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AARP Livability Index: Great Neighborhoods for All Ages

The new 2022 AARP Livability Index is here! The Public Policy Institute has updated this important resource that helps communities assess how well they're meeting the needs of people as they age.

 

The AARP Livability Index is a signature initiative of the Public Policy Institute to measure the quality of life in American communities across multiple dimensions: housingtransportation, neighborhood characteristics, environment, health, opportunity, and civic and social engagement.

An interactive, easily navigated website, the AARP Livability Index allows users to compare communities, adjust scores based on personal preferences and learn how to take action to make their own communities move livable.

Learn more about the top scoring communities in the United States and use the tool by visiting www.aarp.org/livabilityindex

New Features in the 2022 Livability Index 

  • Updated Data The latest indicator data for each category of livability. 
  • Redesigned Look  Navigate and locate information and resources in an easier and more clear and concise way. 
  • Key Policy Addition  Accessible Dwelling Units (ADUs) are included for the first time as a new state-level policy measure, bringing attention to this important tool for creating livability.
  • Homebuyer Help  In AARPʼs collaboration with the National Association of REALTORS®, AARP Livability Index scores can be a helpful factor in the house hunting process for those working with a NAR member.
  • Top Scorers  Learn more about the AARP Livability Indexʼs top scoring places that are high performers across the community livability factor the Index measures.

What Does the AARP Livability Index Do?

The AARP Livability Index helps users better understand their communities and make decisions about future needs. The Index can be used in several ways.

Here are just a few examples:

Housing

A county executive wants to know how to meet the housing needs of older adults. She can see how her community performs for each of the housing metrics relative to the national average and learn about policy and programmatic interventions that could address areas of concern.

Transportation

The director of a nonprofit organization wants to show the need for transportation services in the community. He can view data on transit service available to various neighborhoods in the community and connect to resources explaining how transit is typically funded.

Health

A health official is interested in exploring how the built environment may influence health. She can see the relative rates of obesity and smoking on a map and then check whether each neighborhood in a county has access to grocery stores and farmers’ markets.

AARP Livability Index Publications and Videos

2022 AARP Livability Index Week Launch Webinars

See a demonstration of the new site and the latest updates and hear from the experts and project team behind the Livability Index on three of the seven livability areas of the Index—Housing, Transportation and Engagement.

Which Older Adults Have Access to America’s Most Livable Neighborhoods?

This report combines what the AARP Livability Index tells us about neighborhoods with what the American Community Survey tells us about who lives there.

The Livability Index 2018: Transforming Communities for All Ages

Many US cities are becoming more livable as the Midwest embraces complete streets policies and the South passes no smoking ordinances. Yet, paradoxically, sprawl continues. Those are just a few of the compelling trends highlighted in analysis of data from the Public Policy Institute’s 2018 Livability Index. 

Is This a Good Place to Live? Measuring Community Quality of Life for All Ages

This report explores the meaning of livability, examines previous efforts to evaluate the livability of communities and describes lessons learned by PPI as part of its work to measure community livability.

What is Livable? Community Preferences of Older Adults

This report highlights findings from an AARP PPI survey of more than 4,500 adults age 50 and older to understand general preferences for community livability and how those preferences differ within the diverse population of older adults, including age, income, physical ability, driver status, race and ethnicity, and other factors. Rodney Harrell, Ph.D., vice president of the AARP Public Policy Institute's family, home, and community initiative, discusses the "What is Livable?" survey results.

Aging Demographics

One in Three Americans is Now 50 or Older

By 2030, one out of every five people in the United State will be 65-plus. Will your community be ready?

Visit us at www.aarp.org/livable