Map of counties, by quality of life ranking (unemployment, income)
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A study conducted by American City Business Journals used 20 different statistical indicators to gauge quality of life to rank all 3141 counties. I decided to create a map to reflect the study.
In my opinion, this gives a much better idea, on the micro level, on how our regions fare, rather than typecasting an entire state. Chief variables were unemployment, educational level, income and transportation, though there were 20 variables that were given equal weight.
The top 25 counties:
1. Los Alamos New Mexico
2. Olmsted Minnesota
3. Pitkin Colorado
4. Douglas Colorado
5. Loudoun Virginia
6. Washington Minnesota
7. Johnson Kansas
8. Hamilton Indiana
9. Howard Maryland
10. Fairfax Virginia
11. Juneau Alaska
12. Nantucket Massachusetts
13. Wake North Carolina
14. Dakota Minnesota
15. Summit Utah
16. DuPage Illinois
17. Chesterfield Virginia
18. Fayette Georgia
19. Hennepin Minnesota
20. Stafford Virginia
21. Summit Colorado
22. Williamson Tennessee
23. Boulder Colorado
24. Teton Wyoming
25. Oldham Kentucky
Virginia, Minnesota and Colorado each place 4 counties, which comprises nearly half the counties in the top 25.
If you look at the legend, dark green is the highest ranked, followed by light green, yellow, orange and red being the lowest. The criteria was developed by the American City Business Journals publication.
Onondaga County(Syracuse) was dark green. Monroe(Rochester), Tompkins(Ithaca) and Ontario(Canandaigua and Geneva) Counties were also dark green for Upstate NY.
Onondaga County(Syracuse) was dark green. Monroe(Rochester), Tompkins(Ithaca) and Ontario(Canandaigua and Geneva) Counties were also dark green for Upstate NY.
Tompkins has the highest rank of all: 215.
Monroe = 241
Onondaga = 368
Ontario = 482
I've always said that if not for weather, this is one of the very most underrated areas of the USA.
Tough life in Cumberland County, NJ, eh? It's the only county in the state I've never ever been to.
Yes, but Lammius, you may not like this stat: Hudson County is the only county that ranks lower than Cumberland:
Cumberland = 2556
Hudson = 2674
Overall, New Jersey ranks with Connecticut and Delware with the highest median score. Of course, Delaware's is affected by the fact there are only 3 counties within the state. Connecticut only has 8 counties, New Jersey 21.
Well, no surprise to me that Wake County (Raleigh):13 is the highest rated county in North Carolina. In fact, the Triangle is the largest "green" patch in the state.
BTW, where is the full ranking? I can't even find it by googling it. Thanks in advance!
Last edited by rnc2mbfl; 03-30-2010 at 03:43 PM..
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