McLean: Your ZIP Code May Influence How Long You Live

MCLEAN, VA — The average life expectancy in the United States is 78.6 years, but whether you’ll live that long, or longer, depends upon what neighborhood you call home, according to a new report.

Using the most up to date information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Center for Health Statistics along with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released a first-of-its-kind neighborhood-level report on life expectancy.

The report shows that life expectancy estimates can vary greatly even on a block-to-block level.

The average life expectancy in Fairfax County is 83.73, which is higher than the 79.20 statewide average, and above the 78.60 national average.

You see a difference in life expectancy only one county away, as Arlington County has an average life expectancy of 82.76 years.

“Affordable high-quality health care is essential to our health. But where we live can have an even greater impact,” reads the report. “Improving health and longevity in communities starts with ensuring access to healthy food, good schools, affordable housing, and jobs that provide us the resources necessary to care for ourselves and our families.”