Living Near Ocean Boosts Life Expectancy by a Year.

In 2025, Jianyong Wu and Yanni Cao from Ohio State University analyzed data from over 66,000 US census tracts, comparing life expectancy based on proximity to water. They looked at coastal areas (oceans/gulfs within 30 miles) vs. inland rivers/lakes, factoring in urban/rural settings, to see if "blue spaces" affect how long people live.

Coastal residents lived 1+ year longer than the US average (80 vs. 79 years), thanks to cleaner air, cooler weather, more recreation, and higher incomes. Urban folks near inland waters faced shorter lives (78 years), likely from pollution, poverty, and floods. Rural water areas showed some benefits, but not as strong as coasts.

Spend time near the ocean through walks or vacations to potentially add years to your life.