Where you live might be more critical to your lifespan than your family tree. A new Healthy States Index by healthcare staffing platform Nursa reveals that your ZIP code can add — or subtract — up to eight years from your life. The study analyzed all 50 states based on pollution, smoking rates, hospital readmissions, and access to essential healthy amenities such as gyms, parks, and fresh food.
Vermont clinches the top spot as America’s healthiest state, scoring 8.69 out of 10. The Green Mountain State’s secret? Exceptional air quality, abundant healthy food stores, and more gyms, parks, and walking trails than most other states. Residents there breathe cleaner air, smoke less, and have easy access to outdoor exercise.
New Hampshire and Washington round out the top three, thanks to plentiful parks, clean air, and active lifestyles. Maine, Utah, and Colorado follow closely behind. Hawaii, although not among the top 10 for infrastructure, boasts the nation’s highest life expectancy — 79.9 years.
At the other end of the list, Louisiana sits dead last, scoring just 4.97. Limited wellness facilities, higher smoking rates, and pollution contribute to its lower life expectancy of 72.2 years, nearly eight years shorter than Hawaii’s.
Experts say the message is clear: strong health infrastructure matters. More gyms, parks, clean air, and healthy food aren’t just perks — they’re lifesaving essentials. If your state doesn’t offer them, your lifespan could pay the price.
Source: Nursa’s Healthy States Index analyzed public data from the EPA, CDC, and OpenStreetMap to highlight how access to wellness resources shapes America’s health divide.
