Wealth Gap Costs Working-Class Americans 7 Years of Life
This analysis of U.S. county-level data from 2015-2019 reveals a significant disparity in life expectancy correlated with median household income. Residents of the wealthiest 1% of counties live, on average, seven years longer than those in the poorest 50%. This gap is particularly pronounced when comparing higher-income urban/suburban areas to lower-income rural communities, reaching a ten-year difference in some cases. A $10,000 income increase in rural counties correlates with a 2.6-year increase in life expectancy. The findings underscore the link between socioeconomic status and health outcomes, highlighting the need for policy changes such as a minimum wage increase and Medicare for All.
John Q. Hosedrinker