FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 16, 2013

MEDIA CONTACTS
Gwen Schuler, Media and Communications, gschuler@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5160
Maria Lee, Media and Communications, maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2054

Tacoma Named One of the Top Best 100 Places to Live

Tacoma has been named one of the Top Best 100 Places to Live by Livability.com, a website that ranks quality of life and travel amenities across America’s small and mid-sized cities.

Tacoma ranked 41st on the list, with a total score of 605 points, and high scores in amenities (88), demographic diversity (73) and education (64). Palo Alto, Calif. topped the list, with a total score of 646 points, and high scores in education (85), amenities (82), and social and civic capital (74).

"We’ve been working very hard to make Tacoma a desirable place to live, work, learn and play,” said Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland. “We continue to build on our assets and shine a spotlight on the great things happening here right now." 

Five other Washington cities also made the list: Bellevue (ranked 12th), Bellingham (ranked 25th), Redmond (ranked 62nd), Everett (ranked 73rd) and Vancouver (ranked 96th).  

According to Livability.com, the list is the result of a study of U.S. cities and the factors that make them better places to live, work and play. Those factors were narrowed down to eight categories – economics, housing, amenities, infrastructure, demographics, social and civic capital, education and health care – that were used to score and rank cities.

"Great cities are more than just a check-list of bars, coffee shops and museums. Our goal was to collect the best data available, from the best sources and the best partners to gauge the true measures of livability. Access was important, but so were utilization and affordability," said Livability.com Editor Matt Carmichael. "By using data from the public sector, the private sector and nonprofits focused on these issues, we have compiled an Index that celebrates America's great cities and towns."

Livability said it partnered with the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank concentrating on the role of location, place, and city-regions in global economic prosperity, and Ipsos Public Affairs, research firm to compile the list.

"This is the first time we have focused on measures for specific cities instead of metropolitan regions," said Kevin Stolarick, PhD, Research Director at the Martin Prosperity Institute. "While getting consistent, reliable data at the city level had its challenges, the results were worth the effort."

The full list is available at: livability.com/top-100-best-places-to-live.