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Living by the ocean can extend life, but living by a river isn't necessary: new study
Last reviewed: 03.08.2025
">Living near the ocean isn’t just beautiful — it’s also good for your health, according to researchers at Ohio State University. According to their new study, published in the journal Environmental Research, living within 30 miles of an ocean or bay may be associated with increased life expectancy, while the same effect isn’t seen in people living in cities located near rivers and lakes.
What is the essence of the study?
Scientists analyzed data from more than 66,000 census tracts in the United States, comparing average life expectancy with distance from bodies of water, both marine and inland (rivers, lakes over 10 km²).
The ocean is more useful than the river
- Coastal residents live on average one year longer than the national average (79 years).
- In cities near inland water bodies (lakes and rivers), the average life expectancy was about 78 years - that is, below average.
- In rural areas, on the other hand, living near water can be beneficial, even if it's not the ocean.
Why is that?
According to Professor Jianyong (Jamie) Wu, lead author of the study, the higher life expectancy of coastal residents may be due to a number of factors:
- Milder climate, fewer hot days
- Better air quality
- Higher income level
- More opportunities for recreation and physical activity
- Improved transport accessibility
- Lower risk of droughts
While inland water bodies in cities are often accompanied by:
- Pollution
- Poverty
- Lack of a safe environment for activity
- Risk of flooding
Researchers' comments
"We expected that any proximity to water would be beneficial, but we were surprised to find a clear difference between ocean-dwellers and those living near rivers and lakes," Wu said.
"Our study shows that 'blue space' is not just an abstract idea, but a concrete factor associated with longevity," added Yanyi Cao, co-author and postdoctoral fellow at the university.
Cao also noted that the study may help explain why the U.S. has lagged behind other developed countries in life expectancy in recent years. One key finding is that inequality in access to quality environmental and climate benefits may play a major role in these differences.
Conclusion
While living near water is generally associated with better health outcomes, this is not universal. The type of water body, the level of urbanization, and the socioeconomic conditions of the environment all have a significant impact on life expectancy.
If you live by the ocean, you probably win in longevity. But if it's a river in an industrial city, the effect may be the opposite.
This study is the first to systematically capture the impact of different types of blue space on life expectancy at a U.S. scale and may provide the basis for new environmental and social health strategies.