Why a major life expectancy gap has existed on Chicago's West Side for decades
January 14, 2026 / 7:46 PM EST / CBS News
TL;DR
- Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood has a life expectancy 20 years shorter than the downtown Loop.
- In 2023, Loop life expectancy was 87.3 years, while West Garfield Park's was 66.6 years, the largest gap in a major U.S. city.
- Contributing factors include heart disease, cancer, homicide, overdoses, and maternal infant health.
- Community leaders and the mayor cite decades of neglect, isolation, and lack of resources in West Garfield Park.
- A new wellness center is the first major community investment in West Garfield Park since the era of Martin Luther King Jr.
- Addressing the gap requires both investment in education, healthcare, and housing, and lowering crime.