Special Report
The County With the Shortest Life Expectancy in Every State
Published:
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.
Even before the pandemic, there were parts of the country where life expectancy at birth was far lower than the national average — in some cases by 10 years or more.
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 shortest life expectancy at birth in every state. Life expectancy figures are averages for the years 2017 through 2019, the most recent period for which county-level data is available.
Though each county and county equivalent on this list has the shortest life expectancy at birth in its state, average life expectancies vary considerably — from more than 80 years to less than 65. 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 nearly every county on this list, the share of adults who smoke is above 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 exceeds the statewide poverty rate.
Click here to see the county with the shortest life expectancy in every state
Click here to see our detailed methodology
Alabama: Walker County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 70.5 (Alabama: 75.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 24.1% (Alabama: 21.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 39.4% (Alabama: 36.1%)
> Smoking rate: 24.7% (Alabama: 20.0%)
> Population without health insurance: 11.8% (Alabama: 9.5%)
> Median household income: $43,629 (Alabama: $50,536)
> Poverty rate: 18.1% (Alabama: 16.7%)
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Alaska: Kusilvak Census Area
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 67.2 (Alaska: 79.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 41.9% (Alaska: 15.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 23.1% (Alaska: 31.9%)
> Smoking rate: 44.6% (Alaska: 18.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 19.9% (Alaska: 13.6%)
> Median household income: $36,754 (Alaska: $77,640)
> Poverty rate: 39.0% (Alaska: 10.7%)
Arizona: Apache County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 73.1 (Arizona: 80.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 31.2% (Arizona: 18.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 35.4% (Arizona: 27.9%)
> Smoking rate: 25.0% (Arizona: 14.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 25.1% (Arizona: 10.4%)
> Median household income: $32,508 (Arizona: $58,945)
> Poverty rate: 35.5% (Arizona: 15.1%)
Arkansas: Monroe County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 69.7 (Arkansas: 76.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 32.1% (Arkansas: 23.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 43.5% (Arkansas: 35.0%)
> Smoking rate: 28.2% (Arkansas: 23.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 8.9% (Arkansas: 8.5%)
> Median household income: $38,468 (Arkansas: $47,597)
> Poverty rate: 27.1% (Arkansas: 17.0%)
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California: Lake County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 74.6 (California: 81.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 21.2% (California: 17.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 22.4% (California: 24.3%)
> Smoking rate: 18.3% (California: 11.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.1% (California: 7.5%)
> Median household income: $47,040 (California: $75,235)
> Poverty rate: 18.6% (California: 13.4%)
Colorado: Dolores County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 73.2 (Colorado: 80.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.1% (Colorado: 13.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 21.7% (Colorado: 22.4%)
> Smoking rate: 20.1% (Colorado: 14.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 5.3% (Colorado: 7.6%)
> Median household income: $45,972 (Colorado: $72,331)
> Poverty rate: 13.2% (Colorado: 10.3%)
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Connecticut: Windham County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 78.5 (Connecticut: 80.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.5% (Connecticut: 13.0%)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.0% (Connecticut: 26.3%)
> Smoking rate: 16.4% (Connecticut: 12.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.1% (Connecticut: 5.3%)
> Median household income: $66,550 (Connecticut: $78,444)
> Poverty rate: 11.4% (Connecticut: 9.9%)
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Delaware: Kent County
> 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: 7.1% (Delaware: 5.7%)
> Median household income: $60,910 (Delaware: $68,287)
> Poverty rate: 13.5% (Delaware: 11.8%)
Florida: Union County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 68.3 (Florida: 80.2)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 27.7% (Florida: 19.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 37.4% (Florida: 27.2%)
> Smoking rate: 29.5% (Florida: 14.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 10.8% (Florida: 12.8%)
