Where you live in Ohio can offer a surprising indication of how long you might live.
Life expectancy varies considerably across the state, with large differences between neighborhoods and cities. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), life expectancy in Ohio ranges from as low as 60 years in a Columbus neighborhood to just over 89 years in a northeast Ohio city.
In general, the life expectancy of Ohio residents is not as high as that of people in other states.
The average life expectancy in Ohio was 76.9 years in 2019, ranking 42nd out of 50 states. By 2020, life expectancy in Ohio dropped to 75.3 years, below the national average of 77.3 years. This decline was part of a nationwide trend driven by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid crisis and other health challenges.
In Columbus, the differences in life expectancy between neighborhoods are particularly striking.
For example, residents of Columbus’ West Side have the lowest life expectancy in the state at just 60 years. That’s almost 30 years less than in places like Dublin, where life expectancy is 87.6 years.
Other neighborhoods with low life expectancies include Franklinton, where residents live to an average age of 64.2, and the South Side and Near East Side, where life expectancies are both 64.4. Communities like Dublin, Reynoldsburg and Bexley, on the other hand, have some of the highest life expectancies in the region, with residents living well into their 80s.
The reasons for these inequalities are complex and related to factors such as access to healthcare, socioeconomic status and environmental conditions. Areas with higher life expectancies often have better access to healthcare, higher incomes and healthier living environments, while areas with lower life expectancies struggle with poverty, crime and limited access to medical services.
Understanding these differences is critical to addressing the health disparities that exist in our state.
Although overall life expectancy in Ohio lags behind many other states, efforts to improve public health, reduce poverty and increase access to quality health care could help close this gap and improve the lives of residents across the state.
