Livability Score

This score rates the overall livability of a selected neighborhood, city, county, or state on a scale from 0 to 100. It is based on the average score of seven livability categories—housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement, and opportunity—which also range from 0 to 100. We score communities by comparing them to one another, so the average community gets a score of 50, while above-average communities score higher and below-average communities score lower. 

All scoring begins at the neighborhood level. Cities, counties, and states receive a score based on the average scores of neighborhoods within their boundaries. Most communities have a range of more- or less-livable neighborhoods, but for a community to get a high score, neighborhoods throughout it need to score well. This makes it even more challenging for a city, county, or state to get a high score: the more neighborhoods there are within a given boundary, the less likely it will be that all of them have high scores.

Creating a livable community is challenging, and so is getting a high livability score. To get a perfect score of 100, a neighborhood would have to be among the best in the country in each of the seven livability categories. Scoring highly across all categories is difficult. For example, a transit-rich neighborhood has its benefits, but it can also drive up housing prices. To help that neighborhood score highly in both categories, community leaders would have to commit to ensuring affordable housing near public transit is available.

 

Salem, MA

57

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One of the most historic seaport cities located on the North Shore of Massachusetts, Salem is currently home to over 40,000 residents. Salem’s rich history as the birthplace of the National Guard and the center of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 make the city a popular destination, and it welcomes over one million tourists each year. Salem embraces this history, preserving historic sites and decorating its police cars with witch logos. At the same time, Salem is working to create more livable neighborhoods for new and current residents, and has been developing new homes and commercial areas along its waterfront. 

Salem’s lively downtown scene includes over 60 restaurants and cafes and is easily accessible by foot along pedestrian-friendly streets. Salem rates above average on transportation, scoring a 66, because of its walkability and transit connections to Boston via both commuter rail and high-speed ferry. Salem’s high Neighborhood score (67) reflects the easy access that residents enjoy to jobs, grocery stores, neighborhood-serving businesses, and especially parks. In 2007, Salem received over $4 million in state funding to turn an unoccupied waterfront parcel into a park, and to develop a wharf and harbor walk by the water. 

Salem offers its growing older adult population an abundance of age-friendly services, including home care, health services, fitness classes, social activities, and the new Salem Community Life Center, which is projected to be completed in 2017. In fact, there are so many services available that it is challenging to make residents aware of them all, and the Strategic Plan for an Age-Friendly that the City is now developing includes a communication plan.  The plan will also include an assessment of transportation and housing needs, particularly for middle-income people who wish to downsize their home while remaining in their community as they age.

Published: January 2017

 

The 8 Domains of Livability

As a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, Salem’s leaders commit to a continual cycle of improvement in the eight domains the World Health Organization has identified as influencing the health and quality of life of older adults:

  1. Outdoor spaces and buildings
  2. Transportation
  3. Housing
  4. Social participation
  5. Respect and social inclusion
  6. Civic participation and employment
  7. Communication and information
  8. Community support and health services

Learn more about the domains by visiting the “8 Domains of Livability” slideshow.

For more information on the Age-Friendly Network, go to aarp.org/agefriendly.

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Livability Factors for this Location

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Housing
Affordability and access

They say home is where the heart is—and the same holds true for the Livability Index. Housing is a central component of livability. Deciding where to live influences many of the topics the Index covers. We spend more time in our homes than anywhere else, so housing costs, choices, and accessibility are critical. Great communities provide housing opportunities for people of all ages, incomes, and abilities, allowing everyone to live in a quality neighborhood regardless of their circumstances. 

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Neighborhood
Access to life, work, and play

What makes a neighborhood truly livable? Two important qualities are access and convenience. Compact neighborhoods make it easier for residents to reach the things they need most, from jobs to grocery stores to libraries. Nearby parks and places to buy healthy food help people make smart choices, and diverse, walkable neighborhoods with shops, restaurants, and movie theatres make local life interesting. Additionally, neighborhoods served by good access to more distant destinations via transit or automobile help residents connect to jobs, health care, and services throughout the greater community.

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Transportation
Safe and convenient options

How easily and safely we’re able to get from one place to another has a major effect on our quality of life. Livable communities provide their residents with transportation options that connect people to social activities, economic opportunities, and medical care, and offer convenient, healthy, accessible, and low-cost alternatives to driving. 

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Environment
Clean air and water

Good communities maintain a clean environment for their residents. Great communities enact policies to improve and protect the environment for generations to come. The Livability Index looks at air and water quality. It measures communities’ actions to create resilience plans to prepare for emergencies and natural disasters, and it awards points to states that have policies promoting energy efficiency and that protect consumers from having their utilities cut off during extreme weather events.

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Health
Prevention, access, and quality

Community conditions influence health behaviors. Healthy communities have comprehensive smoke-free air laws, offer easy access to exercise opportunities, and have high-quality health care available. Because health is so deeply related to quality of life, many other categories of livability in this Index include metrics related to health. For example, access to healthy foods, jobs and education, number of walk trips, lower speed limits, social engagement measures, and air and water pollution are all related to health. Where you live matters.

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Engagement
Civic and social involvement

A livable community fosters interaction among residents. From social engagement to civic action to Internet access, residents’ individual opportunities to connect and feel welcomed help lessen social isolation and strengthen the greater community. The Index explores and examines the different ways in which residents engage with and support their communities, and how they impact livability as a whole.

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Opportunity
Inclusion and possibilities

America was built on opportunity—and our nation’s many thriving communities are no different. The degree to which a community embraces diversity and offers opportunities to residents of all ages and backgrounds is important to overall livability. Backed by a strong regional economy and fiscally healthy local governments, welcoming communities provide residents an equal chance to earn a living wage and improve their well-being, from jobs to education.