> Median household income: $44,270 (Florida: $55,660)
> Poverty rate: 20.8% (Florida: 14.0%)
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Georgia: Quitman County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 70.9 (Georgia: 77.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 27.8% (Georgia: 18.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.9% (Georgia: 32.3%)
> Smoking rate: 25.1% (Georgia: 16.3%)
> Population without health insurance: 23.6% (Georgia: 13.2%)
> Median household income: $26,667 (Georgia: $58,700)
> Poverty rate: 20.3% (Georgia: 15.1%)
Hawaii: Hawaii County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 80.6 (Hawaii: 82.3)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.1% (Hawaii: 15.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.8% (Hawaii: 24.6%)
> Smoking rate: 18.7% (Hawaii: 14.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.9% (Hawaii: 3.9%)
> Median household income: $62,409 (Hawaii: $81,275)
> Poverty rate: 15.6% (Hawaii: 9.4%)
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Idaho: Benewah County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 74.4 (Idaho: 79.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.4% (Idaho: 15.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.1% (Idaho: 29.0%)
> Smoking rate: 22.2% (Idaho: 15.0%)
> Population without health insurance: 11.4% (Idaho: 10.6%)
> Median household income: $47,556 (Idaho: $55,785)
> Poverty rate: 17.3% (Idaho: 13.1%)
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Illinois: Hardin County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 72.4 (Illinois: 79.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.7% (Illinois: 15.9%)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.4% (Illinois: 29.7%)
> Smoking rate: 24.9% (Illinois: 15.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 8.1% (Illinois: 6.8%)
> Median household income: $51,250 (Illinois: $65,886)
> Poverty rate: 13.1% (Illinois: 12.5%)
Indiana: Scott County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 71.9 (Indiana: 77.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 22.3% (Indiana: 18.2%)
> Adult obesity rate: 34.0% (Indiana: 33.9%)
> Smoking rate: 27.4% (Indiana: 21.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 8.5% (Indiana: 8.4%)
> Median household income: $48,700 (Indiana: $56,303)
> Poverty rate: 14.9% (Indiana: 13.4%)
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Iowa: Montgomery County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 75.8 (Iowa: 79.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 16.1% (Iowa: 13.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 32.2% (Iowa: 34.3%)
> Smoking rate: 21.9% (Iowa: 17.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.5% (Iowa: 4.7%)
> Median household income: $51,696 (Iowa: $60,523)
> Poverty rate: 12.0% (Iowa: 11.5%)
Kansas: Kingman County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 68.9 (Kansas: 78.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.1% (Kansas: 16.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.2% (Kansas: 33.0%)
> Smoking rate: 18.5% (Kansas: 17.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 5.7% (Kansas: 8.8%)
> Median household income: $60,469 (Kansas: $59,597)
> Poverty rate: 7.6% (Kansas: 12.0%)
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Kentucky: Perry County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 68.5 (Kentucky: 75.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 29.6% (Kentucky: 21.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 43.3% (Kentucky: 34.6%)
> Smoking rate: 29.2% (Kentucky: 24.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 5.2% (Kentucky: 5.7%)
> Median household income: $33,640 (Kentucky: $50,589)
> Poverty rate: 26.1% (Kentucky: 17.3%)
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Louisiana: Morehouse Parish
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 71.4 (Louisiana: 76.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 28.3% (Louisiana: 21.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 43.2% (Louisiana: 36.3%)
> Smoking rate: 27.7% (Louisiana: 21.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.2% (Louisiana: 9.5%)
> Median household income: $32,929 (Louisiana: $49,469)
> Poverty rate: 28.3% (Louisiana: 19.2%)
Maine: Somerset County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 76.5 (Maine: 78.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.0% (Maine: 17.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 33.7% (Maine: 29.8%)
> Smoking rate: 25.8% (Maine: 19.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.4% (Maine: 7.9%)
> Median household income: $44,256 (Maine: $57,918)
> Poverty rate: 20.4% (Maine: 11.8%)
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Maryland: Baltimore city
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 72.9 (Maryland: 79.2)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 21.2% (Maryland: 15.2%)
