They're only 26 miles apart.

But if you're a woman of Tunbridge Wells you can expect to live 12 years longer than a Chatham man, according to a new study.

The Grim Reaper’s Road Map - drawn up by researchers from the University of Bristol - used data from 14 million deaths between 1981 and 2004 and charted them by age, sex, cause and location.

As the graphic below shows (story continues below it), overall you are best off as a Herne Bay resident - where the average life expectancy of all people (both men and women) is 78.6, which narrowly trumps Tunbridge Wells West's 78.4.

People on the east side of Tunbridge Wells, recently voted the second ‘poshest’ town in the country aren't quite as lucky - only living an average of 76.2 years.

But women in Tunbridge Wells (the west side at least) are officially the longest-living - lasting a respectable 81.3 years before popping their clogs.

It is a fairly grim picture for Chatham's men, though, who can only expect to clock up 69.1 years on average.

Men are best off in Herne Bay - where the mortality rate is 75.5 years, closely followed by Canterbury North at 74.4.

The average across Britain is 74.4 years for all people.

Cllr Sean Holden, from Tunbridge Wells borough council, said: "People in less economically well-off areas have a shorter life-expectancy. I think lifestyle is one of the things responsible. Smoking and having a poor diet are more common in less well-off areas.

"People who are economically better off tend to pay more attention to a good diet. But having fresh fruit and vegetables isn't an expensive option and not more expensive than hamburgers or fish and chips."