But not every place in the West offers the same potential for a high quality of life—and according to the newest Livability Index from AARP, Los Alamos, New Mexico, is among the most promising.
The index evaluates cities and towns on 40 metrics across seven categories: housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement, and opportunity. And in this year’s analysis, Los Alamos came out on top for the region, with an overall score of 72 out of 100, just a single point behind the national winner, Great Neck Plaza, New York.
The town performed best in the opportunity category, which considers income inequality, graduation rates, and age diversity. The median household income in Los Alamos is $136,502, significantly higher than the national median of $81,000. Residents also benefit from good health, with data showing that smoking and obesity levels are below the national averages. And virtually all residents—99.3 percent—have easy access to exercise opportunities and green spaces. The town's air and water quality are excellent, and there is no roadway pollution.
Los Alamos also scored highly in the housing category, with a strong supply of multi-family homes and subsidized units, along with a favorable housing cost burden—the share of income spent on monthly housing expenses. AARP estimates that residents spend 9.9 percent of their income on housing, compared to 13.4 percent in the rest of the country. However, the town recorded its lowest scores in the transportation and neighborhood categories, mainly due to unreliable public transportation and limited access (via public transit) to jobs within a 45-minute commute.
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