What makes a city ‘livable?’

According to the AARP Livability Index, an online tool that was launched in the spring, it’s a combination of housing, health, the environment, proximity to jobs, transportation options, social and civic engagement and job opportunities. Weather was not a factor in the ranking: USA Today, which also reported on the list, spoke with the director of Livable Communities in AARP’s Public Policy Institute, who said this is because it’s not a factor that could be changed or improved.

The online index aims to help communities identify their strengths and the area in which they may want to concentrate efforts to improve, especially so that seniors can age in place.

Cities were broken up by size. below are the top small cities (population 25,000-100,000).