> Adult obesity rate: 35.4% (Maryland: 31.6%)
> Smoking rate: 21.4% (Maryland: 12.6%)
> Population without health insurance: 6.6% (Maryland: 6.1%)
> Median household income: $50,379 (Maryland: $84,805)
> Poverty rate: 21.2% (Maryland: 9.2%)
Massachusetts: Hampden County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 78.2 (Massachusetts: 80.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.1% (Massachusetts: 13.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.5% (Massachusetts: 25.0%)
> Smoking rate: 18.5% (Massachusetts: 13.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.1% (Massachusetts: 2.7%)
> Median household income: $55,429 (Massachusetts: $81,215)
> Poverty rate: 16.4% (Massachusetts: 10.3%)
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Michigan: Clare County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 74.9 (Michigan: 78.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 23.2% (Michigan: 18.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 36.0% (Michigan: 32.4%)
> Smoking rate: 26.8% (Michigan: 20.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 11.3% (Michigan: 5.5%)
> Median household income: $39,565 (Michigan: $57,144)
> Poverty rate: 22.7% (Michigan: 14.4%)
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Minnesota: Mahnomen County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 70.1 (Minnesota: 80.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 24.3% (Minnesota: 12.9%)
> Adult obesity rate: 38.4% (Minnesota: 29.0%)
> Smoking rate: 30.0% (Minnesota: 15.5%)
> Population without health insurance: 14.0% (Minnesota: 4.5%)
> Median household income: $44,688 (Minnesota: $71,306)
> Poverty rate: 23.3% (Minnesota: 9.7%)
Mississippi: Tunica County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 69.9 (Mississippi: 74.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 28.1% (Mississippi: 22.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 44.2% (Mississippi: 39.1%)
> Smoking rate: 23.0% (Mississippi: 21.0%)
> Population without health insurance: 15.1% (Mississippi: 12.3%)
> Median household income: $39,370 (Mississippi: $45,081)
> Poverty rate: 24.0% (Mississippi: 20.3%)
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Missouri: Pemiscot County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 71.6 (Missouri: 77.3)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 30.5% (Missouri: 19.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 35.0% (Missouri: 32.5%)
> Smoking rate: 28.4% (Missouri: 20.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 12.9% (Missouri: 9.3%)
> Median household income: $33,859 (Missouri: $55,461)
> Poverty rate: 27.4% (Missouri: 13.7%)
Montana: Roosevelt County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 67.7 (Montana: 78.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 25.4% (Montana: 14.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 38.9% (Montana: 27.1%)
> Smoking rate: 31.3% (Montana: 18.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 27.7% (Montana: 9.0%)
> Median household income: $43,194 (Montana: $54,970)
> Poverty rate: 28.3% (Montana: 13.1%)
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Nebraska: Thurston County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 69.5 (Nebraska: 79.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 23.5% (Nebraska: 13.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 47.2% (Nebraska: 33.4%)
> Smoking rate: 27.1% (Nebraska: 16.6%)
> Population without health insurance: 25.3% (Nebraska: 8.2%)
> Median household income: $51,034 (Nebraska: $61,439)
> Poverty rate: 25.5% (Nebraska: 11.1%)
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Nevada: Mineral County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 73.4 (Nevada: 78.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 24.4% (Nevada: 19.1%)
> Adult obesity rate: 38.3% (Nevada: 27.1%)
> Smoking rate: 24.1% (Nevada: 15.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.8% (Nevada: 11.1%)
> Median household income: $35,806 (Nevada: $60,365)
> Poverty rate: 19.8% (Nevada: 13.1%)
New Hampshire: Coos County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 77.3 (New Hampshire: 79.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.5% (New Hampshire: 12.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 36.7% (New Hampshire: 28.6%)
> Smoking rate: 19.8% (New Hampshire: 16.6%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.2% (New Hampshire: 5.9%)
> Median household income: $47,117 (New Hampshire: $76,768)
> Poverty rate: 12.5% (New Hampshire: 7.6%)
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New Jersey: Cumberland County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 75.3 (New Jersey: 80.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 25.2% (New Jersey: 15.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 36.5% (New Jersey: 27.0%)
