Does your zip code determine how long you live?

Asked by: Rashawn Corkery  |  Last update: February 1, 2024
Score: 4.7/5 (60 votes)

According to the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy at birth in the United States is 76.4 years. Our ZIP code shouldn't dictate our health.

What does your ZIP code say about your health?

Up to 60% of your health is determined solely by your zip code. This is largely due to the nature of the communities people reside in, such as whether it has wealth, whether or not there is strong community investment, and whether hospitals and health centers are present, among others.

What ZIP code lives the longest?

Life expectancy was longest – 97.0 years – in the 78634 ZIP code in Hutto, Texas (near Austin) and was shortest – 66.7 years – in the 76104 ZIP code in Fort Worth.

How is life expectancy calculated?

Life expectancy tables are calculated based on death probabilities according to Farr's death rate method: qx = Mx / (Bx + (Mx/2)) where Mx = the number of deaths at the age of x to under x+1 years in the reported period; Bx = average population aged x to under x+1 in the base period; qx = death probability from age x ...

Why does your ZIP code matter?

But zip codes don't just matter for public services, they also matter for job opportunities and access to stores and doctors' offices. The highest paying jobs are often located in cities and suburbs where affordable housing is limited. Richer places also have better commercial services.

Using your zip code to figure out how long you'll live...wait, what?

21 related questions found

Why is zip code such a good predictor of health?

It impacts whether you have access to healthy food, places to exercise or health services when needed. Your “living location” also affects your personal and family's economic prosperity based on the availability of jobs, unemployment rates, education and training opportunities.

Do zip code numbers mean anything?

ZIP Codes are numbered with the first digit representing a certain group of U.S. states, the second and third digits together representing a region in that group (or perhaps a large city) and the fourth and fifth digits representing a group of delivery addresses within that region.

What is the best predictor of life expectancy?

  • Age & Gender. How long you have already lived is one of the best predictors of how long you may live. ...
  • Height & Weight. Weight problems and obesity are epidemics in the USA in both kids and adults. ...
  • Family History. Like gender and age, you can't control family history. ...
  • Blood Pressure. ...
  • Stress. ...
  • Exercise. ...
  • Diet. ...
  • Seatbelt.

How long will a 92 year old live?

Men aged 92 to 93 had an overall 6.0% chance of surviving to 100 years, whereas the chance for women was 11.4%. Being able to rise without use of hands increased the chance for men to 11.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.7–14.7) and for women to 22.0% (95% CI = 18.9–25.1).

How to add 20 years to your life?

There are no surefire ways to increase life expectancy, but research has shown that people who embrace certain lifestyle changes tend to live longer than those who don't. These include things like adjusting your diet, turning off the TV and getting outdoors, increasing social interactions, and having sex.

What ZIP Code has the lowest life expectancy?

North Texas zip code 76104 has lowest life expectancy in state - CBS Texas.

What state has the highest life expectancy?

1 state for a long, healthy life: Hawaii. It's not surprising that Hawaii landed the number one spot as the best state for longevity. The Aloha State's life expectancy at birth is 80.7 years, which exceeds all other states and is three years longer than the national average.

Why does your zip code make a difference for Medicare?

Why does my zip code matter for Medicare? Your zip code matters for Medicare because plan options change depending on your location. Also, Medicare Advantage plan networks depend on the private insurance company providing care to each client. Zip code is vital in terms of Medicare program eligibility.

Does where you live affect your health?

The natural environment is the setting where we live, and it includes the air, land, water, plants and animals around us. Environmental contamination, catastrophes, and naturally-occurring compounds have been linked to disease, injury, and complications of chronic conditions.

How does your zip code affect your Social Security check?

Social security benefits are not impacted by geographic location but other federal benefits are.

Is longevity inherited from mother or father?

Inheritance of lifespan may be also higher in the maternal than paternal line (15). Yet another explanation for the sex differences of associations between anthropometric traits of children and longevity of their parents might stem from different causes of death between the mothers and fathers of participants.

What percent of US population dies before age 80?

According to 2015 age-specific mortality rates, almost 60 percent of the 2015 birth cohort will live past 80, while more than 20 percent will die before 70.

What percentage of people live to 90?

At the end of the study, about 16 percent of the men and about 34 percent of the women survived to the age of 90. In fact, the authors found that women who were taller than 5 feet 9 inches were 31 percent more likely to reach 90, compared to those who were under 5 feet 3 inches.

What is the strongest predictor of early death?

What are the predictors of an early death?
  • smoking.
  • obesity.
  • high blood pressure.
  • high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
  • high dietary trans fatty acids.
  • high salt intake.
  • low dietary omega-3 fatty acids.
  • high blood glucose.

What is the number one predictor of death?

When comparing a broad set of survival indicators against telomere length -- DNA sequences that shrink with age -- the researchers found that using telomere length to predict mortality was only marginally better than a 'coin toss. ' Age is, by far, the best predictor of death.

What are 4 factors that predict life expectancy?

Significant factors in life expectancy include gender, genetics, access to health care, hygiene, diet and nutrition, exercise, lifestyle, and crime rates. Evidence-based studies indicate that longevity is based on two major factors, genetics, and lifestyle choices.

What do the extra 4 digits on a ZIP code mean?

These last 4 digits represent specific delivery routes within delivery areas. This extra detail means an even more precise matching to a more granular level. It could represent a handful of houses on one side of a street, or even a single building that receives a high volume of mail.

What are the extra 4 digits on a ZIP code called?

ZIP+4 Codes are an extension of the traditional 5-digit ZIP codes used by the USPS, providing a more precise way to identify specific groups of delivery points within a given ZIP code.

Are the 4 digits after ZIP code important?

Your ZIP+4 is a basic five-digit code with four digits added as an extra identifier. It helps to identify a geographic segment within the five-digit delivery area, such as a city block, a group of apartments, an individual high-volume receiver of mail, or a post office box.