West Hartford Ranks Among Top Places To Live In New Study

WEST HARTFORD, CT — (Contributed article): Livability.com has released its fifth annual Top 100 Best Places to Live list and West Hartford made the list, the only city in Connecticut to do so. The new rankings are the culmination of months of exclusive research into what factors most influence the livability of the United States’ small to mid-sized cities. More than 30 states are represented from coast to coast.

The list is an exclusive, independent, editorial ranking by Livability.com. The research team was supported by a stellar advisory board of the leading academics, authors, policymakers and practitioners in the places space. The 2018 ranking builds on a process initially developed with one of the world’s leading urban theorists, Richard Florida. Livability.com’s research team worked with the University of Toronto’s Martin Prosperity Institute and later with The Initiative for Creativity and Innovation in Cities at New York University’s Schools of Professional Studies a program he directed along with Steven Pedigo.

“The 2018 Best Place to Live list includes a fascinating mix of familiar cities and first-timers that are starting to carve out a reputation as wonderful places to live,” says Winona Dimeo-Ediger, Livability.com’s managing editor. “It’s great to see these under-the-radar cities getting more attention on a national scale — and the accolades are certainly well-deserved.”

More than 2,300 cities with populations between 20,000 and 350,000 were ranked on 40 data points measuring economics, housing, amenities, infrastructure, demographics, social and civic capital, education and health care. The eight scores were weighted based on an exclusive survey conducted for Livability.com by Ipsos Public Affairs, a leading global market research firm. Respondents were asked about factors that make their communities great places to live, as well as the factors they would consider in selecting another city. Sources included the best public and private data available from organizations like the U.S. Census Bureau, Walk Score, GreatSchools.com and Esri.

“This year’s #1 city, Ann Arbor, has appeared on Livability.com’s Top 100 Best Places to Live list every year,” says Dimeo-Ediger, “so it feels like a special — and long awaited — victory for a deserving city.”

West Hartford was ranked #67 on the Top 100 Best Places to Live in the nation.

Livability noted, “Home to the University of Hartford and the University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford is an affluent suburb of Hartford and features a median income of more than $110,000 for families. West Hartford earns high marks in education, healthcare and technology, and the city is becoming a summertime tourism destination with excellent restaurants and high-end shopping choices.

The downtown district has been a gathering place since the late 17th century and is known as “The Center,” and transportation assets in West Hartford include Interstate 84 running through town while Bradley International Airport is only a 15-minute drive away. Local residents take pride in their community and are always working to improve the city in big and small ways.”

The top 100 cities are featured on Livability.com, along with their LivScore and information about the qualities and amenities that helped them make the list.