What Influences Longevity the Most? Your Zip Code
By Jean Accius, President and CEO
The New York Times recently ran an article exploring what matters most for longevity. The article compared two factors—a healthy vs. unhealthy lifestyle, which accounted for roughly 75% of longevity and genetics, which made up the remaining 25%. But the article missed a significant factor that can overshadow both: where you live. When it comes to life expectancy, research shows that 80% is actually determined by your zip code.
In many parts of the United States, just two miles between zip codes can mean decades of difference in life expectancy, driven by drastically higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. That’s because two people living only a few miles apart can have vastly different access to quality healthcare, safe recreational spaces, clean air, nutritious food, and stable employment.
As I shared in a recent U.S. News & World Report article, in New York City, those who live in midtown Manhattan have 10 more years of life expectancy than average residents of the Bronx. In Baltimore, life expectancy in one affluent area is 84 years, while living in a less affluent neighborhood nearby away subtracts 14 years from the average resident’s life.
Beyond the moral imperative, the business case for addressing community health is compelling: a 2022 analysis by Deloitte found that health disparities currently contribute to about $320 billion in annual health care spending. If left unaddressed, this figure could rise to $1 trillion or more by 2040. Further, estimates from the Kellogg Foundation show, if everyone had access to opportunity and health care, the federal government would receive an additional $450 billion in tax revenue yearly while states and localities would see an increase of nearly $100 billion in annual tax revenue.
At CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, we are committed to narrowing these gaps and improving health outcomes by focusing on community-driven solutions. Our approach empowers local leaders to identify the unique challenges in their areas and work collaboratively to address them. Whether it’s expanding access to healthcare, improving public spaces, or ensuring that every family has access to nutritious food, we focus on sustainable, scalable solutions that directly benefit those who need them most.
I have seen firsthand how transformative this kind of community-led work can be. By engaging with residents, community organizations, and policymakers, we can implement targeted interventions that address the root causes of health disparities. We work to ensure that every community, regardless of their zip code, has the resources and support they need to thrive.
In my work, I am focused not just on why we should do this, but how we do it. And I have seen a simple formula that works—leaders make meaningful change in community health when they focus on identifying and addressing specific disparities, and when they embrace the solutions at the community level.
The business case is clear. The policy case is clear. And the moral case is clear. Now we need to act. How would you innovate to improve health at the community level? I would love to hear from you.
