Life Expectancy
California residents live 3.8 years longer on average
California has a life expectancy of 79.2 yrs vs 75.4 yrs in Alaska, a meaningful gap for relocation planning.
Life Expectancy Comparison
Health
Alaska vs California: Life Expectancy
California has a higher life expectancy than Alaska.
Alaska
AK • West
75.4 yrs
Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).
California
CA • West
79.2 yrs
Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).
Visual Comparison
Alaska
75.4 yrs
California
79.2 yrs
Health Context
Key factors that shape the life-expectancy gap between these two states.
Health
Poverty
Alaska has a lower poverty rate
Poverty and health outcomes are closely linked. Alaska's lower poverty rate (10.4%) versus California (12.0%) is part of the longevity story.
View detailed comparisonIncome
Alaska has higher household income
Higher median income correlates with better healthcare access. Alaska leads at $86,533 vs $84,097 in California.
View detailed comparisonAffordability
Alaska has a lower cost of living
Lower living costs mean more disposable income for healthcare. Alaska's cost-of-living index is 125.8 vs 138.5 in the other state.
View detailed comparisonHealth Snapshot
Alaska
Health
Life expectancy
75.4 yrs
Economy
Median household income
$86,533
Poverty rate
10.4%
Cost of living index
125.8
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.
- Alaska has the lower poverty rate.
- Alaska has the higher median household income.
Related Pages
What This Means
Alaska vs California: Life Expectancy in context
California has a life expectancy of 79.2 yrs, compared with 75.4 yrs in Alaska. Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).
Alaska
75.4 yrs
California
79.2 yrs
People Also Ask
Alaska vs California Life Expectancy — Common Questions
Q What is Alaska's life expectancy?
Alaska's life expectancy is 75.4 yrs.
Q What is California's life expectancy?
California's life expectancy is 79.2 yrs.
Q Which state has a higher life expectancy — Alaska or California?
California has a higher life expectancy than Alaska.
More Comparisons: Alaska 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.