Adults In This Part of the Country Sleep Better Than Anyone Else, According to Hone Data
The gap could mean the difference of years in lifespan.
Ask someone where they expect to find the most health-conscious Americans and they’ll usually name somewhere sunny and laid back, like California, Hawaii, or a mountain town where people hike before breakfast. They probably won’t say New Jersey.
But when it comes to sleep, one of the most powerful but overlooked predictors of long life, residents of the Middle Atlantic (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.) are quietly outperforming the rest of the country. That’s according to Hone’s nationwide study of 1,000 adults ages 35 to 65.
Why Quality Sleep Matters
Emerging research suggests that consistent, high-quality sleep (7–8 hours a night) may be a stronger predictor of longevity than even diet and exercise.1 Other studies show that irregular sleep can raise your mortality risk by up to 29%, while getting it right could add 2–5 years to your life 2 3 4
“Good sleep is the foundation of every other healthy habit,” says Candice Knight, M.D., a longevity physician. “When you’re unrested, you don’t have the energy to work out, eat well, or stay consistent with the daily behaviors that support long-term health. Sleep is also when the body does the majority of its repair work. If we consistently miss deep, restorative sleep, we accumulate more inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular damage over time, which accelerates the aging process.”
Best vs. Worst Sleepers by U.S. Region
According to the survey, adults in the Mid-Atlantic and Pacific are far more likely to actively prioritize sleep than those in New England and the Mountain states — and that gap tracks with broader health behaviors such as getting regular checkups, exercising, and eating vegetables.
Best: Middle Atlantic
Nearly 79% of Middle Atlantic respondents actively take steps to sleep well most nights. That’s roughly 20 points higher than the national average and nearly 12 points higher than the country’s next best sleepers — the Pacific region (California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii), at 67.5%.
Worst: New England
The people prioritizing sleep the least, according to the survey data, are just next door in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont), where fewer than half of adults — just 48% — say they actively prioritize sleep. The Mountain region (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) isn’t far ahead at 52%, placing both at the bottom of the national rankings for sleep.
Mindset May Drive Sleep Habits
The regions that are sleeping better also tend to be the ones where people feel more in control of their health and more optimistic about aging, notes Knight. In the survey, about 57% of Mid-Atlantic respondents say their best years are still ahead, compared to roughly 30% in New England and 28% in the Mountain region.
“When you begin to see your future health as something worth investing in, sleep stops feeling optional,” Knight says. “It becomes part of your identity and a non-negotiable part of how you care for yourself, rather than something you keep pushing off until later.”
The Intention Gap
The regions struggling most with sleep are also the ones saying they’ll get to it later.
In New England, 41% of respondents say they don’t currently sleep well but plan to improve in the future — the highest “intention gap” in the country. The Mountain region follows closely at 40%.
“Sleep tends to be the last health habit people prioritize because it doesn’t feel like an active behavior,” Knight says, “unlike joining a gym or eating broccoli.”
What Good Sleepers Have In Common
Adults in the Mid-Atlantic states aren’t just getting more rest — they also rank at or near the top of nearly every healthy habit the survey tracked, showing that sleep isn’t a standalone win, but part of a broader pattern of health optimization.
“For people in the Middle Atlantic, sleep is the anchor of a healthy lifestyle,” Knight says. “And as the science keeps making clearer, prioritizing sleep might be one of the most important things any of us can do to live better and longer.”
About the Hone Health Survey
Results come from a January 2026 online survey of 1,000 adults aged 35–65. The survey explored attitudes about aging, health behaviors, identity, and language preferences related to this life stage. Age distribution: 35–39 (23%), 40–44 (24%), 45–49 (22%), 50–54 (14%), 55–59 (10%), 60–65 (7%). Gender: 48% male, 52% female. Geographic coverage: All major U.S. regions represented. Household income: Broad distribution from under $10,000 to $200,000+.
McAuliffe, Kathryn E., et al. (2025) Sleep insufficiency and life expectancy at the state-county level in the United States, 2019–2025
↑Full, Kelsie M., et al. (2025) Sleep Trajectories and All-Cause Mortality Among Low-Income Adults
↑Li, H., et al. (2024) Association of healthy sleep patterns with risk of mortality and life expectancy at age of 30 years: a population-based cohort study
↑McAuliffe, Kathryn E., et al. (2025) Sleep insufficiency and life expectancy at the state-county level in the United States, 2019–2025
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The Edge upholds the highest standards of health journalism. We source research from peer-reviewed medical journals, top government agencies, leading academic institutions, and respected advocacy groups. We also go beyond the research, interviewing top experts in their fields to bring you the most informed insights. Every article is rigorously reviewed by medical experts to ensure accuracy. Contact us at support@honehealth.com if you see an error.
About the author
Aviva, Hone's Executive Editor, is an award-winning health-science journalist and former executive editor of Psychology Today, Reader's Digest, and The Healthy. She has written for national print and digital publications including Health, Prevention, Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Shape, Fitness, SELF, New York Magazine, and more.
About the reviewer
Candice Knight, M.D., is a longevity-focused phsycian who is board-certified in Family Medicine and Integrative Medicine, with additional certifications in Functional Medicine and Quantum Biology. She earned her undergraduate degree from Yale University, a Master of Public Health from Tulane University, and her medical degree from LSU School of Medicine, where she also completed her residency.
