Posted by: Adam McCann

When searching for a new home, people with disabilities often have a longer and more complicated list of considerations compared with other individuals. In addition to common wish-list items, such as reliable public transportation and diverse entertainment options, people with disabilities also must think about things like the accessibility of facilities or even the cleanliness of the air.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four U.S. adults, or 61 million total, have a disability that impacts their major activities. And among Americans age 65 and older, that number rises to two in five. Keeping up with the costs of a disability can be very expensive. The average monthly Social Security disability benefit as of July 2018 was only $1,103.68. That makes a yearly income of $13,244.16, only a few hundred dollars above the federal poverty line for a single individual at $12,490.

Although disability benefits can increase based on inflation, many people with disabilities rely on low cost of living and wages for financial relief. In 2018, over 5.7 million people with disabilities were employed. Naturally, though, a far lower share of people with disabilities is able to work compared to the share of people with no major health issues.

With the physical and economic challenges of managing a disability in mind, WalletHub compared more than 180 most populated cities across 33 key indicators of disability-friendliness. Our data set ranges from physicians per capita to rate of workers with disabilities to park accessibility. Read on for our findings, expert insight from a panel of researchers and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask The Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

In the overall ranking below, readers who are particularly interested in the best places to live on disability income should focus on the “Economy” category. Likewise, those who place a higher premium on quality of medical care should focus on the “Health Care” category.  

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/7164/geochart-disabilities.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2Ri1K7J>  

