Who Lives Longer in Arizona? Democrats or Republicans
At Better Quotez, we take immense pleasure in using data to understand the world. This analysis, however, may get us into trouble because we are delving into politics, but, hey, let’s give it a shot. After all, we do sell life insurance. Since Arizona is a battleground state, we had to ask the question: Who lives longer, Democrats or Republicans?
Disclaimer: This analytical exercise is meant to be as unbiased as possible. Life expectancy varies considerably across different regions, cities, and demographic groups. Factors such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, lifestyle, and, interestingly, political affiliation all play a significant role in shaping the longevity of Arizona’s residents.
Life Expectancy in Arizona: The Influence of Political Affiliation
How political orientation affects health outcomes has gained increasing attention, particularly following recent studies like that of Ebert, Berkessel, and Jonsson (2023), which explored the intersection of political culture and mortality.
Using this as a backdrop, we explored how political affiliation correlates with life expectancy in Arizona, supported by data from various sources, including research on political person-culture fit and how this influences well-being and longevity. Not to be a “one source horse”, we also incorporated insights from Politico on the broader trends of health disparities in politically polarized regions across the United States.
Arizona is an excellent case study for examining the relationship between political affiliation and life expectancy. The state is diverse, with both Democratic-leaning urban centers and Republican-leaning rural areas, making it a political and demographic battleground. Cities such as Phoenix, Tucson, and Tempe generally lean Democratic, while Gilbert, Yavapai County and much of rural Arizona remain Republican strongholds.
Research suggests that political culture can significantly influence health outcomes. In the study by Ebert et al. (2023), the authors argue that person-culture fit—the degree to which individuals’ political beliefs align with the dominant culture of their region—can affect longevity. This idea posits that individuals who live in areas where their political beliefs match the local culture may experience better psychological well-being, lower stress, and, ultimately, longer lives. Conversely, those who feel politically isolated or at odds with their local environment may face increased stress and, as a result, worse health outcomes.
Life Expectancy and Political Leaning in Arizona Cities
Data from cities across Arizona show how life expectancy can vary by region, and there are some intriguing patterns when we examine these differences through the lens of political affiliation.
- Gilbert (Maricopa County): A traditionally Republican city, Gilbert boasts one of the highest life expectancies in the state, with an average of 84 years. Its residents enjoy a median household income of $96,000, and the city’s strong infrastructure and access to healthcare contribute to these impressive health outcomes.
- Scottsdale (Maricopa County): Historically Republican, Scottsdale is shifting politically, particularly in its northern and affluent areas, which now lean Democratic. Life expectancy in Scottsdale is also high, at 84 years, reflecting the wealth and high education levels of its residents. The shifting political tide has us labeling Scottdale as “purple”.
- Sedona (Yavapai and Coconino Counties): Sedona, another purple location, straddles both Democratic-leaning and Republican-leaning counties, reflects this split. The Coconino side, which leans more Democratic, reports a life expectancy of 84 years, while the Yavapai side, leaning Republican, shows a slightly lower life expectancy of 83 years. Sedona’s residents benefit from both its natural environment and the wealth that allows for better access to healthcare.
- Flagstaff, a Democratic-leaning city located in Coconino County, has an average life expectancy of 82-83 years, among the highest in the state. As a college town and home to Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff boasts a highly educated population and access to healthcare services that support longer life expectancy. Additionally, its proximity to natural areas encourages active lifestyles, which contribute to better overall health outcomes. However, some rural areas surrounding Flagstaff, particularly in Coconino County, face challenges such as poverty and limited healthcare access, which can result in lower life expectancy in those regions.
- Prescott (Yavapai County): A strong Republican city, Prescott has a life expectancy of 80 years, which is a tad lower than the state average for more urban areas. The city’s population size and its level of healthcare amenities as compared to wealthier areas like Scottsdale may contribute to this difference.
- Tucson, the second-largest city in Arizona and a Democratic stronghold, has an average life expectancy of 79 years. As the cultural and economic hub of Pima County, Tucson benefits from a relatively strong healthcare infrastructure and public health policies that focus on preventative care. However, like Phoenix, Tucson’s socioeconomic diversity leads to disparities in health outcomes. Wealthier areas tend to report higher life expectancy, while lower-income neighborhoods, particularly in the southern and western parts of the city, face more significant health challenges due to limited access to healthcare and higher rates of chronic illnesses.
- Phoenix (Maricopa County): The largest city in Arizona and a solid Democratic stronghold, Phoenix has an average life expectancy of 77 years. While some areas of Phoenix are affluent and report higher life expectancy, the city’s socioeconomic diversity contributes to disparities in health outcomes across neighborhoods.
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Republican vs. Democratic Areas: Life Expectancy Trends
The life expectancy gap between Democratic and Republican regions in Arizona mirrors national trends. According to Politico and studies like those from the CDC, Democratic-leaning urban areas tend to have higher life expectancy due to better access to healthcare, higher education levels, and more public health initiatives. Conversely, Republican-leaning rural areas often have fewer healthcare resources, which may impact life expectancy.
This partisan health gap has widened in recent years. For example, Gilbert and Scottsdale report high life expectancies due to their wealth and healthcare access. However, areas like Yavapai County lag behind in healthcare infrastructure as compared to Maricopa County, which affects longevity.
The Partisanship-Health Connection
The research by Ebert et al. (2023) offers an intriguing explanation for these disparities. The study found that Republicans who live in Republican-leaning areas experience a longevity advantage compared to Republicans in more Democratic regions. The same applies to Democrats, who tend to live longer in Democratic-leaning areas. This “person-culture match” suggests that political alignment with one’s environment can enhance psychological well-being, potentially translating to physical health benefits.
In Arizona, this theory helps explain why urban Democrats in cities like Tucson and Tempe and suburban Republicans in Gilbert and Peoria often enjoy longer lives when compared to rural Republicans in Yavapai County or to rural Democrats in Mohave County. The psychological comfort of living among like-minded individuals, coupled with better access to health care contributes to better health outcomes.
So who lives longer: Democrats or Republicans?
We will leave it up to you to decide. While there may be a link between political affiliation and life expectancy in Arizona, the data is murky at best. We can say that household income correlates with life expectancy as high income urban and suburban areas in general tend to have longer life expectancies. In contrast, certain rural areas, despite political affiliation, face challenges due to access to healthcare resources.
The study by Ebert et al. (2023) provides a nuanced understanding of how political person-culture fit can influence health and longevity, while broader research from Politico highlights the national context of this partisan health divide. In Arizona, as in the rest of the United States, household income remains a key factor in determining life expectancy, along with like-minded cultural fit and access to healthcare resources.
