Chicago Average life expectancy: 78 Health authorities in Chicago spotted an unusual pattern: Life expectancy defied income in a number of neighborhoods, possibly because of the influx of immigrants who tend to live longer than native-born Americans. “We look at life expectancy to help us identify where the problems are,” said Dr. Julie Morita, the city’s health commissioner. “So when we have resources available we can direct them to where the need is greatest.”

The Near North Side and the Loop, affluent downtown neighborhoods with median income of over $80,000 have the highest life expectancy in Chicago. Rogers Edison Park Park 80 81 77 83 North Park 80 81 O’Hare 84 80 International 80 O’Hare Airport 82 Uptown 81 76 Portage 80 Park 81 82 80 80 80 80 80 Lincoln Park In racially diverse Hyde Park 70 percent of residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher and life expectancy is 13 years longer than in Washington Park to the west. There, residents are almost all black and just 15 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher. 80 80 West Garfield Park residents are 97 percent black, nearly 50 percent of households have an income of less than $25,000, and the neighborhood is tied for lowest life expectancy in Chicago. 81 Humboldt 80 85 Park 72 75 Loop Near West Side 72 69 85 79 72 81 81 82 82 80 74 80 South Lawndale, a low-income area in the western part of the city that is mostly Hispanic, has a life expectancy of 82, higher than even of some of the city's most affluent areas. 74 81 74 79 74 70 81 Washington 79 Garfield Ridge 82 81 Park 80 69 Clearing 75 71 70 Chicago 77 81 Lawn South Shore 71 75 72 Auburn 78 75 Gresham 73 74 73 Calumet 72 Heights 75 77 81 76 78 Roseland 80 73 South Deering 75 76 West Pullman 72 77 76 77 83 81 84 80 O’Hare 80 82 81 76 81 82 80 Near North Side 80 81 80 85 75 72 West Garfield Park 69 85 79 72 81 81 82 South Lawndale 82 Hyde Park 80 74 81 70 79 74 81 82 79 69 80 77 75 70 81 75 71 72 75 73 78 74 73 72 77 75 81 78 73 80 75 76 72 77

There’s a 13-year gap in life expectancy between Hyde Park and it’s neighbor to the west. Hyde Park is racially diverse, but well educated — 70 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Washington Park is almost entirely black, and just 15 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher

West Garfield Park residents are 97 percent black, nearly 50 percent of households have an income of less than $25,000, and the neighborhood is tied for lowest life expectancy in Chicago.

South Lawndale, a low-income area in the western part of the city that is mostly Hispanic, has a life expectancy of 82, higher than even of some of the city's most affluent areas.