People often move to different regions or areas because they want to increase their quality of life. For those who live in the United States, there are more than 19,500 incorporated cities and towns to choose from. It is one of the largest nations in the world, comprised of 3,809,525 square miles of which 3,532,316 square miles is land (the remaining 277,209 square miles is water).
From the East Coast to the West Coast there is a span of nearly 2,800 miles and whether you opt for coastal living or an area in between, there are many different areas and regions throughout the country to choose from. But not all areas are created equal; Within those regions lie cities with varied life expectancy rates. (Not factored in are accidents like the aviation airshow tragedy that killed two people.)
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 the second straight year for both males and females, leading many to wonder which cities have the highest and lowest life expectancy rates. While many of the cities listed here 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, closely followed by the Bay Area in California. Many factors were taken into consideration when determining life expectancy including county health rankings for smoking, physical activity, and average sleep. Regardless of where you live, you can maintain a healthy lifestyle with daily movement, a healthy diet, and refraining from smoking, per NIH News in Health.
To determine the U.S. cities with the poorest 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 a list of the US cities with the poorest life expectancy.
44. Enid, OK
- Life expectancy: 74.99 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 19.8% — #101 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 29.6% — #30 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 35.0% — #158 out of 384 metro areas
43. San Angelo, TX
- Life expectancy: 74.94 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 16.6% — #250 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 25.8% — #115 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 34.6% — #186 out of 384 metro areas
42. Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
- Life expectancy: 74.9 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 19.0% — #136 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 26.5% — #103 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 35.0% — #161 out of 384 metro areas
41. Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
- Life expectancy: 74.86 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 22.9% — #19 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 24.8% — #157 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 36.3% — #94 out of 384 metro areas
40. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
- Life expectancy: 74.86 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 20.9% — #58 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 31.6% — #13 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 39.9% — #18 out of 384 metro areas
39. Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
- Life expectancy: 74.84 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 23.5% — #10 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 27.3% — #84 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 38.0% — #48 out of 384 metro areas
38. Flint, MI
- Life expectancy: 74.82 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 22.2% — #28 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 24.7% — #158 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 40.1% — #15 out of 384 metro areas
37. Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH
- Life expectancy: 74.72 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 24.7% — #3 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 28.0% — #61 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 41.8% — #3 out of 384 metro areas
36. Clarksville, TN-KY
- Life expectancy: 74.69 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 21.2% — #42 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 26.9% — #94 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 38.5% — #32 out of 384 metro areas
35. Goldsboro, NC
- Life expectancy: 74.67 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 20.8% — #64 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 25.9% — #112 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 34.7% — #177 out of 384 metro areas
34. Johnson City, TN
- Life expectancy: 74.66 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 23.0% — #16 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 24.8% — #156 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 35.0% — #151 out of 384 metro areas
33. Hammond, LA
- Life expectancy: 74.64 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 21.8% — #34 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 33.4% — #3 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 34.8% — #171 out of 384 metro areas
32. Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ
- Life expectancy: 74.6 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 19.1% — #130 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 30.8% — #18 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 39.6% — #21 out of 384 metro areas
31. Danville, IL
- Life expectancy: 74.55 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 22.1% — #31 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 28.1% — #56 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 35.1% — #148 out of 384 metro areas
30. Lake Charles, LA
- Life expectancy: 74.53 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 21.0% — #51 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 30.7% — #19 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 40.6% — #10 out of 384 metro areas
29. Homosassa Springs, FL
- Life expectancy: 74.52 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 23.4% — #11 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 27.1% — #90 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 38.0% — #46 out of 384 metro areas
28. Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Life expectancy: 74.49 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 19.1% — #126 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 26.6% — #102 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 36.0% — #104 out of 384 metro areas
27. Mobile, AL
- Life expectancy: 74.47 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 20.5% — #75 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 27.9% — #64 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 40.6% — #11 out of 384 metro areas
26. Morristown, TN
