"Most Contented City"

You may not believe what nearby city just got ranked as the nation's "Most Contented City."

According to a recent study, the U.S. city where residents are most contented is Lincoln, Nebraska.

So much so that they beat out Honolulu, Hawai'i, if you can believe that.

Here's their stats:

1. Lincoln, Neb.

 Well-being index score: 72.8
 Obesity: 25.8%
 Median household income: $49,315
 Adult population with high school diploma or higher: 93.7%

Lincoln is the top ranked metro area in the nation on Gallup’s well-being index. As of January, 4.2% of all workers in the area were unemployed, less than all but three other metropolitan areas. Residents were also the most likely Americans nationwide to enjoy their work environment. More than 94% of survey respondents were satisfied with their job and work, almost 68% felt treated like a partner at work and nearly 86% felt they worked in a trusting environment — all among the highest figures in the country. Nearly 76% of those surveyed believe the city is becoming a better place, the fourth highest rate in the nation.

If you'll remember, back in 2008 they were ranked the nation's healthiest city:

 lincoln rated healthiest city in the nation

Then they also got this more recent ranking: Lincoln, Neb., Bests All Cities in Wellbeing in 2012.

They must be doing something right.

We should have Mayor Sly and the City Council go up the road a piece and check it out.

It wouldn't be that expensive a trip and who knows? Maybe they'd learn something. Maybe they'd bring something back they and we could all do.

Hey, we can hope, can't we?

Final, side note: In spite of what some people might think, in their ranking of the most miserable cities, Kansas City wasn't on that list, either.

Read more: America’s Most Content (and Miserable) Cities - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2013/03/26/americas-most-content-and-miserable-cities/#ixzz2PYPGrQpm

The Best College Towns--Two of ours in top 10

The American Institute of Economic Research ranked the "75 Best College Towns" and two of ours came in the top 10:

Mizzou, number 10

Lawrence, KS, number 8

Based on this criteria:

• Student Concentration: number of college students per 1,000 population

• Student Diversity: percentage of student body that are non-U.S. residents

• Research Capacity: academic R&D expenditures per capita

• Degree Attainment: percent of the 25-to-34-year-old population with bachelor’s degree or higher

• Cost of Living: based upon average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment

• Arts and Leisure: number of cultural and entertainment venues per 100,000 population

• City Accessibility: percentage of workers over age 16 who commute on foot or by public transportation or bicycle

• Creative Class: percentage of workforce in the arts, education, knowledge industries, science and engineering, management and other fields

• Earning Potential: income per capita

• Entrepreneurial Activity: net annual increase in total number of business establishments per 100,000 population

• Brain Gain/Drain: year-over-year ratio of population with B.A. degree (it is only population with B.A degree, not all the college level) living in the area

• Unemployment rate

It should be noted, too, that Iowa City, Iowa came in 4th and Ames, Iowa came in 2nd.

 

Kudos to those Midwest sensibilities.

 

Link to original post:  AIER Names 75 Best College Towns and Cities for 2012-2013

"15 Best Cities for Young Adults"? Not KC

Yes, indeed, another list, another ranking. This one also by Forbes Magazine ranking, as I said, the "15 Best Cities for Young Adults" and Kansas City ain't on it. But Omaha? Number 5. And Des Moines? Number one, for pity's sake. Yow. We gotta' get busy, folks. Links: http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mhj45effk/introduction#content?partner=yahoo; http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mhj45effk/5-omaha-neb; http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mhj45effk/1-des-moines-iowa

KC/St. Lou on GQ's "40 Worst-Dressed Cities" List

Yeah, you know? I have to say, I don't feel too bad about this one. Kansas City is just barely on the list at number 37 (I hope it doesn't get worse next year or in the future) while good ol' St. Louis is--check it out--in the top ten at the number 10 spot. (Omaha at 32). I feel better already. (That said, how seriously can you take it when we beat Newport Beach?) Los Angeles at No. 2 and Boston (Boston!) at number one. All in all, we came out great, folks. Have a great weekend, y'all. Links: http://www.gq.com/style/fashion/201107/worst-dressed-cities-america#slide=4; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/15/worst-dressed-city_n_899913.html

Wichita on Forbes' "Cleanest Cities"

Yeah, there you go---Wichita, Kansas on Forbes Magazines' ranking of either "America's Cleanest Cities" or "America's 10 Least Toxic Cities", depending what you're reading when you click on the links.  (That's odd, isn't it?  I mean, either it's "Cleanest Cities" or "Least Toxic" but they certainly shouldn't be interchangeable, you think?)    Herewith, their data:


Wichita, Kansas No. 10

Air quality rank: 1
Water quality rank: 41
Superfund rank: 22
Pounds of on-site toxic releases (2009): 1.6 million

I can't be sure but I think Kansas City, Missouri was going to be in this spot on the list but just as the researchers were leaving town, they went down to the Plaza for dinner and saw Brush Creek.

Links:  http://www.forbes.com/2011/03/08/least-toxic-cities-real-estate-forbeslife_slide_11.html
http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/americas-cleanest-cities-2011.html
http://www.forbes.com/2011/03/08/least-toxic-cities-real-estate-forbeslife.html

St. Louis housing market ranked No. 8, nationally

8. St. Louis, Mo.- Ill.

One-year Home Price Forecast: -0.02

Housing Opportunity Index: 84.5

% of Housing Units in Foreclosure: 1.58


This brings to mind two thoughts:

First, I don't know how they're on it as I didn't think St. Louis was in that good a position and two, Kansas City is absolutely not ranked in this "top ten", to be sure.

Memphis, TN and Columbus, OH (tied at 6) are both on the list as are Indianapolis (5), Minneapolis (4), Louisville (3) with Pittsburgh, PA at number one.

Makes me wonder what these mid-sized cities are doing particularly right, compared to us.

I mean besides paving their streets and seeing to it the snow is plowed in the winter.

Mayor Funkhouser--any thoughts?

Oh, wait. Never mind.