Your ZIP Code Might Determine How Long You Live — and the Difference Could Be Decades

Predicting lifespan isn't an exact science. U.S. life expectancy is currently estimated at 78.6 years, but that one number doesn't tell the whole story. Genes, gender, lifestyle and luck all play an important part, but it's impossible to know exactly how much and in what proportion each ingredient influences a person's longevity.

The single best predictor, though, might not be one of these factors at all.

Predicting lifespan isn't an exact science. U.S. life expectancy is currently estimated at 78.6 years, but that one number doesn't tell the whole story. Genes, gender, lifestyle and luck all play an important part, but it's impossible to know exactly how much and in what proportion each ingredient influences a person's longevity. The single best predictor, though, might not be one of these factors at all.