> Smoking rate: 22.6% (New Jersey: 13.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.4% (New Jersey: 7.8%)
> Median household income: $54,149 (New Jersey: $82,545)
> Poverty rate: 16.5% (New Jersey: 10.0%)
New Mexico: McKinley County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 71.9 (New Mexico: 78.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 31.3% (New Mexico: 20.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 38.3% (New Mexico: 27.3%)
> Smoking rate: 27.6% (New Mexico: 15.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 19.9% (New Mexico: 9.6%)
> Median household income: $33,834 (New Mexico: $49,754)
> Poverty rate: 34.8% (New Mexico: 19.1%)
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New York: Chemung County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 76.5 (New York: 81.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.6% (New York: 16.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 35.1% (New York: 26.4%)
> Smoking rate: 23.6% (New York: 13.0%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.3% (New York: 5.8%)
> Median household income: $54,940 (New York: $68,486)
> Poverty rate: 13.9% (New York: 14.1%)
North Carolina: Swain County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 71.4 (North Carolina: 78.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 25.5% (North Carolina: 18.0%)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.0% (North Carolina: 32.3%)
> Smoking rate: 27.4% (North Carolina: 17.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 21.5% (North Carolina: 10.7%)
> Median household income: $39,317 (North Carolina: $54,602)
> Poverty rate: 17.5% (North Carolina: 14.7%)
North Dakota: Sioux County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 68.5 (North Dakota: 79.7)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 33.9% (North Dakota: 13.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 36.3% (North Dakota: 33.9%)
> Smoking rate: 36.2% (North Dakota: 19.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 31.6% (North Dakota: 7.4%)
> Median household income: $38,939 (North Dakota: $64,894)
> Poverty rate: 38.2% (North Dakota: 10.7%)
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Ohio: Scioto County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 72.0 (Ohio: 77.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 24.2% (Ohio: 17.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 38.6% (Ohio: 33.5%)
> Smoking rate: 29.7% (Ohio: 21.4%)
> Population without health insurance: 5.5% (Ohio: 6.1%)
> Median household income: $41,330 (Ohio: $56,602)
> Poverty rate: 22.6% (Ohio: 14.0%)
Oklahoma: Okfuskee County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 69.6 (Oklahoma: 76.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 28.4% (Oklahoma: 20.9%)
> Adult obesity rate: 58.9% (Oklahoma: 34.5%)
> Smoking rate: 28.9% (Oklahoma: 19.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 23.6% (Oklahoma: 14.1%)
> Median household income: $38,411 (Oklahoma: $52,919)
> Poverty rate: 26.3% (Oklahoma: 15.7%)
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Oregon: Klamath County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 75.7 (Oregon: 79.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.9% (Oregon: 18.2%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.1% (Oregon: 29.3%)
> Smoking rate: 21.6% (Oregon: 15.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 8.5% (Oregon: 6.7%)
> Median household income: $46,491 (Oregon: $62,818)
> Poverty rate: 19.5% (Oregon: 13.2%)
Pennsylvania: Wyoming County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 75.0 (Pennsylvania: 78.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 17.2% (Pennsylvania: 17.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.2% (Pennsylvania: 30.8%)
> Smoking rate: 22.6% (Pennsylvania: 17.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.9% (Pennsylvania: 5.7%)
> Median household income: $59,415 (Pennsylvania: $61,744)
> Poverty rate: 10.4% (Pennsylvania: 12.4%)
Rhode Island: Kent County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 79.2 (Rhode Island: 79.8)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.4% (Rhode Island: 16.5%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.4% (Rhode Island: 28.5%)
> Smoking rate: 18.5% (Rhode Island: 15.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 3.4% (Rhode Island: 4.5%)
> Median household income: $73,521 (Rhode Island: $67,167)
> Poverty rate: 7.6% (Rhode Island: 12.4%)
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South Carolina: Lee County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 71.5 (South Carolina: 77.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 28.1% (South Carolina: 17.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 40.1% (South Carolina: 34.0%)
> Smoking rate: 24.4% (South Carolina: 18.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 11.1% (South Carolina: 10.5%)
> Median household income: $32,371 (South Carolina: $53,199)
