States Where People Live Longest

4. Connecticut

> Life expectancy: 80.8 years (tied-3rd highest)

> Obesity rate: 24.9% (8th lowest)

> Poverty rate: 10.7% (4th lowest)

Connecticut had some of the nation’s best immunization rates in 2012, with more than 78% of children aged 19 to 35 months and 73.8% of adolescents between 13 and 17 years received recommended vaccinations. As in many other states with high life expectancies, Connecticut residents were more likely than most Americans to abstain from smoking and less likely than most to be obese. The state’s poverty rate of 10.7% in 2013 was also quite low, which likely helped achieve the better health outcomes, as poverty can contribute to poor health.

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3. California

> Life expectancy: 80.8 years (tied-3rd highest)

> Obesity rate: 24.1% (4th lowest)

> Poverty rate: 16.8% (16th highest)

Californians are among the least likely Americans to be obese or to smoke. Just 12.5% of adults in the state were smokers last year, the sand just 24.1% were considered to be obese. By comparison, the national smoking and obesity rates were 19% and 29.4%, respectively. Californians were also among the most physically active Americans. The combination of these healthy behaviors may have offset, at least somewhat, the high percentage of uninsured Californians last year.

2. Minnesota

> Life expectancy: 81.1 years

> Obesity rate: 25.5% (10th lowest)

> Poverty rate: 11.2% (7th lowest)

Only Minnesota and Hawaii had a life expectancy at birth of more than 81 years as of 2010. Low levels of obesity and drug-related deaths, combined with a high rate of health insurance, all likely contributed to the extended life expectancies in the state. However, Minnesotans were more likely than people in other states to binge drink. Last year, 21% of adults consumed alcohol at an unhealthy level, among the highest rates in the country.

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1. Hawaii

> Life expectancy: 81.3 years

> Obesity rate: 21.8% (2nd lowest)

> Poverty rate: 10.8% (5th lowest)

Hawaii had the highest life expectancy at birth in the nation, at 81.3 years as of 2010. The state’s age-adjusted death rate was just 586.5 deaths for every 100,000 residents in 2012, the lowest in the country. Like other states with a high life expectancy, Hawaii had both low obesity and smoking rates, as well as a high rate of health insurance coverage. Likely related to the high coverage rate, the state also had the lowest rate of preventable hospitalizations, at just 28.2 per 1,000 Medicare enrollees — less than half the national rate of 62.9 per 1,000.