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From Metrics to Meaning: Improve Your Livability Score and Your Community
The AARP Livability Index is a comprehensive tool that evaluates how well communities meet the needs of people across all ages, especially older adults.
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What is the AARP Livability Index™?
The AARP Livability Index is a comprehensive tool that evaluates how well communities meet the needs of people across all ages, especially older adults. It scores cities based on seven key categories: Housing, Neighborhood, Transportation, Environment, Health, Engagement and Opportunity.
Each category contributes to a composite score that reflects how livable a community is. Higher scores indicate better infrastructure, services and policies that support aging in place and overall quality of life.
Top Performing Communities in Michigan
- Housing: Kingsford, Ishpeming, Belding and Ypsilanti
- Neighborhood: Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Ypsilanti and Kingsford
- Transportation: East Lansing, Meridian Charter Township and Grand Rapids
- Environment: St. Johns, Saline and Meridian Charter Township
- Health: Chelsea, East Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Brighton
- Engagement: Traverse City, Petoskey and Garfield Charter Township
- Opportunity: Kingsford, Georgetown Charter Township and Brighton
What Is a Livable Community?
How Can a Community's Score Be Boosted?
Communities that join the AARP Livable Communities Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities commit to improving livability. The Network's structured approach directly aligns with the Livability Index’s criteria and can lead to measurable improvements.
By joining the over 1,000 communities across the country who are members of the Network, your community gains access to technical support, best practices and funding opportunities, all of which can accelerate progress and raise your Livability Index score.
Many of the Michigan communities with top scores, such as Grand Rapids, Traverse City and East Lansing, are current members of the Network. Learn more about joining the Network by visiting this webpage.
From Metrics to Meaning
Improving your community’s Livability Index score isn’t just about metrics. It’s about creating a place where people of all ages can thrive. Joining the Network provides a proven framework, valuable resources and national recognition that can help your community become more livable, equitable and future-ready.
