So many cities and seemingly so little validity

A community’s social offerings, its physical beauty and its openness to new and different people are most important to making residents love where they live, according to  a Gallup study of 26 U.S. communities completed last fall.  It found that the worst economic crisis in decades is not a key factor in attracting and retaining residents.

After interviewing close to 28,000 respondents over two years, the study learned that social offerings such as entertainment venues and places to meet were the top factor in 21 of 26 communities.  That quality was followed by how welcoming a place is and the area’s aesthetics – its physical beauty and green spaces.