Most Important to Quality of Life

Family health and safety and family are named most often as the most important factors affecting residents' quality of life. These were followed by health and financial well-being, which were chosen as most important by 17 percent and 14 percent of residents, respectively. Together, these four factors dominated the rankings of nearly every demographic group, though the order among them might shift somewhat. Compared to other groups, a higher percentage of older adults rate health most important, while younger adults more often select education and financial well-being. For the unemployed, financial well-being and health rise to the top. Feeling safe is ranked fifth by both whites and blacks, but the proportion of blacks choosing it as the most important quality of life consideration is twice that of whites, 10 percent and 5 percent respectively.