Manhattan, KS

SCORE: 79.47

FOR AGES 65-79
SCORE: 79.33

FOR AGES 80+
SCORE: 78.83

Percent of Population 65+:  9.21%
Population 65+:  8,980
Total Population:  97,520

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score	Percent +/-
General Livability	25	88.46	81.58	8.43 %
Health Care	8	74.08	50.15	47.72 %
Wellness	36	74.77	68.45	9.23 %
Financial	16	91.62	81.09	12.99 %
EducationEducation	4	87.30	71.18	47.37 %
Living ArrangementsArrange- ments	115	73.81	71.18	3.69 %
Employment	55	60.12	51.56	16.60 %
Transportation/ ConvenienceTransport- ation	23	73.48	57.14	28.60 %
Community EngagementEngage- ment	11	76.36	51.89	47.16 %
(Three-tier color code: 1-25 Green, 26-75 Black, 76+ Red)

Find out about the methodology used for these indicators

Nailed It

Medical services

- Tops in older-adult health care: many rehab centers, Alzheimer’s units, geriatric facilities
- High enrollment among Medicare-eligible adults
- Affordable hospital care

Economic picture

- Few older adults in poverty; high older-adult employment
- Strong small-business growth

Convenience and engagement

- Many pedestrian commuters and short drives to work
- Nearby amenities: many grocery stores and diagnostic centers
- Abundance of religious and civic organizations and libraries
- Helping others: high rates of volunteerism

Needs Work

Population health

- Not enough magnet and Joint Commission-accredited hospitals
- High rates of Alzheimer’s, depression, and binge drinking
- Get moving: too few fitness centers
- Gasp!: poor air quality
- Few adults aging at home

Takeaway

In its first “Best Cities” appearance, Manhattan—Kansas-style—has done exceedingly well. While providing many of the supports and services of a larger city, this Sunflower State metro is more affordable and has a college-town feel. Access to specialty medical care and job opportunities at Kansas State University and Fort Riley, home of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, make this an inviting place to call home.

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General Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Cost of Living	181	44.54	49.09
Crime Rate	13	70.02	42.85
Employment Growth (2007-2012)	92	82.02	80.67
Unemployment Rate	15	71.87	46.80
Income Distribution	203	80.85	84.25
Weather	181	55.51	62.27
Fatal Car Crashes	69	36.35	29.38

Health-Care Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Number of Doctors	39	45.07	33.5
Number of hospital beds	64	38.43	29.37
% of Hospitals with JCAHO Accreditation	277	0.00	79.11
Number of Long-Term Hospitals	57	0.00	6.57
Number of Hospitals with Geriatric Services	1	100.00	21.44
% of Hospitals with Rehabilitation Services	1	100.00	25.8
Number of Hospitals with Alzheimer's units	1	100.00	4.68
Number of Hospitals with Hospice Services	140	0.00	15.09
% of Hospitals with Medical School Affiliation	128	25.00	26.60
% of Magnet Hospitals	64	0.00	6.27
Number of Orthopedic Surgeons	64	15.63	13.35
Number of nurses	143	22.56	24.78
Number of Physical Therapists	40	2.94	2.35
ER Wait Times	56	33.38	24.64

Wellness Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Obesity rate	37	53.52	46.33
Smoking rate	75	14.64	13.69
Diabetes rate	10	62.29	41.83
Binge drinking	252	11.80	20.32
Alzheimer's cases	255	56.60	74.78
Caregivers	18	65.11	39.11
Life expectancy at 65	83	78.90	76.89
Depression	109	50.60	49.3
Physical activity	41	47.89	39.05
Fitness and recreational sports centers	180	36.69	42.27
Fast-food outlets	47	40.52	35.09
Golf courses, ski resorts	92	19.56	17.69
Air quality	127	60.29	61.2

Financial Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Banks and financial institutions	99	58.32	53.83
Total bank deposits	29	1.38	1.37
Tax burden	176	66.38	70.55
Dependency ratio	6	89.05	61.29
Small business growth	14	89.27	81.17
Older adults below poverty line	9	52.82	29.07
Capital gains	113	28.97	31.31
Income growth	181	58.67	60.52
Reverse mortgages	42	43.67	27.26

Living Arrangements Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Median house price	170	41.24	46.02
Median rental price	216	62.68	70.18
Households with older adults	277	24.03	39.04
Nursing beds	2	93.06	49.76
Cost of semiprivate nursing room	39	84.85	70.35
Home health-care service providers	133	11.61	14.31
Continuing-care facilities	61	20.39	14.8
Cost of assisted living	254	60.29	71.61
Nursing-home rating	102	25.00	22.29
Older adults in family homes	254	77.37	82.84
Cost of adult day services	207	43.75	55.7

Employment/Education Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Percent of 65+ employed	5	93.46	56.23
65+ unemployment Rate	228	14.29	31.34
Employment growth	236	40.81	44.29
Output of service sector/manufacturing	93	8.66	9.94

Transportation/Convenience Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Average commute time to work	17	87.93	71.39
Number of Passenger Trips	128	2.76	11.53
Investment in Public/Senior Transportation	205	31.99	64.25
% of commuters who walk to work	7	48.06	17.90
Number of Grocery, etc.	20	67.39	55.19
% of Seniors near grocery			84.52
Walk score	111	46.91	xx.52

Community Engagement Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Percent of population 65+	274	17.36	39.94
Number of arts, entertainment, and recreation facilities	95	18.90	18.61
Senior volunteer rates	12	79.47	63.01
Number of public libraries	3	76.45	25.07
Number of civic and religious organizations	2	98.73	12.40
Funding for older adults	51	31.26	25.37

Education Indicators

Indicator	Rank	Score	Average Score
Educational attainment	4	98.45	85.93
College enrollment	8	73.47	26.46