The Milken Institute Releases 2017 ³Best Cities for Successful Aging² Rankings
Provo-Orem, UT and Iowa City, IA Take Top Spots Among Large and Small Metros
LOS ANGELES March 14, 2017 The Milken Institute today released the third edition of its ³Best Cities for Successful Aging³ report and index, a collaboration between the Institute¹s Center for the Future of Aging and its Research Department. The report evaluates 381 U.S. metropolitan areas to determine how well they serve the needs of the nation¹s growing population of mature adults, enabling them to age productively, securely, and in optimal health.
The top 10 large and small metropolitan areas for 2017 are:
Rankings Large Metros
Rankings Small Metros
1
Provo-Orem, UT
1
Iowa City, IA
2
Madison, WI
2
Manhattan, KS
3
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
3
Ames, IA
4
Salt Lake City, UT
4
Columbia, MO
5
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
5
Sioux Falls, SD
6
Austin-Round Rock, TX
6
Ann Arbor, MI
7
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA
7
Ithaca, NY
8
Jackson, MS
8
Lawrence, KS
9
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
9
Logan, UT-ID
10
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
10
Fairbanks, AK
More than 80 percent of Americans age 65-plus live in metropolitan areas,[i] and nearly 90 percent of older adults in the U.S. want to age in their homes and communities.[ii] Thus, the ³Best Cities for Successful Aging² index is not intended to identify the locales to which older adults should retire. Instead, the index and report are designed to highlight the nation¹s most livable metropolitan areas‹those that enable an optimal quality of life for their aging citizens.
³Cities are on the front lines of the largest demographic shift in history,² said Paul Irving, Chairman of the Center for the Future of Aging. ³Lifespans are extending into eight, nine, and ten decades, and older adults increasingly are seeking lifelong engagement and purpose. They expect their cities and communities to support their changing needs.²
To evaluate the metropolitan areas that foster the best overall quality of life for older adults, the Milken Institute utilized public data--83 indicators across nine categories. These categories included general livability, health care, wellness, financial security, living arrangements, employment, education, transportation and convenience, and community engagement.
Programs With Purpose
In addition, the Milken Institute canvassed the country to discover programs and projects spearheaded by nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and businesses that engage older adults and bring positive change to their lives and communities. The Programs With Purpose detailed in the new edition of the report represent a few of the initiatives that serve as examples for others to emulate.
³The policies, programs, and features that we highlight in ŒBest Cities for Successful Aging¹ are not just important for older adults,² said Irving. ³Throughout our lives, we seek meaning and purpose. A vibrant economy, efficient transportation, effective health services, learning opportunities, and accessible housing enable all individuals and communities to prosper.²
To read "Best Cities for Successful Aging" and explore the interactive data site, visit
successfulaging.milkeninstitute.org.
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About the Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank determined to increase global prosperity by advancing collaborative solutions that widen access to capital, create jobs and improve health. It does this through independent, data-driven research, action-oriented meetings and meaningful policy initiatives.
About the Center for the Future of Aging
The mission of the Milken Institute¹s Center for the Future of Aging is to improve lives and strengthen societies by promoting healthy, productive and purposeful aging.
