If you’re over 65 years old, you may want to move to Vermont to live longer, a new study suggests.
Although life expectancy recently fell in the US, many Americans are now living longer than ever before, although experts warn that most are spending their final years in poor health wracked by mobility issues and underlying health conditions.
But a new analysis suggests this is not the case in Vermont, where three in four people over 65 say they exercise and one in six has diabetes, the lowest rate in the nation.
Nationwide, Hawaii, Colorado and Connecticut also reported the top standards of living for seniors, according to a report by Opera Beds, which designs home-hospital beds for patients.
CDC data showed that in terms of life expectancy Hawaii had the highest overall, with the average resident living to 80 years old, while Massachusetts had the second-highest at 79.6 years.
Vermont, which came on top in the report, had the ninth-highest life expectancy nationwide, with residents living to 78.4 years old on average.
At the other end of the scale, the report found that West Virginia was the worst state in which to be a senior. Data showed more than a third of older residents in the state had obesity, while two in five suffered from serious limitations to their daily life.
The state also ranked 50th for life expectancy, with the average resident living to 71 years old, out of all the states and Washington DC. Only Mississippi, where residents live to 70.9 years old on average, scored lower.
Researchers have revealed the best and worst states for seniors (stock image)
Dr Carleara Weiss, a sleep scientist at the company, said: ‘Living longer does not always mean living better, but there are steps you can take to protect your health and independence as you age. Small, consistent choices add up over time.’
She added: ‘Staying active is one of the most powerful tools you have. Aim for daily movement, whether that is walking, gardening, or gentle strength exercises that keep muscles and joints strong.’
Despite being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, Americans’ life expectancy has dropped in recent years and is now at 78.3 years, according to the latest estimates for 2022. In nearly 30 states, it is below 77 years.
This puts the US at 66th globally, behind similar nations such as the UK, where life expectancy is about 80 years, and Germany, where it is 80.5 years.
But experts say that it is not only living longer that is important, but also the quality of life that someone enjoys in their later years.
Vermont is famous for its large retirement community, with many drawn by its picturesque countryside and 19th-century towns. A large community means more activities for seniors and improved healthcare facilities.
The state is also trying to boost living standards for its older population via the initiative Age Strong Vermont, a 10-year plan launched in 2024 that aims to make it an age-friendly state through initiatives to have better housing and communities built around social connection.
The state also has much lower rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, which experts say can trigger heart attacks or strokes that can leave someone struggling with limitations in their later years.
Overall, 17 percent of people over 65 in the state have heart disease, the report found, while 22 percent had cancer and 27 percent said they suffered from a functional disability.
For comparison, in West Virginia, which came last in the report, 29 percent of residents said they had heart disease, while 20 percent said they had cancer and 40 percent reported suffering from a functional disability.
For their report, Opera Beds analyzed data per state for people over 65 based on eight factors.
Four were based on health conditions – rates of high cholesterol, obesity, heart disease and diabetes – and four were based on lifestyle, including rates of physical activity, functional disability, frequent mental distress and life expectancy.
Data was analyzed to calculate a score out of 10 for each state, and then this was used to compare and rank states to reveal the best and worst for seniors.
The best states had higher rates of physical activity among older adults and lower rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, among others. The data was sourced from the CDC and other federal databases and was based on the latest available figures.
Rounding out the top six for seniors were New Jersey and the District of Columbia.
At the other end of the scale, West Virginia was bottom overall after data showed 40 percent of its over-65s were not physically active, while 34 percent were obese.
Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana and Tennessee rounded out the bottom six states that the report suggested were the worst places to be over 65 years old.
West Virginia is regularly bottom of multiple state rankings, fueled by its poor health system and low wages, leading to a worse standard of living than in other states.
In the state, the average wage is $55,500 per year, compared to the national average wage of $63,700 annually.
Experts at Opera Beds said West Virginia also had high obesity rates among over-65s, at 30.8 percent, while two in five adults in the age group living in the state reported serious limitations with their daily life.
CDC data for life expectancy in 2022, the latest year available, showed that Hawaii had the highest overall at 80 years. Experts have previously linked this to the state’s active lifestyle, sunshine and strong healthcare system, which can all boost life expectancy.
Massachusetts had the second-highest life expectancy, 79.6 years, while Connecticut had the third-highest, 79.2 years, and New York the fourth-highest, 79 years. Massachusetts ranked tenth in the new report.
Vermont, the top state for seniors according to the new report, ranked ninth for life expectancy overall, with the average resident expected to live 78.4 years.
At the other end of the scale, Mississippi had the lowest life expectancy, 70.9 years, followed by West Virginia, 71 years, Alabama, 72 years, Louisiana, 72.2 years and Kentucky, 72.3 years.
Experts at Opera Beds warned that, compared to data from 2015, many measures of Americans’ health were trending in the wrong direction.
They warned that obesity rates among people over 65 nationwide had risen from 27.6 to 30.2 percent, while diabetes rates had increased from 22.7 to 23.5 percent overall.
Higher rates of obesity and diabetes have been linked to an increased risk for stroke, cancer, high blood pressure and other health complications.
Data also showed that, overall, 55 percent of adults 65 and over have high cholesterol, which can also raise their risk of suffering from a stroke.
