How Long Do People Live in Reston?

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Reston, good news: All of those biking and walking paths, lake living and lush outdoors in Reston must be doing some good: The average Restonian life expectancy is 83.6 years, the third best in the country, according to a new study.

The new study, which ranks areas by congressional district, shows Virginia’s 11th congressional district in third place nationally when it comes to life expectancy.

In addition to Reston, Virginia’s 11th District also includes the City of Fairfax, most of Fairfax County, and most of Prince William County. The Towns of Herndon, Dumfries, Occoquan, and Vienna are located in the 11th District.

The study by congressional district, called Geographies of Opportunity, was published last week by the Social Science Research Council, as part of their ongoing effort to track disparities in quality of life across America.

According to the study, the average life expectancy in the United States is now 79.1 years, an increase of almost four years over life expectancy in 1990. But according to the researchers, some Americans, especially African Americans and some Southerners, have seen far less of an increase. A few parts of the South have seen no increase at all.

The longest life expectancy in the United States is in California’s 19th congressional district, which includes San Jose and part of Santa Clara County, where people live 83.9 years on average, or roughly as long as people in Japan.

The lowest life expectancy is in rural southeastern Kentucky, where people live just under 73 years, or about as long as residents of the Gaza Strip.

Overall, the Northern Virginia fared well in the study. Virginia’s 8th congressional district, which includes Arlington and Alexandria, comes in fifth in the study; the average life expectancy is 83.5 years for people living in that district. Virginia’s 10th congressional district, which includes a part of McLean, comes in 16th in the study; life expectancy for those in the 10th is 82.5 years.

The study’s authors say a variety of factors affect life expectancy, from access to health insurance to race and employment opportunities. But the study also lists four factors it dubs the “fatal four,” which can shorten lifespan dramatically: smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise and alcohol abuse.

The study also shows median earnings; here’s the breakdown for Northern Virginia:

• District 8: $52,003
• District 10: $50,003
• District 11: $46,158

IMAGE: Map courtesy of Geographies of Opportunity, The Social Science Research Council, Sarah Burd-Sharps and Kristen Lewis.