Ever wondered where you might stretch out the most years on your biological clock? Some states seem to elude the Grim Reaper like pros, while others play host to a never-ending game of tag with mortality. In the U.S., your zip code could mean an extra decade to gripe about taxes or, well, not. Here’s a sobering glimpse at the spots where forgetting your own age is practically a hobby because you’ve outlived too many presidents.
18. Virginia: History Buffs Living Into the Future
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sean Pavone
Average age: 79 years
Virginia, where history runs deep and so does the life expectancy. Is it the historical air that grants longevity, or just the sheer determination to see the next chapter of history unfold? Either way, Virginians are sticking around, possibly to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.
17. Utah: Elevated Living, Elevated Aging
Image Credit: Shutterstock / shutterupeire
Average age: 79.2 years
Utah, with its high altitudes and higher life expectancies. Maybe it’s the clean mountain air or the active outdoor lifestyle, but folks here are living almost as long as their ancestors—minus the wagon travel.
16. Wisconsin: Cheese, Beer, and Centuries
Image Credit: Shutterstock / f11photo
Average age: 79.5 years
Wisconsin proves that cheese and beer might just be the secret to a long life. Or perhaps it’s the endless winter that freezes the aging process. Either way, Wisconsinites are laughing all the way to their 100th birthdays, bratwurst in hand.
15. Florida: Retirees Outliving Their Savings
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sean Pavone
Average age: 79.7 years
Florida, the sunshine state where retirees flock to live out their golden years, and apparently, an extra couple of decades. Is it the year-round golfing, the early bird specials, or just avoiding snow shoveling that does the trick?
14. Nebraska: Corn-Fed Longevity
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Dani O’Brien
Average age: 79.8 years
In Nebraska, the good life means living long enough to see your corn grow—and then some. It’s the simple pleasures and perhaps the farm-fresh food that keep Nebraskans ticking.
13. North Dakota: Where Cold Preserves
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Jacob Boomsma
Average age: 80 years
North Dakota, where the cold winters apparently act as a life preservative. Residents here are as hardy as the cattle they raise, proving that a little snow never hurt anyone—actually, it might just help.
12. Oregon: Trailblazing to 100
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kyle Sprague
Average age: 80.2 years
Oregon, where the pioneering spirit includes trailblazing into old age. Maybe it’s the craft beers, the coffee, or the endless hiking trails, but Oregonians are living well into their vintage years.
11. Idaho: Potatoes and Longevity
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Charles Knowles
Average age: 80.3 years
Idaho, proving that there might just be something magical in those potatoes. Or perhaps it’s the tranquil rural life that keeps the heart ticking smoothly and the body moving sprightly.
10. Connecticut: Wealth and Wellness
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sean Pavone
Average age: 80.4 years
In Connecticut, it seems wealth does buy health, or at least a few extra years. With a life expectancy that rivals the age of some of its historic homes, Connecticut is for lovers—of life.
9. Massachusetts: Revolutionary Health
Image Credit: Shutterstock / lunamarina
Average age: 80.5 years
Massachusetts, where the revolutionary spirit now applies to battling age. With cutting-edge healthcare and a penchant for academia, residents are too busy learning new things to grow old.
8. Colorado: Rocky Mountain High Life Expectancy
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Greg Meland
Average age: 80.5 years
Colorado, where the mountains are high and so is the life expectancy. Outdoor lifestyles, craft breweries, and perhaps the legal greenery contribute to a state of prolonged youthfulness.
7. Washington: Evergreen and Everlasting
Image Credit: Shutterstock / cpaulfell
Average age: 80.7 years
In Washington, it’s not just the trees that are evergreen. The combination of coffee, rain, and an active outdoor lifestyle has residents practically sprouting new rings each year.
6. California: Aging, but Make It Trendy
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sean Pavone
Average age: 80.9 years
California, where aging is another trend to be perfected. Between Silicon Valley’s life-extending tech and LA’s health fads, Californians are too busy staying young to get old.
5. New Jersey: Turnpike to Longevity
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Clari Massimiliano
Average age: 81 years
New Jersey, where the life expectancy is as unexpected as a quiet turnpike. Maybe it’s the diner food or just the satisfaction of constantly proving stereotypes wrong, but folks here are in it for the long haul.
4. New York: The City That Never Ages
Image Credit: Shutterstock / pisaphotography
Average age: 81.3 years
New York, where the city’s hustle is matched only by its residents’ refusal to let the years slow them down. The secret? Maybe it’s the bagels, or perhaps just dodging tourists keeps you young.
3. Minnesota: Nice and Old
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Jacob Boomsma
Average age: 81.4 years
Minnesota, proving that being “Minnesota nice” might just be the key to longevity. The winters might be long, but so are the lives, filled with community, casseroles, and a little bit of lutefisk.
2. Hawaii: Paradise Found, Longevity Guaranteed
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Fernando Espinosa
Average age: 82.3 years
Hawaii, where life is as lush as the landscapes. The Aloha spirit, fresh fruits, and year-round sunshine keep residents not just living longer but thriving in what must surely be paradise on Earth.
1. California: A Golden State of Agelessness
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sean Pavone
Average age: 80.9 years
And here we circle back to California, making its second appearance because why not? In a state where health trends, innovation, and the pursuit of happiness converge, living a long, vibrant life is just part of the state’s ethos.
Rest in Peace
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Jacob Lund
So, as we wrap up our tour of longevity in the United States, remember: whether it’s the cheese, the sunshine, or the sheer joy of proving stereotypes wrong, there’s a secret to a long life hidden in every state. Now, if only finding it was as easy as avoiding the DMV.
More Articles Like This…
Mastering Underwater Photography on Your Travels
One Day in…Ayutthaya, Thailand
Top 10 Honeymoon Destinations According to Tripadvisor 2024
The post 18 U.S. States Where People Live the Longest: Destinations for a Longer, Healthier Life was republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / SasaStock.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
Tips for Trip Success
Book Your Flight
Find an inexpensive flight by using Kayak, a favorite of ours because it regularly returns less expensive flight options from a variety of airlines.
Book Your Hotel or Special Accommodation
We are big fans of Booking.com. We like their review system and photos. If we want to see more reviews and additional booking options, we go to Expedia.
You Need Travel Insurance!
Good travel insurance means having total peace of mind. Travel insurance protects you when your medical insurance often will not and better than what you get from your credit card. It will provide comprehensive coverage should you need medical treatment or return to the United States, compensation for trip interruption, baggage loss, and other situations.Find the Perfect Insurance Plan for Your Trip
PassingThru is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To view PassingThru’s privacy policy, click here.
