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This U.S. City Ranked No. 1 for Health and Wellness--and Could Be Home to the First Person to Live to 150

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Wednesday, September 24th 2025 at 12:28 GMT by Travel + Leisure
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Travel + Leisure’s Guide to America’s Most Longevity‑Friendly City

Travel & Leisure’s recent feature, “The Best U.S. City for Longevity,” takes a deep dive into which American municipalities combine health‑promoting environments, robust healthcare infrastructure, and quality‑of‑life perks to create a setting where residents tend to live longer, healthier lives. After combing through a blend of government datasets, local initiatives, and resident testimonials, the article crowns Austin, Texas as the city that best supports a longer, healthier life—and lists a handful of other contenders that deserve a second look.

How the “Longevity Index” Is Calculated

At the heart of the article lies a composite “Longevity Index,” a weighted score that draws on several key indicators:

Travel & Leisure explains that these metrics were normalized to a 100‑point scale and then averaged to produce the final ranking. The article notes that this approach mirrors studies from the American Journal of Public Health and the New England Journal of Medicine, which emphasize that the “social determinants of health”—such as environment, socioeconomic status, and community resources—are often more predictive of longevity than genetics alone.

Austin Tops the List

Austin’s 83.6‑year life expectancy, coupled with a low obesity rate (27 %) and a vibrant walkable downtown, gives it a solid lead on the Longevity Index. Several factors converge to make the city a “longevity hotspot”:

1. Outdoor Culture – The city’s 2,700‑mile trail network (including the popular Barton Creek Greenbelt and Lady Bird Lake loops) encourages daily physical activity. A 2023 study published in Preventive Medicine found that Austin residents who walked or biked for at least 150 minutes per week had a 15 % lower risk of all‑cause mortality.

2. Healthy Food Scene – Local markets such as Austin’s food truck park and Whole Foods’ flagship store offer abundant organic, plant‑based options. The city also launched the “Eat Local” initiative in 2021, which supports community gardens and farm‑to‑table restaurants, cutting down on processed foods.

3. Low Pollution – According to EPA’s AirNow data, Austin’s annual average PM2.5 level (8 µg/m³) is 20 % below the national average, meaning fewer residents are exposed to harmful particulates that can accelerate heart disease and COPD.

4. Accessible Healthcare – With the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School and a network of primary care clinics in each neighborhood, the city provides a primary‑care-to‑population ratio of 1:4,700—well above the CDC recommended benchmark.

The article includes a sidebar quoting Austin’s mayor, who says the city’s “commitment to sustainability and wellness” is a core part of its civic vision. A resident, a 58‑year‑old retired engineer, shares that she attributes her longevity to Austin’s “easy-going vibe and the ability to walk everywhere—there’s no excuse to stay sedentary.”

Other Cities That Make the Cut

While Austin leads, the feature also highlights three other U.S. cities that rank highly on the Longevity Index:

Travel & Leisure links to the Seattle Metropolitan health dashboard and the San Diego County Health Department reports for readers who want a deeper dive into each city’s public‑health metrics.

Data‑Driven Insights: How Long Can You Expect to Live?

Using the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics data, the article presents a quick snapshot of how longevity trends vary across the U.S. For instance:

• The national average life expectancy in 2021 was 78.6 years—an increase of 1.3 years since 2010.
• Southern states lag behind, with an average of 76.2 years, partly driven by higher obesity and lower access to preventive care.
• Northern and Pacific Coast cities average 80.8 years, highlighting the importance of clean air, recreational opportunities, and health services.

Travel & Leisure also references the American Heart Association 2024 “Heart Health in America” report, which found that cities with high walkability and low air pollution cut cardiovascular mortality by nearly 30 %.

What Does This Mean for Your Next Move?

For readers planning to relocate or looking to improve their personal health trajectory, the article offers actionable takeaways:

1. Prioritize Walkability – Even a city with great medical facilities can fall short if residents are stuck in traffic. Look for neighborhoods with sidewalks, bike lanes, and reliable transit.

2. Check Air Quality – Use EPA’s AirNow or the Air Quality Index app to compare PM2.5 levels—cities like Austin and Seattle have consistently low readings.

3. Assess Local Food Options – A vibrant farmers’ market scene or community gardens are strong indicators of a food‑secure environment.

4. Healthcare Access – A primary‑care ratio of <5,000 residents per physician is a good rule of thumb for adequate preventive care.

5. Community Engagement – Cities that host regular health fairs, wellness workshops, and community sports leagues tend to foster a supportive social network, which research links to longer life.

Final Thoughts

Travel & Leisure’s “Best U.S. City for Longevity” article does more than name a winner—it invites readers to see longevity as a collective outcome of environment, behavior, and policy. Whether you’re a retiree seeking a quieter, healthier community or a young professional who values outdoor lifestyle and good healthcare, Austin offers a blueprint for living a longer, more vibrant life. And if you’re already in another highly ranked city, the article reminds you that your daily habits and community engagement can still be powerful levers for longevity.

For those who want the raw numbers, the piece provides links to the underlying datasets—CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, EPA’s AirNow, and the American Heart Association—so you can verify the figures and even build your own longevity profile. In the end, the journey to a longer life isn’t just about the destination; it’s about the quality of the everyday choices you make—choices that a city like Austin has made easier to adopt.