michigan: 13.0%)
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Minnesota: Rochester
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 82.3 (Minnesota: 80.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.9% (Minnesota: 12.9%)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.9% (Minnesota: 29.0%)
> Smoking rate: 16.1% (Minnesota: 15.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 5.5% (Minnesota: 4.9%)
> Median household income: $75,926 (Minnesota: $74,593)
> Poverty rate: 6.9% (Minnesota: 9.0%)
Mississippi: Jackson
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 76.5 (Mississippi: 74.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 21.4% (Mississippi: 22.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 40.1% (Mississippi: 39.1%)
> Smoking rate: 18.9% (Mississippi: 21.0%)
> Population without health insurance: 12.5% (Mississippi: 13.0%)
> Median household income: $52,426 (Mississippi: $45,792)
> Poverty rate: 15.5% (Mississippi: 19.6%)
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Missouri: Columbia
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 79.8 (Missouri: 77.3)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.0% (Missouri: 19.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.1% (Missouri: 32.5%)
> Smoking rate: 18.4% (Missouri: 20.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.7% (Missouri: 10.0%)
> Median household income: $57,359 (Missouri: $57,409)
> Poverty rate: 18.3% (Missouri: 12.9%)
Montana: Missoula
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 79.8 (Montana: 78.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 13.2% (Montana: 14.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 21.4% (Montana: 27.1%)
> Smoking rate: 17.2% (Montana: 18.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 6.1% (Montana: 8.3%)
> Median household income: $57,347 (Montana: $57,153)
> Poverty rate: 11.5% (Montana: 12.6%)
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Nebraska: Lincoln
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 80.2 (Nebraska: 79.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.5% (Nebraska: 13.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.0% (Nebraska: 33.4%)
> Smoking rate: 16.4% (Nebraska: 16.6%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.2% (Nebraska: 8.3%)
> Median household income: $61,539 (Nebraska: $63,229)
> Poverty rate: 10.6% (Nebraska: 9.9%)
Nevada: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 79.0 (Nevada: 78.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 21.6% (Nevada: 19.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.3% (Nevada: 27.1%)
> Smoking rate: 17.9% (Nevada: 15.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 12.2% (Nevada: 11.4%)
> Median household income: $62,107 (Nevada: $63,276)
> Poverty rate: 12.8% (Nevada: 12.5%)
New Hampshire: Manchester-Nashua*
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 79.6 (New Hampshire: 79.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.2% (New Hampshire: 12.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.5% (New Hampshire: 28.6%)
> Smoking rate: 16.0% (New Hampshire: 16.6%)
> Population without health insurance: 6.8% (New Hampshire: 6.3%)
> Median household income: $83,626 (New Hampshire: $77,933)
> Poverty rate: 7.3% (New Hampshire: 7.3%)
*Because Manchester-Nashua is the only eligible metro in New Hampshire, it is the metro with the longest life expectancy by default.
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New Jersey: Trenton-Princeton
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 80.6 (New Jersey: 80.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.8% (New Jersey: 15.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.5% (New Jersey: 27.0%)
> Smoking rate: 15.0% (New Jersey: 13.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.4% (New Jersey: 7.9%)
> Median household income: $79,492 (New Jersey: $85,751)
> Poverty rate: 12.8% (New Jersey: 9.2%)
New Mexico: Santa Fe
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 81.5 (New Mexico: 78.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.8% (New Mexico: 20.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 16.1% (New Mexico: 27.3%)
> Smoking rate: 14.2% (New Mexico: 15.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 12.0% (New Mexico: 10.0%)
> Median household income: $61,298 (New Mexico: $51,945)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (New Mexico: 18.2%)
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New York: New York-Newark-Jersey City
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 82.4 (New York: 81.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.2% (New York: 16.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 24.4% (New York: 26.4%)
> Smoking rate: 14.5% (New York: 13.0%)
> Population without health insurance: 6.9% (New York: 5.2%)
> Median household income: $83,160 (New York: $72,108)
> Poverty rate: 11.6% (New York: 13.0%)
North Carolina: Raleigh-Cary
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 81.1 (North Carolina: 78.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.9% (North Carolina: 18.0%)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.3% (North Carolina: 32.3%)
> Smoking rate: 15.6% (North Carolina: 17.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.3% (North Carolina: 11.3%)
> Median household income: $80,096 (North Carolina: $57,341)
> Poverty rate: 8.9% (North Carolina: 13.6%)
North Dakota: Fargo
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 80.6 (North Dakota: 79.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.6% (North Dakota: 13.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.9% (North Dakota: 33.9%)
> Smoking rate: 17.8% (North Dakota: 19.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.9% (North Dakota: 6.9%)
> Median household income: $62,820 (North Dakota: $64,577)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (North Dakota: 10.6%)
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Ohio: Columbus
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 77.8 (Ohio: 77.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.2% (Ohio: 17.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.7% (Ohio: 33.5%)
> Smoking rate: 19.6% (Ohio: 21.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.1% (Ohio: 6.6%)
> Median household income: $67,207 (Ohio: $58,642)
> Poverty rate: 11.5% (Ohio: 13.1%)
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 77.0 (Oklahoma: 76.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.5% (Oklahoma: 20.9%)
> Adult obesity rate: 34.0% (Oklahoma: 34.5%)
> Smoking rate: 18.6% (Oklahoma: 19.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 12.2% (Oklahoma: 14.3%)
> Median household income: $60,605 (Oklahoma: $54,449)
> Poverty rate: 13.1% (Oklahoma: 15.2%)
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Oregon: Corvallis
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 83.0 (Oregon: 79.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.1% (Oregon: 18.2%)
> Adult obesity rate: 21.6% (Oregon: 29.3%)
> Smoking rate: 14.7% (Oregon: 15.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.7% (Oregon: 7.2%)
> Median household income: $70,835 (Oregon: $67,058)
> Poverty rate: 17.9% (Oregon: 11.4%)
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Pennsylvania: State College
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 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: 8.2% (Pennsylvania: 5.8%)
> Median household income: $60,706 (Pennsylvania: $63,463)
> Poverty rate: 16.3% (Pennsylvania: 12.0%)
Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick*
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 79.4 (Rhode Island: 79.8)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.8% (Rhode Island: 16.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.6% (Rhode Island: 28.5%)
> Smoking rate: 18.0% (Rhode Island: 15.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.7% (Rhode Island: 4.1%)
> Median household income: $70,967 (Rhode Island: $71,169)
> Poverty rate: 11.0% (Rhode Island: 10.8%)
*Because Providence-Warwick is the only eligible metro in Rhode Island, it is the metro with the longest life expectancy by default.
