Study: The Best Places For Black Americans To Live Longer
Where you live can be just as important as how you live. That’s the takeaway from two major data sources examining Black life expectancy across the United States, with findings that point to some unexpected places.
The ‘Big Picture’ on Life Expectancy
A March 2026 KFF analysis found that Black life expectancy rose 2.8 years between 2021 and 2023, driven by declining COVID-19 deaths, which hit Black America disproportionately hard, as well as falling rates of heart disease, homicide, diabetes and cancer. However, as of 2023, Black Americans have an average life expectancy of 74 years, which is five years below the overall U.S. average of 79 and more than a decade lower than that of Asian Americans, who average 85.2 years. KFF researchers link the gap to differences in health insurance coverage, income, educational attainment, and residential segregation rooted in redlining. Measuring their combined impact across counties, researchers discovered that where Black Americans live can account for a difference of up to 14 years in life expectancy.
Which Communities Are Closing The Lifespan Gap?
The Brookings Institution partnered with the NAACP to develop the Black Progress Index to find out. Researchers ranked counties nationwide across 13 social factors in five categories: wealth, safety, family health, environmental quality, and social and human capital. The goal was to look beyond biology to identify the specific conditions that help Black Americans live longer.
The results may challenge assumptions about where Black communities are thriving most. More than half of Black Americans live in southern states, but this list of cities and counties with higher life expectancy spans the nation.
Manassas Park, Virginia — Located just outside Washington, D.C., Manassas Park topped the index with a Black life expectancy of 96 years. High homeownership rates, household income, and access to quality schools contributed to its ranking.
Weld County, Colorado — While only 2 percent of this northern Colorado county’s residents are Black, it tied at the top with a Black life expectancy of 96 years. Weld County has a low population density, cleaner air, and a high home-ownership rate.
Scott County, Minnesota — Coming in just below the leaders, Scott County recorded a Black life expectancy of nearly 90 years. The Brookings Index notes that 63 percent of the Black population was born outside of the U.S.
Collier County, Florida — Collier County includes Naples, Marco Island and Everglades City, and is known for its white-sand beaches. In this area, the Black life expectancy approaches 86 years.
Dallas County, Iowa — Dallas County is the sixth-most populated county in Iowa and the fastest-growing county in the Midwest. There, the Black life expectancy is about 86 years.
Putnam County, New York — Sharing a life expectancy of 86 with Collier County and Dallas County, Putnam County is described as a suburban-rural county between the Hudson River and Connecticut.
What These Places Have in Common
The index identified homeownership, household income, business ownership, strong public schools and college completion as the biggest drivers of longer life. On the other side, gun fatalities and air pollution ranked among the top factors reducing life expectancy in Black communities.
Ultimately, the data show that Black Americans thrive when their communities provide access to opportunity, safety and support. These findings may be evidence that, for Black America, geography could be a powerful predictor of longer life.
