New Research Cites Longevity Effect of Coastal Living

Wonder why Florida is such a top destination for retirees? Perhaps they know something the rest of us didn’t — until now!

In all seriousness, researchers from The Ohio State University’s College of Public Health recently published findings that indicate people living within 30 miles of an ocean enjoy a longer life expectancy that people who live inland.

That’s good news for current ICI Homes customers and those considering buying or building a new custom Florida home with us. It’s also important information that could spark future studies about the effects of living near salt water, which almost totally surrounds the Sunshine State.

Per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office for Coastal Management, Florida’s 8,436 statute miles of Atlantic and Gulf coastline is the longest in the continental U.S.

Here’s more from OSU researchers’ work on longevity and coastal living.

Key takeaways

• A recent study by Ohio State University found that people living within 30 miles of the coast live, on average, one year longer than those who live inland.
• Coastal living is linked to better health outcomes like reduced obesity, improved heart health, and more opportunities for physical activity.
• Key factors include fewer hot days, better air quality, milder temperatures, and easier access to outdoor recreation.
• Florida has the longest coastline in the continental U.S., making it a prime location for those seeking the longevity benefits of “blue space” living.
• ICI Homes builds in many coastal communities across Florida, offering easy access to Atlantic and Gulf waters, from Ormond Beach to Venice and everywhere in between.

The particulars

Led by OSU Environmental Health Sciences assistant professor Jianyong “Jamie” Wu, the research team published their results online in the Environmental Research journal.

Analyzing population data from more than 66,000 census tracks across the U.S., they were intrigued by earlier research linking residency near water and better health markers such as heart health, lower obesity and more physical activities. Wu wondered about a link between “blue-space living” and longevity, plus how people’s neighborhoods might affect those factors.

“We thought it was possible that any type of blue space would offer some beneficial effects, and we were surprised to find such a significant and clear difference between those who live near coastal waters and those who live near inland waters,” Wu said in an OSU press release on July 28, 2025. “We found a clear difference — in coastal areas, people are living longer.”

How long? At least a year longer than the 79-year life expectancy. In contrast, researchers discovered urban residents near an inland body of water bigger than four square miles had a life expectancy of 78 years.

The most important factor was that coastal residents experience fewer hot days and lower maximum temperatures compared to residents near inland waterways.

Other factors: milder temperatures, better air quality, recreational and transportation opportunities, less drought susceptibility, and higher incomes. For the reverse, OSU postdoctoral researcher Yanni Cao cited fewer safe opportunities for physical activities, pollution, poverty and heightened flooding risks for inland residents.

Go coastal with ICI Homes

We’ve built new custom Florida homes all over the state for 45 years and many of our master-planned communities and those where we’re preferred builders are within minutes of Atlantic and Gulf waters.

Among them: Verona Oceanside in Ormond by the Sea, the Conservatory at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast, Veranda Bay in Flagler Beach, Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club in Ormond Beach, Amelia National Golf & Country Club in Fernandina Beach, Nocatee in Ponte Vedra, Tidewater and Seven Pines in Jacksonville, Wellen Park in Venice, and Waterset in Apollo Beach.

Ready for your new custom Florida home? Talk to ICI Homes here.