Best places for a long life

Residents of these 25 counties enjoy some of the highest life expectancies in the U.S.

6 of 25
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6. Fairfax County and City, VA
6. Fairfax County and City, VA
Bird watchers in Huntley Meadows
Towns include: Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Dranesville, Fairfax, Franconia, Groveton, Herndon, Hunter Mill, Jefferson, Lorton, McLean, Mount Vernon, Newington, Oakton, Reston, Springfield, Sully, West Springfield
Life expectancy at birth: 80.9 years

With a median income over $100,000, Fairfax is one of the richest counties in the U.S. It's home to excellent hospitals (such as Inova), and the north terminus of Amtrak's Auto Train, which lets you take your car or van on the train to Florida.

But Fairfax's most striking amenity has to be Wolf Trap, the nation's only national park for the performing arts. Residents can enjoy year-round pop music, opera, dance, and theater performances, at multiple venues set in a park, without ever leaving the county.

NEXT: 7. Marin County, CA

Last updated September 22 2008: 11:08 AM ET
Source: Life expectancy stats from consultant Bert Sperling of BestPlaces.net, Centers for Disease Control.
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