AARP's Livability Index and its Findings

AARP’s Public Policy Institute announced the 100 top-scoring livable communities across the U.S., as part of the AARP Livability Index™ Top 100.

Launched in 2015, It aims to inform and encourage residents, local advocates, researchers, and policymakers to take action to make their communities great places to live for people of all ages.

The data shows that some of the highest scoring communities lack affordable housing and accessibility options, underscoring the need for local leaders to implement policies that address rising housing costs, insufficient supply of housing options, and growing income inequality.

The 10 top-scoring communities by population size, in ranking order, include:

• 500,000 plus: San Francisco, CA, Ramsey County, MN, Dane County, WI, Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, Hennepin County, MN, Boston, MA, Multnomah County, OR, Salt Lake County, UT, Montgomery County, MD
  
• 100,000 to 499,999: Madison, WI, Cambridge, MA, St. Paul, MN, Salt Lake City, UT, Arlington County, VA, Rochester, MN, Minneapolis, MN, Chittenden County, VT, Olmstead County, MN, Berkeley, CA
  
• 25,000 to 99,999: Portland, ME, Burlington, VT, South Portland, ME, La Crosse, WI, Belmont, MA, Somerville, MA, St. Louis Park, MN, Millcreek, UT, Roseville, MN, Bozeman, MT
  
• 5,000 to 24,999: Aspen, CO, Great Neck Plaza, NY, Orange City, IA, La Crescent, MN, Salida, CO, Pierre, SD, Pitkin County, CO, Falls Church, VA, Jackson, WY, Falcon Heights, MN

The index shows that all communities have room to improve to ensure that residents of all ages are active, engaged, and supported, particularly when it comes to affordable housing options.
Through a collaboration with AARP, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) is helping homebuyers make informed housing decisions that best support their needs by integrating the AARP Livability Index data with NAR’s data platform, the Realtors Property Resource®.

Today, AARP and the National Housing Conference (NHC) are co-hosting a hybrid forum, “Building Livable Communities for All Generations,” to unveil the Index and discuss the importance of creating communities that are safe, accessible, and inclusive for all ages, incomes, and backgrounds.

To view the AARP Livability Index or see your community’s score, visit www.aarp.org/livabilityindex.