Life Expectancy
California residents live 5.8 years longer on average
California has a life expectancy of 79.2 yrs vs 73.4 yrs in Arkansas, a meaningful gap for relocation planning.
Life Expectancy Comparison
Health
Arkansas vs California: Life Expectancy
California has a higher life expectancy than Arkansas.
Arkansas
AR • South
73.4 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
Arkansas
73.4 yrs
California
79.2 yrs
Health Context
Key factors that shape the life-expectancy gap between these two states.
Health
Poverty
California has a lower poverty rate
Poverty and health outcomes are closely linked. California's lower poverty rate (12.0%) versus Arkansas (15.7%) is part of the longevity story.
View detailed comparisonIncome
California has higher household income
Higher median income correlates with better healthcare access. California leads at $84,097 vs $52,123 in Arkansas.
View detailed comparisonAffordability
Arkansas has a lower cost of living
Lower living costs mean more disposable income for healthcare. Arkansas's cost-of-living index is 87.6 vs 138.5 in the other state.
View detailed comparisonHealth Snapshot
Arkansas
Health
Life expectancy
73.4 yrs
Economy
Median household income
$52,123
Poverty rate
15.7%
Cost of living index
87.6
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
What This Means
Arkansas vs California: Life Expectancy in context
California has a life expectancy of 79.2 yrs, compared with 73.4 yrs in Arkansas. Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).
Arkansas
73.4 yrs
California
79.2 yrs
People Also Ask
Arkansas vs California Life Expectancy — Common Questions
Q What is Arkansas's life expectancy?
Arkansas's life expectancy is 73.4 yrs.
Q What is California's life expectancy?
California's life expectancy is 79.2 yrs.
Q Which state has a higher life expectancy — Arkansas or California?
California has a higher life expectancy than Arkansas.
More Comparisons: Arkansas 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.