The US Cities With the Worst Life Expectancy

The United States spans nearly 2,800 miles from the East Coast to the West, leaving space for many different areas and regions throughout the country. Within those regions lie cities with varied life expectancy rates.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average life expectancy in the U.S. as a whole was 76.4 in 2021. This was a drop for both males and females for the second year in a row, leading people to wonder which cities have the highest and lowest life expectancy rates.

Our list begins with Enid, Oklahoma, where the average life expectancy is 74.99. The city with the lowest life expectancy is Beckley, West Virginia where the average life expectancy is only 71.93. Many factors were taken into consideration when determining life expectancy including county health rankings for smoking, physical activity and average sleep.

While many of the cities on this list are located in metropolitan areas, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all metropolitan cities have low life expectancy rates. MoneyGeek reports that some of the healthiest cities with the longest life expectancy rates include the Bridgeport/Stamford/Norwalk area of Connecticut. This is closely followed by the Bay Area in California.

Regardless of where you live, there are many things you can do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. NIH News in Health suggests daily movement, a healthy diet and refraining from smoking to extend one’s life expectancy.

To determine the cities where people have the shortest life expectancy, 24/7 Tempo reviewed 2023 county-level life expectancy at birth figures from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. To obtain metro area life expectancy estimates, we mapped each metro area to its corresponding county. We included US cities where the life expectancy was lower than 75 years. (For more health-related reading, check out a few warning signs that your health is bad.)

Here is the list of the US cities with the shortest life expectancy. 

44. Enid, OK

• Life expectancy: 74.99 years
• Adult smoking rate: 19.8% — #101 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 29.6% — #30 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 35.0% — #158 out of 384 metro areas

43. San Angelo, TX

• Life expectancy: 74.94 years
• Adult smoking rate: 16.6% — #250 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 25.8% — #115 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 34.6% — #186 out of 384 metro areas

42. Gulfport-Biloxi, MS

• Life expectancy: 74.9 years
• Adult smoking rate: 19.0% — #136 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 26.5% — #103 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 35.0% — #161 out of 384 metro areas

41. Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

• Life expectancy: 74.86 years
• Adult smoking rate: 22.9% — #19 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 24.8% — #157 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 36.3% — #94 out of 384 metro areas

40. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA

• Life expectancy: 74.86 years
• Adult smoking rate: 20.9% — #58 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 31.6% — #13 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 39.9% — #18 out of 384 metro areas

39. Parkersburg-Vienna, WV

• Life expectancy: 74.84 years
• Adult smoking rate: 23.5% — #10 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 27.3% — #84 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 38.0% — #48 out of 384 metro areas

38. Flint, MI

• Life expectancy: 74.82 years
• Adult smoking rate: 22.2% — #28 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 24.7% — #158 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 40.1% — #15 out of 384 metro areas

37. Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH

• Life expectancy: 74.72 years
• Adult smoking rate: 24.7% — #3 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 28.0% — #61 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 41.8% — #3 out of 384 metro areas

36. Clarksville, TN-KY

• Life expectancy: 74.69 years
• Adult smoking rate: 21.2% — #42 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 26.9% — #94 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 38.5% — #32 out of 384 metro areas

35. Goldsboro, NC

• Life expectancy: 74.67 years
• Adult smoking rate: 20.8% — #64 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 25.9% — #112 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 34.7% — #177 out of 384 metro areas

34. Johnson City, TN

• Life expectancy: 74.66 years
• Adult smoking rate: 23.0% — #16 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 24.8% — #156 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 35.0% — #151 out of 384 metro areas

33. Hammond, LA

• Life expectancy: 74.64 years
• Adult smoking rate: 21.8% — #34 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 33.4% — #3 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 34.8% — #171 out of 384 metro areas

32. Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ

• Life expectancy: 74.6 years
• Adult smoking rate: 19.1% — #130 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 30.8% — #18 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 39.6% — #21 out of 384 metro areas

31. Danville, IL

• Life expectancy: 74.55 years
• Adult smoking rate: 22.1% — #31 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 28.1% — #56 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 35.1% — #148 out of 384 metro areas

30. Lake Charles, LA

• Life expectancy: 74.53 years
• Adult smoking rate: 21.0% — #51 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 30.7% — #19 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 40.6% — #10 out of 384 metro areas

29. Homosassa Springs, FL

• Life expectancy: 74.52 years
• Adult smoking rate: 23.4% — #11 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 27.1% — #90 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 38.0% — #46 out of 384 metro areas

28. Memphis, TN-MS-AR

• Life expectancy: 74.49 years
• Adult smoking rate: 19.1% — #126 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 26.6% — #102 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 36.0% — #104 out of 384 metro areas

27. Mobile, AL

• Life expectancy: 74.47 years
• Adult smoking rate: 20.5% — #75 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 27.9% — #64 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 40.6% — #11 out of 384 metro areas

