This summer Nationhood Lab has been focused on regional health disparities and earlier this month the project published a large data journalism package showing wide gaps in life expectancy between U.S. regions. On Sept. 1, Politico published a magazine length story on the findings by project director Colin Woodard, which became the most read story on the site the following afternoon.
September 15, 2025
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario and NEWPORT, R.I. -- In the United States, Northeastern and Midwestern residents tend to have higher physical, social, mental and financial—i.e., “traditional”—wellness, while Southern residents have report higher “existential” wellness, involving a sense of purpose, fulfillment and community identity, according to a new analysis of survey data from more than 325,000 Americans.












