Fish Creek in Door County. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Does where you live impact how long you’ll live?
One mental health treatment center thinks so.
A Mission for Michael says it commissioned Cherry Data Signals to survey 3,025 people on their confidence in living to 100 years old.
In Wisconsin, the community most confident in reaching the century mark was Fish Creek.
Pollsters said:
Fish Creek offers a quieter Door County take on healthy living, with shoreline scenery, walkable village charm, and easy access to parks and trails. The pace is calmer than a larger city, but there is still enough local activity and social energy to keep people engaged. That balance between nature, routine movement, and community connection makes it a believable place for residents to feel optimistic about living to 100.
Number two was a city on a different Great Lakes peninsula: Bayfield.
Bayfield has the kind of lakeside setting that makes outdoor movement feel almost automatic. There is year-round adventure on the Bayfield Peninsula, from trails and forests to the Apostle Islands, while the town also sustains a visible arts presence through local guilds and festivals. That combination of fresh air, activity, and creative community gives it a strong case as a place where people might genuinely feel their lifestyle supports a longer life.
Coming in third was Mineral Point in southwestern Wisconsin.
Mineral Point has a distinct creative identity shaped by its history and arts community. Walkable streets, local studios, and nearby countryside encourage both movement and engagement, while the pace remains deliberately slower. That combination of activity, creativity, and routine helps support a sense of balance that residents often associate with long-term health.
According to the survey, 52% of people in Wisconsin believed they were currently doing enough to maximize their chances of living to 100. However, only 18% described themselves as “very likely” to reach 100. Only 4% believed luck plays the biggest role in reaching 100.
Among Wisconsinites, small towns were the most associated with longevity overall.
Factors people cited in living a long life were:
- Low-stress lifestyle: 25%
- Regular physical activity: 22%
- Healthy food options: 21%
- Work-life balance: 12%
- Access to nature: 10%
- Strong sense of community: 9%
“A lot of longevity research focuses on what people do diet, exercise, environment,” AMFM executive director Anand Meta said in a news release. “What this study highlights is how people think. Feeling in control of your health, staying optimistic about the future, and believing your daily habits matter can be just as powerful. In many of these communities, it’s that mindset not just the setting that’s helping people feel confident about living longer.”
Nationally, the top communities where people were confident in reaching 100 were St. Augustine, Florida; Kula, Hawaii; and Dunedin, Florida.
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