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South Carolina: Hilton Head Island-Bluffton
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 82.2 (South Carolina: 77.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.7% (South Carolina: 17.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.6% (South Carolina: 34.0%)
> Smoking rate: 17.3% (South Carolina: 18.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 10.2% (South Carolina: 10.8%)
> Median household income: $71,252 (South Carolina: $56,227)
> Poverty rate: 10.8% (South Carolina: 13.8%)
South Dakota: Sioux Falls
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 79.7 (South Dakota: 78.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.3% (South Dakota: 13.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.4% (South Dakota: 32.4%)
> Smoking rate: 16.8% (South Dakota: 20.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.5% (South Dakota: 10.2%)
> Median household income: $65,566 (South Dakota: $59,533)
> Poverty rate: 7.7% (South Dakota: 11.9%)
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Tennessee: Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 77.6 (Tennessee: 76.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.7% (Tennessee: 21.2%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.0% (Tennessee: 33.3%)
> Smoking rate: 20.4% (Tennessee: 20.8%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.3% (Tennessee: 10.1%)
> Median household income: $70,262 (Tennessee: $56,071)
> Poverty rate: 10.0% (Tennessee: 13.9%)
Texas: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 81.9 (Texas: 79.2)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 33.1% (Texas: 18.7%)
> Adult obesity rate: 38.2% (Texas: 31.4%)
> Smoking rate: 15.3% (Texas: 14.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 32.2% (Texas: 18.4%)
> Median household income: $41,800 (Texas: $64,034)
> Poverty rate: 27.3% (Texas: 13.6%)
Utah: St. George
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 82.0 (Utah: 80.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.9% (Utah: 14.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 24.0% (Utah: 27.0%)
> Smoking rate: 10.9% (Utah: 9.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 14.4% (Utah: 9.7%)
> Median household income: $63,595 (Utah: $75,780)
> Poverty rate: 9.8% (Utah: 8.9%)
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Vermont: Burlington-South Burlington*
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 81.0 (Vermont: 79.8)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 11.8% (Vermont: 12.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.4% (Vermont: 27.0%)
> Smoking rate: 13.6% (Vermont: 14.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.7% (Vermont: 4.5%)
> Median household income: $74,909 (Vermont: $63,001)
> Poverty rate: 11.4% (Vermont: 10.2%)
*Because Burlington-South Burlington is the only eligible metro in Vermont, it is the metro with the longest life expectancy by default.
Virginia: Charlottesville
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 81.0 (Virginia: 79.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.4% (Virginia: 16.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.8% (Virginia: 30.5%)
> Smoking rate: 16.8% (Virginia: 15.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 6.5% (Virginia: 7.9%)
> Median household income: $75,907 (Virginia: $76,456)
> Poverty rate: 11.2% (Virginia: 9.9%)
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Washington: Wenatchee
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 81.4 (Washington: 80.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.8% (Washington: 15.0%)
> Adult obesity rate: 32.2% (Washington: 28.6%)
> Smoking rate: 15.0% (Washington: 12.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 11.0% (Washington: 6.6%)
> Median household income: $60,532 (Washington: $78,687)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (Washington: 9.8%)
West Virginia: Morgantown
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 79.0 (West Virginia: 74.8)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.8% (West Virginia: 23.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.8% (West Virginia: 37.8%)
> Smoking rate: 22.0% (West Virginia: 26.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.4% (West Virginia: 6.7%)
> Median household income: $56,395 (West Virginia: $48,850)
> Poverty rate: 20.1% (West Virginia: 16.0%)
Wisconsin: Madison
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 81.5 (Wisconsin: 79.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 12.5% (Wisconsin: 14.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.9% (Wisconsin: 31.7%)
> Smoking rate: 15.1% (Wisconsin: 17.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.7% (Wisconsin: 5.7%)
> Median household income: $75,545 (Wisconsin: $64,168)
> Poverty rate: 8.9% (Wisconsin: 10.4%)
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Wyoming: Cheyenne
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 78.4 (Wyoming: 78.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.4% (Wyoming: 15.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.1% (Wyoming: 29.2%)
> Smoking rate: 19.2% (Wyoming: 19.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.4% (Wyoming: 12.3%)
> Median household income: $70,567 (Wyoming: $65,003)
> Poverty rate: 9.8% (Wyoming: 10.1%)
To determine the metro with the longest life expectancy in every state, 24/7 Wall St. 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.
We used the 384 metropolitan statistical areas as delineated by the United States Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau as our definition of metros.
Metros were ranked within their state based on life expectancy. Since many metros cross state lines, the metro was assigned to the state of its first-listed principal city. Thus, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area was excluded as it is principally in the District of Columbia.
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 one-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
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