Counties with the greatest life expectancy in Colorado
Life expectancy figures have been increasing in the United States, with an almost seven-year rise over the last fifty years. (The average duration of life was 70.8 in 1970 and registered as 77.5 in 2022, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.) Numerous factors can influence how long one might live—from genetics to consumption habits like drinking or smoking, dietary choices and body weight, as well as levels of physical activity. However, the location where you reside also plays a vital role.
In certain regions of the world, known as “blue zones,” there exists a disproportionately elevated number of inhabitants who reach at least 100 years of age. These five specific regions—Ikaria, Greece; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Okinawa, Japan; and Sardinia, Italy—are extensively studied, as researchers seek to ascertain the diet, lifestyle, and environmental aspects of these individuals that promote such longevity. Although it may not be the most apparent factor, your residential area can significantly influence your lifespan, which explains why certain states and counties in the U.S. witness higher life expectancy rates than others.
By exploring the 2024 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps provided by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Stacker identified the counties in Colorado with the highest life expectancy. Life expectancy reflects the average number of years from birth that a person might anticipate living, calculated based on the number of deaths during a specific period along with the average population at risk of dying in that timeframe. Counties lacking reliable or sufficient data were omitted from this evaluation. Mortality statistics were sourced from the National Vital Statistics System.
Continue reading to find out if your county is on the list.
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#27. Yuma County
– Life expectancy: 79.0 years
— Equal to the state average
#26. Weld County
– Life expectancy: 79.3 years
— 0.3 years greater than the state average
#25. Teller County
– Life expectancy: 79.4 years
— 0.4 years greater than the state average
#24. Jefferson County
– Life expectancy: 79.5 years
— 0.5 years greater than the state average
#23. Arapahoe County
– Life expectancy: 79.7 years
— 0.7 years greater than the state average
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#22. Garfield County
– Life expectancy: 80.2 years
— 1.2 years greater than the state average
#21. Gilpin County
– Life expectancy: 80.8 years
— 1.8 years greater than the state average
#19. Archuleta County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 80.9 years
— 1.9 years greater than the state average
#19. Custer County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 80.9 years
— 1.9 years greater than the state average
#18. Larimer County
– Life expectancy: 81.0 years
— 2.0 years greater than the state average
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#17. La Plata County
– Life expectancy: 81.1 years
— 2.1 years greater than the state average
#16. Elbert County
– Life expectancy: 81.6 years
— 2.6 years greater than the state average
#15. Chaffee County
– Life expectancy: 81.8 years
— 2.8 years greater than the state average
#14. Broomfield
– Life expectancy: 82.0 years
— 3.0 years greater than the state average
#12. Lake County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 82.2 years
— 3.2 years greater than the state average
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#12. Boulder County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 82.2 years
— 3.2 years greater than the state average
#10. Douglas County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 82.8 years
— 3.8 years greater than the state average
#10. Clear Creek County (tie)
– Life expectancy: 82.8 years
— 3.8 years greater than the state average
#9. Gunnison County
– Life expectancy: 82.9 years
— 3.9 years greater than the state average
#8. Routt County
– Life expectancy: 84.0 years
— 5.0 years greater than the state average
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#7. Grand County
– Life expectancy: 84.8 years
— 5.8 years greater than the state average
#6. Park County
– Life expectancy: 85.4 years
— 6.4 years greater than the state average
#5. Ouray County
– Life expectancy: 87.5 years
— 8.5 years greater than the state average
#4. San Miguel County
– Life expectancy: 88.3 years
— 9.3 years greater than the state average
#3. Eagle County
– Life expectancy: 88.9 years
— 9.9 years greater than the state average
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#2. Pitkin County
– Life expectancy: 92.7 years
— 13.7 years greater than the state average
#1. Summit County
– Life expectancy: 93.0 years
— 14.0 years greater than the state average
This article includes data reporting by Karim Noorani, with writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series leveraging data automation across all 50 states.
By Stacker