> Poverty rate: 25.0% (South Carolina: 15.2%)
South Dakota: Oglala Lakota County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 64.4 (South Dakota: 78.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 34.9% (South Dakota: 13.4%)
> Adult obesity rate: 40.4% (South Dakota: 32.4%)
> Smoking rate: 40.9% (South Dakota: 20.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 36.5% (South Dakota: 9.5%)
> Median household income: $31,997 (South Dakota: $58,275)
> Poverty rate: 46.2% (South Dakota: 13.1%)
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Tennessee: Hancock County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 70.5 (Tennessee: 76.0)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 27.7% (Tennessee: 21.2%)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.6% (Tennessee: 33.3%)
> Smoking rate: 30.8% (Tennessee: 20.8%)
> Population without health insurance: 10.8% (Tennessee: 9.7%)
> Median household income: $30,136 (Tennessee: $53,320)
> Poverty rate: 28.6% (Tennessee: 15.2%)
Texas: Donley County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 72.8 (Texas: 79.2)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.5% (Texas: 18.7%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.5% (Texas: 31.4%)
> Smoking rate: 19.6% (Texas: 14.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 14.1% (Texas: 17.2%)
> Median household income: $42,961 (Texas: $61,874)
> Poverty rate: 14.7% (Texas: 14.7%)
Utah: Carbon County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 76.2 (Utah: 80.1)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 18.4% (Utah: 14.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.3% (Utah: 27.0%)
> Smoking rate: 14.5% (Utah: 9.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.5% (Utah: 9.4%)
> Median household income: $51,158 (Utah: $71,621)
> Poverty rate: 16.8% (Utah: 9.8%)
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Vermont: Rutland County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 77.4 (Vermont: 79.8)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 14.5% (Vermont: 12.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 33.1% (Vermont: 27.0%)
> Smoking rate: 17.5% (Vermont: 14.7%)
> Population without health insurance: 4.6% (Vermont: 4.0%)
> Median household income: $56,139 (Vermont: $61,973)
> Poverty rate: 10.1% (Vermont: 10.9%)
Virginia: Covington city
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 67.1 (Virginia: 79.6)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 20.8% (Virginia: 16.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 24.2% (Virginia: 30.5%)
> Smoking rate: 23.4% (Virginia: 15.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 9.9% (Virginia: 8.6%)
> Median household income: $40,655 (Virginia: $74,222)
> Poverty rate: 13.2% (Virginia: 10.6%)
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Washington: Grays Harbor County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 76.8 (Washington: 80.4)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 19.7% (Washington: 15.0%)
> Adult obesity rate: 35.6% (Washington: 28.6%)
> Smoking rate: 17.8% (Washington: 12.1%)
> Population without health insurance: 7.3% (Washington: 6.3%)
> Median household income: $51,240 (Washington: $73,775)
> Poverty rate: 14.4% (Washington: 10.8%)
West Virginia: McDowell County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 69.0 (West Virginia: 74.8)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 36.5% (West Virginia: 23.6%)
> Adult obesity rate: 44.9% (West Virginia: 37.8%)
> Smoking rate: 34.7% (West Virginia: 26.9%)
> Population without health insurance: 6.0% (West Virginia: 6.0%)
> Median household income: $27,682 (West Virginia: $46,711)
> Poverty rate: 33.2% (West Virginia: 17.6%)
Wisconsin: Menominee County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 71.6 (Wisconsin: 79.5)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 28.7% (Wisconsin: 14.8%)
> Adult obesity rate: 45.0% (Wisconsin: 31.7%)
> Smoking rate: 33.6% (Wisconsin: 17.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 24.8% (Wisconsin: 5.4%)
> Median household income: $40,921 (Wisconsin: $61,747)
> Poverty rate: 35.3% (Wisconsin: 11.3%)
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Wyoming: Hot Springs County
> Life expectancy at birth (years): 74.1 (Wyoming: 78.9)
> Adults reporting poor or fair health: 15.7% (Wyoming: 15.3%)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.5% (Wyoming: 29.2%)
> Smoking rate: 19.1% (Wyoming: 19.2%)
> Population without health insurance: 14.0% (Wyoming: 11.4%)
> Median household income: $51,413 (Wyoming: $64,049)
> Poverty rate: 15.2% (Wyoming: 11.0%)
Methodology
To determine the county with the shortest life expectancy in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on life expectancy — the average number of years a person can expect to live — 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.
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