Here's where poor Americans live the longest
For poor people across America, where they live could play a big role in determining just how long they'll live. New research published Monday in The Journal of the American Medical Association finds that while rich Americans enjoy long lives regardless of where they live in the country, a poor person's life expectancy can vary a lot from place to place. In some cities, low-income Americans live much shorter lives than their wealthy neighbors, but in other cities, the rich and the poor have nearly the same life expectancy.
For instance, a poor man in Gary, Indiana — the city where poor men have the shortest projected life expectancy — can expect to live until about the age of 74. If that man were to live in New York City — the city in America in which poor men are projected to live the longest — he could expect to still be kicking by the age of 80. For poor women, the longest life expectancy can be found in Miami, while the shortest is in Las Vegas. A poor woman in Miami could expect to live to 84, whereas a poor woman in Las Vegas could expect to live just 80 years.
If some cities have managed to close the life-expectancy gap between the rich and the poor, it's possible that other cities may be able to do the same. "There is a very strong correlation between income and life span," Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The New York Times. "But it is not inevitable. There are things we can do to change the life trajectory of people. What improves health in a community? It includes wide access to social, educational, and economic opportunity."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Check out the full story over at The New York Times.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The unparalleled leader of the gentle parenting movement
In the Spotlight Dr. Becky became the face of a revolution in how we treat our children
By David Faris Published
-
One Great Cookbook: Madhur Jaffrey's 'Vegetarian India'
The Week Recommends The 2015 tome will reshape how you think about both vegetables and Indian food
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
How to find someone you trust to help with retirement planning
Speed Read Prepare for your golden years
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published