Life Expectancy Comparison
Health

Alabama vs California: Life Expectancy

California has a higher life expectancy than Alabama.

Alabama flag
Alabama
AL • South
73.2 yrs
Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).
California flag
California
CA • West
Winner
79.2 yrs
Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).

Visual Comparison

Alabama 73.2 yrs
California 79.2 yrs

Health Context

Key factors that shape the life-expectancy gap between these two states.

Health
Life Expectancy

California residents live 6.0 years longer on average

California has a life expectancy of 79.2 yrs vs 73.2 yrs in Alabama, a meaningful gap for relocation planning.

Poverty

California has a lower poverty rate

Poverty and health outcomes are closely linked. California's lower poverty rate (12.0%) versus Alabama (15.6%) is part of the longevity story.

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Income

California has higher household income

Higher median income correlates with better healthcare access. California leads at $84,097 vs $54,943 in Alabama.

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Affordability

Alabama has a lower cost of living

Lower living costs mean more disposable income for healthcare. Alabama's cost-of-living index is 88.6 vs 138.5 in the other state.

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Health Snapshot

Alabama flag
Alabama
Health
Life expectancy
73.2 yrs
Economy
Median household income
$54,943
Poverty rate
15.6%
Cost of living index
88.6
California flag
California
Health
Life expectancy
79.2 yrs
Economy
Median household income
$84,097
Poverty rate
12.0%
Cost of living index
138.5

What Stands Out

  • California has the higher life expectancy at 79.2 years.
  • California has the lower poverty rate.
  • California has the higher median household income.

Related Pages

Violent Crime Poverty Rate Income Cost of Living

What This Means

Alabama vs California: Life Expectancy in context

California has a life expectancy of 79.2 yrs, compared with 73.2 yrs in Alabama. Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).

Alabama
73.2 yrs
California
79.2 yrs

People Also Ask

Alabama vs California Life Expectancy — Common Questions

Q What is Alabama's life expectancy?

Alabama's life expectancy is 73.2 yrs.

Q What is California's life expectancy?

California's life expectancy is 79.2 yrs.

Q Which state has a higher life expectancy — Alabama or California?

California has a higher life expectancy than Alabama.

More Comparisons: Alabama vs California

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Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset, with minimum wage data from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.