How Long Do People Live in Manassas? (ICYMI)

This item was first posted on April 28, 2015.

Residents of Virginia’s 10th congressional district have one of the longest average life expectancies in the United States, according to a new study.

Out of 435 congressional districts, the 10th District came in 16th with an average of 82.5 years in life expectancy, according to the study by the Social Science Research Council. The 10th District includes Manassas, Manassas Park, parts of northern Prince William County, Loudoun County and western Fairfax County.

Residents of Virginia’s 11th congressional district, which includes Woodbridge and eastern Prince William County, fared even better in the study. Outside of California, they have the longest life expectancy in the United States.

The 11th District came in third out of 435 congressional districts in life expectancy with an average of 83.6 years in life expectancy, the study said. The 11th also includes Fairfax City and most of Fairfax County.

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

According to the study, the average life expectancy in the United States is 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 U.S. 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. A neighboring California district, the 18th, came in second at 83.7 years on average.

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.

Virginia’s 8th congressional district came in fifth at 83.5 years of age. The 8th District includes Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and portions of Fairfax County.

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 factors it dubs the “fatal four,” which can shorten lifespan dramatically: smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise and alcohol abuse.

Image credit: Geographies of Opportunity, The Social Science Research Council, Sarah Burd-Sharps and Kristen Lewis.