Saran Chatterjee SVP, Product | realtors.com
The latest ranking from AARP's Livability Index has highlighted the most livable midsized cities for older adults in the United States. New Jersey emerges as a favored state, with five of its communities making it to the top 10 list. The index evaluates four types of communities: large cities, semilarge communities, midsized communities, and small towns.
Communities are assessed based on categories such as housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement, and opportunity. Each category is scored between 1 and 100 to derive an overall livability score.
Cliffside Park in New Jersey leads the list with an overall score of 68 out of 100. The community excels in neighborhood quality, transportation options, and health services. Its proximity to New York City likely contributes positively to its ranking. Despite being highly livable, affordability remains a concern across these communities. Cliffside Park's median home price is $400,000 compared to the national median of $425,000.
Brookline in Massachusetts ranks lower due to its high cost of living despite scoring well in transportation and health care categories. Its median home price stands at $1.56 million with an affordability score of only 37.
The top ten midsized communities for older Americans include:
- Cliffside Park, NJ
- Fort Lee, NJ
- Portland, ME
- Burlington, VT
- Union City, NJ
- West New York, NJ
- Bergenfield, NJ
- West Des Moines, IA
- Brookline, MA
- Somerville, MA
Each city presents unique attributes contributing to their rankings but also challenges related to housing costs.
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