Finding a place to live is often a difficult decision — and when you have a disability, it’s only more so.
WalletHub’s latest ranking, “2017’s Best & Worst Cities for People with Disabilities,” gives people with mobility limitations and/or intellectual disabilities guidance on disability-friendly locales. One in 5 Americans has a disability, per Social Security Administration statistics, while 1 in 10 has one considered severe.
The organization ranked the 150 most populated cities based on 28 disability-friendly indicators. These indicators were spread across the categories of economy, quality of life and health care.
WalletHub pointed out that even though disability benefits can increase due to inflation, many who have disabilities help offset costs themselves with an employment paycheck and also seek relief through low cost of living. Additionally, given the high cost of U.S. health care, health care management can add up and become expensive.
One of the metrics studied was employment rate. The highest employment rates for people with disabilities can be found in Fremont, California, followed by St. Petersburg, Florida, Laredo, Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas and Reno, Nevada. The lowest employment rates are in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brownsville, Texas, Yonkers, New York, Newark, New Jersey and Cape Coral, Florida.
A full list of the best and worst cities for people with disabilities is available here, and the top 10 best cities are listed below.
Overall Rank | City | Health Care Rank |
1 | Overland Park, Kansas | 5 |
2 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 1 |
3 | Denver, Colorado | 12 |
4 | Salt Lake City, Utah | 7 |
5 | Aurora, Colorado | 17 |
6 | St. Louis, Missouri | 6 |
7 | Chicago, Illinois | 31 |
8 | Chandler, Arizona | 95 |
9 | Amarillo, Texas | 42 |
10 | Kansas City, Missouri | 15 |
When Health Treatments Go From Hospital to DIY
7 Ways to Build Resilience for Crises and Everyday Life Challenges
More from U.S. News
8 Myths and Misconceptions About Dyslexia
When Health Treatments Go From Hospital to DIY
7 Ways to Build Resilience for Crises and Everyday Life Challenges
The 10 Best Cities for People With Disabilities originally appeared on usnews.com