Hunterdon County ranked as the number one county for longest life expectancy in New Jersey, according to an independent study
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Commissioner Director Jeff Kuhl shared recent findings from a study which ranked counties with the longest life expectancy in New Jersey.
Among the 21 counties in the state, Hunterdon County ranked #1 with an average life expectancy age of 82.9 years old, which is 3.7 years higher than the state average.
“As a Board we have always recognized that Hunterdon County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family, the findings from this recent study substantiates this fact and proves there is an additional advantage to residing in Hunterdon, prolonged longevity,” Kuhl said.
The study was conducted by delving into the 2024 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and focused on identifying the counties with the longest life expectancy in New Jersey.
Life expectancy measures the average number of years from birth a person can expect to live and is calculated based on the number of deaths in a given time period and the average number of people at risk of dying during that period. Counties with unreliable or insufficient data were excluded from the analysis. Mortality data came from the National Vital Statistics System.
“There are many factors that can contribute to how long you’ll live – from genetics, your diet and weight, and how physically active you are. This study shows that where a person lives can additionally impact their life expectancy, especially here in Hunterdon County,” Kuhl said.
Life expectancy rates have been on the rise in the United States, with an increase of nearly seven years over the past half-century. In areas where there is a disproportionately high number of residents who live to at least 100 years old, scientists are trying to determine what it is about these people’s diets, lifestyles, and environments that contribute to longer longevity.
Findings, like in this study by the University of Wisconsin, do show that where a person lives can play a significant role in their overall lifespan.
Among the top five rankings below Hunterdon County were, Bergen County at #2 with a life expectancy of 81.9 years; Somerset County at #3 with a life expectancy of 81.8 years; Morris County at #4 with a life expectancy of 81.7 years and Middlesex County came in at #5 with a life expectancy of 80.3 years.
