Where You Live in North Texas Could Determine Life Expectancy

A new study on life expectancy in the United States includes some good news and some bad news for North Texas.

The average lifespan in the United States is now just over 79 years, which is a five-year increase from 1980.

And there is a wide range in life expectancy based on where you live. Several counties in North and South Dakota had life expectancies 20 years lower than some counties in central Colorado.

Lifespan also increased along both coasts, while many southern counties had very little improvement.

In Dallas County, the average life expectancy is 78.29 years.

In Tarrant County, it's 78.68 years.

In Denton County, people live two years longer on average, with a life expectancy is 80.8 years.

Collin County residents have the highest average life expectancy in North Texas, at 82 years.

The numbers are lower in rural counties.

Kaufman County's average life expectancy is 75.91 years, and Hunt County's is almost identical at 75.95 years.

Experts say this gap is most likely due to differences in income, race and health care access.

MORE: See the life expectancy map here.