Lawrence, KS

SCORE: 74.64

FOR AGES 65-79
SCORE: 75.48

#16

FOR AGES 80+
SCORE: 73.04

Percent of Population 65+:  9.65%
Population 65+:  10,914
Total Population:  113,043

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score	Percent +/-
General Livability	183	79.95	81.58	-2.00 %
Health Care	58	57.82	50.15	15.29 %
Wellness	46	73.64	68.45	7.58 %
Financial	21	89.39	81.09	10.24 %
EducationEducation	5	86.20	71.18	45.51 %
Living ArrangementsArrange- ments	109	74.14	71.18	4.16 %
Employment	8	85.56	51.56	65.94 %
Transportation/ ConvenienceTransport- ation	42	68.52	57.14	19.92 %
Community EngagementEngage- ment	43	57.95	51.89	11.68 %
(Three-tier color code: 1-25 Green, 26-75 Black, 76+ Red)

Find out about the methodology used for these indicators

Nailed It

Educated and employed population

- Tied for lowest unemployment among older adults
- Few older residents in poverty; few reverse mortgages
- Highly educated populace
- Enthusiasm for volunteerism among older adults
- High growth in health and leisure employment

Health care and chronic disease

- Joint Commission-accredited and med school-affiliated hospital
- Front lines: many primary-care clinicians; efficient emergency rooms
- Low rates of diabetes
- Many fitness centers relative to population

Caregiving

- Numerous caregivers and home health providers
- Highly rated nursing homes

Needs Work

Independent living and old-age support

- Expensive homeownership and rents
- High tax burden
- No Alzheimer’s units, geriatric facilities, or hospices
- Few older adults living at home

Takeaway

Improvements in health and wellness have boosted Lawrence into the “Best Cities” top 10. Pluses: ample primary care, short emergency room waits, and affordable hospitals. Needed: more aging-specific health services. The University of Kansas and a growing tech presence buttress a slowly improving economy, but living costs and crime rates are high.

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General Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Cost of Living	207	39.97	49.09
Crime Rate	238	29.67	42.85
Employment Growth (2007-2012)	170	79.49	80.67
Unemployment Rate	29	64.92	46.80
Income Distribution	110	84.44	84.25
Weather	170	56.13	62.27
Fatal Car Crashes	37	43.41	29.38

Health-Care Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Number of Doctors	16	54.22	33.5
Number of hospital beds	231	15.77	29.37
% of Hospitals with JCAHO Accreditation	1	100.00	79.11
Number of Long-Term Hospitals	57	0.00	6.57
Number of Hospitals with Geriatric Services	203	0.00	21.44
% of Hospitals with Rehabilitation Services	114	25.74	25.8
Number of Hospitals with Alzheimer's units	36	0.00	4.68
Number of Hospitals with Hospice Services	140	0.00	15.09
% of Hospitals with Medical School Affiliation	1	100.00	26.60
% of Magnet Hospitals	64	0.00	6.27
Number of Orthopedic Surgeons	126	11.89	13.35
Number of nurses	188	19.55	24.78
Number of Physical Therapists	38	2.96	2.35
ER Wait Times	26	39.77	24.64

Wellness Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Obesity rate	27	55.07	46.33
Smoking rate	62	15.99	13.69
Diabetes rate	9	62.84	41.83
Binge drinking	270	10.08	20.32
Alzheimer's cases	258	55.37	74.78
Caregivers	24	57.87	39.11
Life expectancy at 65	67	79.93	76.89
Depression	139	48.21	49.3
Physical activity	34	49.15	39.05
Fitness and recreational sports centers	26	61.44	42.27
Fast-food outlets	256	27.86	35.09
Golf courses, ski resorts	144	14.33	17.69
Air quality	171	56.12	61.2

Financial Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Banks and financial institutions	72	63.01	53.83
Total bank deposits	91	1.02	1.37
Tax burden	176	66.38	70.55
Dependency ratio	6	89.05	61.29
Small business growth	100	82.17	81.17
Older adults below poverty line	27	39.37	29.07
Capital gains	113	28.97	31.31
Income growth	115	60.41	60.52
Reverse mortgages	36	45.54	27.26

Living Arrangements Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Median house price	194	39.07	46.02
Median rental price	195	65.52	70.18
Households with older adults	274	25.61	39.04
Nursing beds	156	45.08	49.76
Cost of semiprivate nursing room	39	84.85	70.35
Home health-care service providers	12	37.84	14.31
Continuing-care facilities	81	17.41	14.8
Cost of assisted living	254	60.29	71.61
Nursing-home rating	16	50.00	22.29
Older adults in family homes	236	78.71	82.84
Cost of adult day services	207	43.75	55.7

Employment/Education Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Percent of 65+ employed	16	77.85	56.23
65+ unemployment Rate	1	100.00	31.34
Employment growth	15	51.16	44.29
Output of service sector/manufacturing	89	8.74	9.94

Transportation/Convenience Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Average commute time to work	94	74.63	71.39
Number of Passenger Trips	10	21.69	11.53
Investment in Public/Senior Transportation	205	31.99	64.25
% of commuters who walk to work	25	35.73	17.90
Number of Grocery, etc.	80	50.86	55.19
% of Seniors near grocery			84.52
Walk score	82	49.38	xx.52

Community Engagement Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Percent of population 65+	267	19.45	39.94
Number of arts, entertainment, and recreation facilities	81	20.38	18.61
Senior volunteer rates	10	79.92	63.01
Number of public libraries	214	14.55	25.07
Number of civic and religious organizations	72	72.76	12.40
Funding for older adults	51	31.26	25.37

Education Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Educational attainment	5	98.13	85.93
College enrollment	9	71.40	26.46