- Life expectancy: 74.43 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 24.5% — #4 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 27.3% — #83 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 35.0% — #160 out of 384 metro areas
25. Carson City, NV
- Life expectancy: 74.41 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 18.4% — #159 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 23.1% — #213 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 35.4% — #126 out of 384 metro areas
24. Columbus, GA-AL
- Life expectancy: 74.34 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 19.9% — #95 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 29.2% — #36 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 41.2% — #4 out of 384 metro areas
23. Hot Springs, AR
- Life expectancy: 74.32 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 20.6% — #71 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 28.2% — #53 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 33.5% — #235 out of 384 metro areas
22. Sumter, SC
- Life expectancy: 74.31 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 21.4% — #41 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 29.6% — #27 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 38.2% — #42 out of 384 metro areas
21. Jackson, TN
- Life expectancy: 74.27 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 23.2% — #13 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 27.1% — #88 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 35.4% — #129 out of 384 metro areas
20. Rome, GA
- Life expectancy: 74.24 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 20.7% — #67 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 30.1% — #24 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 35.7% — #114 out of 384 metro areas
19. Muncie, IN
- Life expectancy: 74.18 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 22.5% — #23 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 29.2% — #35 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 35.6% — #117 out of 384 metro areas
18. Texarkana, TX-AR
- Life expectancy: 74.16 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 21.1% — #49 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 27.9% — #62 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 38.3% — #41 out of 384 metro areas
17. Macon-Bibb County, GA
- Life expectancy: 74.08 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 20.3% — #83 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 28.7% — #45 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 39.3% — #23 out of 384 metro areas
16. Kokomo, IN
- Life expectancy: 74.07 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 21.8% — #35 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 26.8% — #96 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 35.2% — #139 out of 384 metro areas
15. Farmington, NM
- Life expectancy: 74.04 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 22.6% — #20 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 23.9% — #182 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 36.3% — #92 out of 384 metro areas
14. Rocky Mount, NC
- Life expectancy: 74.03 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 20.9% — #57 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 26.7% — #100 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 35.8% — #108 out of 384 metro areas
13. Decatur, AL
- Life expectancy: 73.91 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 21.1% — #47 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 28.4% — #51 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 38.4% — #36 out of 384 metro areas
12. Springfield, OH
- Life expectancy: 73.9 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 23.9% — #7 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 29.0% — #40 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 40.6% — #9 out of 384 metro areas
11. Odessa, TX
- Life expectancy: 73.8 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 17.3% — #218 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 31.1% — #15 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 36.3% — #91 out of 384 metro areas
10. Albany, GA
- Life expectancy: 73.6 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 21.1% — #48 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 29.6% — #28 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 40.7% — #7 out of 384 metro areas
9. Alexandria, LA
- Life expectancy: 73.47 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 21.5% — #38 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 32.3% — #7 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 37.6% — #57 out of 384 metro areas
8. Monroe, LA
- Life expectancy: 73.31 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 21.2% — #44 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 33.0% — #6 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 38.5% — #34 out of 384 metro areas
7. Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
- Life expectancy: 73.28 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 24.0% — #6 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 29.7% — #26 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 39.4% — #22 out of 384 metro areas
6. Pine Bluff, AR
- Life expectancy: 72.87 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 23.1% — #15 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 33.7% — #2 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 39.9% — #19 out of 384 metro areas
5. Anniston-Oxford, AL
- Life expectancy: 72.83 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 21.0% — #54 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 28.1% — #58 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 38.1% — #44 out of 384 metro areas
4. Charleston, WV
- Life expectancy: 72.63 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 24.2% — #5 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 30.5% — #21 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 40.2% — #14 out of 384 metro areas
3. Florence, SC
- Life expectancy: 72.6 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 20.8% — #65 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 30.8% — #16 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 38.4% — #37 out of 384 metro areas
2. Gadsden, AL
- Life expectancy: 72.54 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 20.6% — #72 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 29.3% — #34 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 39.8% — #20 out of 384 metro areas
1. Beckley, WV
- Life expectancy: 71.93 years
- Percentage of adults who smoke: 25.8% — #2 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with a sedentary lifestyle: 30.5% — #22 out of 384 metro areas
- Adults with insufficient sleep: 43.2% — #1 out of 384 metro areas