I’ll admit it. I’m a city rankings junkie. Kiplingers just published the 2008 Best Cities to Live, Work and Play and while it completely ignores environmental sustainability, the rankings do what seems to be a fairly decent job capturing social and economic sustainability by looking at indicators like cost of living index, median household income, income growth since 2000 and % of workforce in the creative class.
Check out the unlikely top 10 . . .
1. Houston, TX
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 31.3%
Cost-of-Living Index: 88.1 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $50,250
Income Growth Since 2000: 13.1%
2. Raleigh, NC
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.1%
Cost-of-Living Index: 99 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $56,150
Income Growth Since 2000: 10.3%
3). Omaha, NE
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 30%
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.4 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $51,627
Income Growth Since 2000: 15.1%
4. Boise, ID
5. Colorado Springs, CO
6. Austin, TX
7. Fayetville, AK
8. Sacramento, CA
9. Des Moines, IA
10. Provo, UT
And for a little comparison,
Here are Kiplinger’s Savannah Numbers . . .
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 26.7%
Cost-of-Living Index: 102 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $42,914
Income Growth Since 2000: 11.7%
Has anyone ever seen a city ranking system that looks at all three legs of the sustainability stool?
None of the cities (outside of Austin) on the Kiplinger’s list would come anywhere near those familiar sustainable city superstars: SF, Seattle, Portland, etc. But SF, Seattle and Portland . . . who wants to live in a bright green wonderland if it is unaffordable and you’re stuck earning barely enough money to make rent let alone take advantage of all the greeness your city has to offer? And Houston, who cares if your city is affordable with relatively good jobs, the weather is brutal and the traffic is even worse.
So readers, what should be included in the mix of sustainable city indicators?
It’s interesting that you mention the traffic in Houston. I believe a city’s friendliness to cyclists and bicyclists, along was access to public transit, should be a metric. And I’m not just talking about infrastructure. Since Friday, here in Savannah, two cyclists have been injured and a pedestrian killed by hit and run drivers, both of whom are still at large.
I couldn’t agree more John. Those stories from yesterday’s SMN were so disturbing. Automobile drivers in Savannah seem to view anyone getting around outside of a car as a nuisance. I often feel like a target even when I’m riding in a bike lane. However, non-car drivers frequently do not follow the rules of the road which doesn’t help matters.
How would you measure multi-modal friendliness?
How do you think Savannah could create a better culture for bikers, walkers, skaters, etc.?
Clara, great post and great information. I would add to your points and concerns that the growing creative class is looking for more than just tax incentives to set up their businesses and reasonable cost of living. They are looking for quality of life. People want better transportation, cleaner air and water, recreational opportunities and a healthy, vibrant community. So while these results don’t reflect environmental values, the people that these rankings reflect do value the three legs of sustainability.
It’s great to see Savannah competing with the Top 10 Best Cities to Live, Work and Play. For those of us who do all three here in the Hostess City, we certainly know what a great community we’ve stumbled upon. And I’d argue that our city/county governments are greener, or fast becoming greener, than alot of the communities on that Top 10. But I believe that all communities working to support a creative economy will feel firsthand the demand of a wiser, choosier, greener citizen.