Teton County, Wyoming — home to Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park and a big slice of Yellowstone — now holds a striking record: residents there live to an average of 94 years, the highest life expectancy of any county in the United States and a full 15 years above the national average of 79. The figure came from the county's own health department, which analysed three years of mortality data (2022–2024) and presented it to county commissioners in late October before publication in the county's health assessment in 2027.
This isn't a one-off. Other mountain counties post big numbers too — San Miguel County, Colorado (Telluride) sits at 86.5 years, Summit County, Utah (Park City) at 84, and Deschutes County, Oregon (Bend) at 80.9. Something about mountain-town life appears to be working.
So what's going on? The county's health director points to obvious suspects: exceptional recreation opportunities, low smoking rates, low obesity and correspondingly low rates of chronic disease. There's also a self-selection effect — places built around hiking, skiing and biking tend to attract people who already live that way. A longevity physician who reviewed the data adds other factors: strong social connection, easy access to green space, cleaner air, and possibly altitude itself, since Teton County averages 7,800 feet, a elevation range linked to lower cardiovascular mortality and better metabolic health. (Above roughly 11,500 feet, that benefit flips.)
One factor is harder to emulate: money. Teton County is the wealthiest county in the country by per-capita income, which buys high-quality healthcare, nutrition and services. Research shows income is one of the strongest predictors of lifespan in the US — the richest Americans outlive the poorest by a decade or more.
There's a downside to all that activity, too. Doctors flag trauma as the real mountain hazard: ski, bike and climbing injuries like ACL tears damage joints far more than everyday wear. Extreme lifelong endurance training has even been tied to higher rates of irregular heartbeat in some athletes. Still, the overall verdict is clear — for almost everyone, the risk is moving too little, not too much.
For travellers, the takeaway is part holiday-planning, part lifestyle inspiration. If you're plotting a trip, Jackson Hole in summer delivers hiking, wildlife and national-park access without the winter crowds; in winter it's one of North America's best ski destinations. And even if you can't move to the Tetons, the lessons travel well: walk daily outdoors, build exercise around friends and community, and skip the cigarettes — the county's low smoking rate alone likely explains much of its edge.
Whether the number holds up when formally published, time will tell — but as health records go, this is one mountain town worth admiring, and visiting.
Story reported by Outside Online.