26. Morristown, TN

• Life expectancy: 74.43 years
• Adult smoking rate: 24.5% — #4 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 27.3% — #83 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 35.0% — #160 out of 384 metro areas

25. Carson City, NV

• Life expectancy: 74.41 years
• Adult smoking rate: 18.4% — #159 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 23.1% — #213 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 35.4% — #126 out of 384 metro areas

24. Columbus, GA-AL

• Life expectancy: 74.34 years
• Adult smoking rate: 19.9% — #95 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 29.2% — #36 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 41.2% — #4 out of 384 metro areas

23. Hot Springs, AR

• Life expectancy: 74.32 years
• Adult smoking rate: 20.6% — #71 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 28.2% — #53 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 33.5% — #235 out of 384 metro areas

22. Sumter, SC

• Life expectancy: 74.31 years
• Adult smoking rate: 21.4% — #41 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 29.6% — #27 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 38.2% — #42 out of 384 metro areas

21. Jackson, TN

• Life expectancy: 74.27 years
• Adult smoking rate: 23.2% — #13 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 27.1% — #88 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 35.4% — #129 out of 384 metro areas

20. Rome, GA

• Life expectancy: 74.24 years
• Adult smoking rate: 20.7% — #67 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 30.1% — #24 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 35.7% — #114 out of 384 metro areas

19. Muncie, IN

• Life expectancy: 74.18 years
• Adult smoking rate: 22.5% — #23 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 29.2% — #35 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 35.6% — #117 out of 384 metro areas

18. Texarkana, TX-AR

• Life expectancy: 74.16 years
• Adult smoking rate: 21.1% — #49 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 27.9% — #62 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 38.3% — #41 out of 384 metro areas

17. Macon-Bibb County, GA

• Life expectancy: 74.08 years
• Adult smoking rate: 20.3% — #83 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 28.7% — #45 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 39.3% — #23 out of 384 metro areas

16. Kokomo, IN

• Life expectancy: 74.07 years
• Adult smoking rate: 21.8% — #35 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 26.8% — #96 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 35.2% — #139 out of 384 metro areas

15. Farmington, NM

• Life expectancy: 74.04 years
• Adult smoking rate: 22.6% — #20 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 23.9% — #182 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 36.3% — #92 out of 384 metro areas

14. Rocky Mount, NC

• Life expectancy: 74.03 years
• Adult smoking rate: 20.9% — #57 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 26.7% — #100 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 35.8% — #108 out of 384 metro areas

13. Decatur, AL

• Life expectancy: 73.91 years
• Adult smoking rate: 21.1% — #47 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 28.4% — #51 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 38.4% — #36 out of 384 metro areas

12. Springfield, OH

• Life expectancy: 73.9 years
• Adult smoking rate: 23.9% — #7 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 29.0% — #40 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 40.6% — #9 out of 384 metro areas

11. Odessa, TX

• Life expectancy: 73.8 years
• Adult smoking rate: 17.3% — #218 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 31.1% — #15 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 36.3% — #91 out of 384 metro areas

10. Albany, GA

• Life expectancy: 73.6 years
• Adult smoking rate: 21.1% — #48 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 29.6% — #28 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 40.7% — #7 out of 384 metro areas

9. Alexandria, LA

• Life expectancy: 73.47 years
• Adult smoking rate: 21.5% — #38 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 32.3% — #7 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 37.6% — #57 out of 384 metro areas

8. Monroe, LA

• Life expectancy: 73.31 years
• Adult smoking rate: 21.2% — #44 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 33.0% — #6 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 38.5% — #34 out of 384 metro areas

7. Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

• Life expectancy: 73.28 years
• Adult smoking rate: 24.0% — #6 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 29.7% — #26 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 39.4% — #22 out of 384 metro areas

6. Pine Bluff, AR

• Life expectancy: 72.87 years
• Adult smoking rate: 23.1% — #15 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 33.7% — #2 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 39.9% — #19 out of 384 metro areas

5. Anniston-Oxford, AL

• Life expectancy: 72.83 years
• Adult smoking rate: 21.0% — #54 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 28.1% — #58 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 38.1% — #44 out of 384 metro areas

4. Charleston, WV

• Life expectancy: 72.63 years
• Adult smoking rate: 24.2% — #5 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 30.5% — #21 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 40.2% — #14 out of 384 metro areas

3. Florence, SC

• Life expectancy: 72.6 years
• Adult smoking rate: 20.8% — #65 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 30.8% — #16 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 38.4% — #37 out of 384 metro areas

2. Gadsden, AL

• Life expectancy: 72.54 years
• Adult smoking rate: 20.6% — #72 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 29.3% — #34 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 39.8% — #20 out of 384 metro areas

1. Beckley, WV

• Life expectancy: 71.93 years
• Adult smoking rate: 25.8% — #2 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t exercise: 30.5% — #22 out of 384 metro areas
• Adults who don’t get enough sleep: 43.2% — #1 out of 384 metro areas