Every step of the income ladder consistently adds years to your life in every state. With a 10 -year life expectancy gap between rich and poor residents, the nation’s capital, D.C. has the biggest disparity. Kansas. Michigan, Delaware, South Carolina, Georgia, and Indiana have the next largest joint gap of 9 years California, Hawaii, Arizona, Alaska, Nevada, New York, New Jersey are the states with the joint lowest gap of 6 years 1850 to 1874, there was a 20 -year gap between the rich and general population’s expectancy of life.

This gives a unique view of geographic variability in terms of the relationship between life expectancy and income. There was not one single state where income ​increases negatively impacted lifespan expectancy, and the gap in individual states was alarming.

The poorest residents in D.C. could expect to live almost 10 years less than the richest. Even at the other end of the gradient, the data shows us there was still a 6 year gap between each end of the income scale.

Looking back it the 1800’s, there was an upsurge in the availability of medical innovations in which only the very rich could afford. During 1850-1874, there was a 20-year gap between the rich and general population’s average lifespan; the irony is that this gap isn’t too different from the one present in D.C. today.

This data can also be used by life insurance companies to help them determine their rates based on overall life expectancy. If you haven't looked into getting covered, don't waste any time because we aren't living longer now days.