Best & Worst Cities for People with Disabilities

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Overall Score	‘Economy’ Rank	‘Quality of Life’ Rank	‘Health Care’ Rank
1	South Burlington, VT	56.64	2	32	53
2	Scottsdale, AZ	55.37	9	43	24
3	St. Louis, MO	55.37	126	9	14
4	Minneapolis, MN	55.06	149	18	3
5	San Francisco, CA	54.10	157	2	92
6	Overland Park, KS	53.93	1	172	7
7	Denver, CO	53.58	88	19	31
8	Grand Rapids, MI	53.07	96	30	17
9	St. Paul, MN	52.63	147	51	2
10	Columbia, MD	52.61	22	94	16
11	Pittsburgh, PA	52.24	116	23	32
12	Huntington Beach, CA	52.23	17	64	48
13	Portland, OR	52.14	173	1	100
14	Chandler, AZ	51.83	15	97	30
15	Albuquerque, NM	51.74	110	57	12
16	Gilbert, AZ	51.50	18	116	28
17	Baltimore, MD	51.46	152	21	26
18	New York, NY	51.27	135	3	148
19	St. Petersburg, FL	51.16	11	58	107
20	Omaha, NE	51.05	86	72	18
21	Nashua, NH	50.99	99	47	27
22	Kansas City, MO	50.96	38	74	40
23	Tucson, AZ	50.93	123	15	73
24	Cleveland, OH	50.71	161	12	44
25	Lewiston, ME	50.71	159	77	1
26	Milwaukee, WI	50.60	144	65	6
27	Peoria, AZ	50.56	32	112	29
28	Philadelphia, PA	50.44	166	6	75
29	Springfield, MO	50.38	92	52	37
30	San Diego, CA	50.37	106	14	121
31	Virginia Beach, VA	50.34	3	87	133
32	Columbus, OH	50.31	27	37	125
33	Tampa, FL	50.23	31	46	105
34	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	50.22	4	92	118
35	Tempe, AZ	50.21	61	69	41
36	Irvine, CA	50.19	90	48	43
37	Toledo, OH	50.19	73	38	80
38	Los Angeles, CA	50.16	172	5	95
39	Chicago, IL	50.11	148	13	83
40	Seattle, WA	49.91	171	7	59
41	Sioux Falls, SD	49.88	98	118	8
42	Las Vegas, NV	49.76	69	17	150
43	Orlando, FL	49.66	66	31	113
44	Glendale, CA	49.58	137	24	61
45	Colorado Springs, CO	49.54	68	82	33
46	San Antonio, TX	49.53	49	76	57
47	Santa Clarita, CA	49.35	47	96	50
48	Des Moines, IA	49.34	53	124	20
49	Lincoln, NE	49.30	75	88	34
50	Sacramento, CA	49.26	117	20	109
51	Portland, ME	49.25	156	55	15
52	Madison, WI	49.21	77	70	51
52	Salt Lake City, UT	49.21	105	26	102
54	Las Cruces, NM	49.18	111	158	4
55	Fort Lauderdale, FL	48.95	93	33	106
56	Lexington-Fayette, KY	48.85	81	71	54
57	Austin, TX	48.79	41	45	132
58	Washington, DC	48.75	180	4	72
58	Manchester, NH	48.75	101	40	88
60	Cedar Rapids, IA	48.71	42	150	25
61	Buffalo, NY	48.64	87	28	129
62	Glendale, AZ	48.63	56	91	47
63	Boise, ID	48.59	120	135	5
64	Bismarck, ND	48.56	71	161	11
65	Jacksonville, FL	48.51	14	129	87
66	Miami, FL	48.47	139	11	145
67	Oakland, CA	48.43	170	8	108
68	Little Rock, AR	48.40	51	134	35
69	Spokane, WA	48.39	109	63	52
70	Mesa, AZ	48.31	70	89	46
71	Vancouver, WA	48.24	131	35	91
72	Akron, OH	48.19	64	78	89
73	Laredo, TX	48.18	80	153	12
74	Reno, NV	48.14	58	62	101
75	Henderson, NV	47.97	13	123	112
76	Long Beach, CA	47.96	150	36	67
77	Louisville, KY	47.84	94	54	98
78	Billings, MT	47.79	54	163	21
79	Anaheim, CA	47.64	104	59	90
80	Riverside, CA	47.62	37	66	144
81	Charleston, WV	47.61	95	83	68
82	Indianapolis, IN	47.60	118	75	45
83	Phoenix, AZ	47.56	91	84	55
84	Aurora, CO	47.49	72	127	36
85	Cheyenne, WY	47.48	67	155	22
86	Plano, TX	47.37	7	168	63
87	Cincinnati, OH	47.37	132	25	128
88	Yonkers, NY	47.36	16	106	138
89	Raleigh, NC	47.35	30	113	103
90	Port St. Lucie, FL	47.35	12	166	77
91	Columbus, GA	47.34	89	105	65
92	Fargo, ND	47.22	107	137	23
93	Honolulu, HI	47.17	142	10	178
94	San Jose, CA	47.11	141	41	84
95	Boston, MA	46.86	179	27	49
96	Augusta, GA	46.78	102	130	38
97	Casper, WY	46.69	124	120	39
98	Fremont, CA	46.60	45	138	69
99	Charleston, SC	46.57	65	100	99
100	Oceanside, CA	46.52	43	108	120
101	Pembroke Pines, FL	46.49	20	169	81
102	Tulsa, OK	46.42	60	125	86
103	Salem, OR	46.40	136	67	74
104	Santa Ana, CA	46.36	125	44	117
105	Missoula, MT	46.28	167	95	19
106	Rochester, NY	46.22	155	22	141
107	Chesapeake, VA	46.22	5	147	126
108	Wichita, KS	46.20	44	148	79
109	West Valley City, UT	46.20	21	131	135
110	Tallahassee, FL	46.15	82	154	42
111	Corpus Christi, TX	46.09	25	165	64
112	Oklahoma City, OK	46.06	19	157	96
113	Fort Smith, AR	45.94	103	99	94
114	Lubbock, TX	45.87	46	145	85
115	Aurora, IL	45.49	36	170	82
116	Amarillo, TX	45.41	6	174	147
117	Durham, NC	45.40	79	121	97
118	Rapid City, SD	45.40	122	98	76
119	Atlanta, GA	45.38	176	16	136
120	Modesto, CA	45.31	48	81	173
121	Jersey City, NJ	45.27	130	68	114
121	Garden Grove, CA	45.27	121	109	66
123	Tacoma, WA	45.18	100	73	139
124	Pearl City, HI	45.14	23	115	172
125	Columbia, SC	44.93	133	104	78
126	Nampa, ID	44.90	163	162	9
127	Nashville, TN	44.86	113	86	116
128	Wilmington, DE	44.83	178	49	62
129	Jackson, MS	44.77	97	182	10
130	Richmond, VA	44.74	168	29	131
131	Fresno, CA	44.73	165	56	93
132	Ontario, CA	44.71	39	128	155
133	Grand Prairie, TX	44.64	10	180	123
134	Houston, TX	44.53	62	114	143
135	Baton Rouge, LA	44.50	162	85	70
136	Warwick, RI	44.44	26	136	168
137	Fort Worth, TX	44.23	35	146	142
138	Detroit, MI	44.21	177	53	71
139	New Orleans, LA	44.16	154	50	137
140	Stockton, CA	44.01	127	61	159
141	Newark, NJ	44.01	158	42	151
142	El Paso, TX	43.98	34	160	127
143	Dallas, TX	43.92	78	93	167
144	Huntington, WV	43.87	174	39	110
145	Anchorage, AK	43.78	24	152	175
146	Burlington, VT	43.68	181	34	60
147	Shreveport, LA	43.56	129	151	58
148	Fontana, CA	43.38	40	149	156
149	Bakersfield, CA	43.30	50	103	181
150	Santa Rosa, CA	43.20	143	79	134
151	Chula Vista, CA	43.19	114	126	119
152	Arlington, TX	43.15	33	177	122
153	Newport News, VA	43.11	63	133	153
154	Dover, DE	43.07	128	117	124
155	Brownsville, TX	43.00	134	164	56
156	Cape Coral, FL	42.92	57	141	158
157	Oxnard, CA	42.92	83	111	171
158	Chattanooga, TN	42.75	153	60	162
159	Fort Wayne, IN	42.68	145	110	115
160	Charlotte, NC	42.62	85	132	157
161	Knoxville, TN	42.57	151	80	146
162	Hialeah, FL	42.50	76	142	149
163	North Las Vegas, NV	42.48	52	156	154
164	Fayetteville, NC	42.38	84	139	164
165	Moreno Valley, CA	42.22	74	144	161
166	Memphis, TN	42.09	138	101	160
167	Irving, TX	41.99	28	179	140
168	Garland, TX	41.81	29	178	152
169	Worcester, MA	41.69	164	119	111
170	San Bernardino, CA	41.57	140	107	165
171	Greensboro, NC	41.52	55	159	169
172	Montgomery, AL	41.46	59	171	170
173	Juneau, AK	41.31	8	181	182
174	Birmingham, AL	40.33	146	143	130
175	Norfolk, VA	40.08	160	122	163
176	Mobile, AL	39.66	108	167	179
177	Huntsville, AL	39.05	112	173	176
178	Gulfport, MS	38.64	119	176	174
179	New Haven, CT	38.41	182	102	104
180	Winston-Salem, NC	38.15	115	175	177
181	Bridgeport, CT	37.94	169	140	166
182	Providence, RI	37.93	175	90	180

Ask The Experts

Living with a disability can be both financially and physically burdensome. In light of these challenges, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

• What are some unique financial challenges faced by people with disabilities, particularly those who rely on government assistance? How can they be overcome?
• In evaluating the best cities for people with disabilities, what are the top five indicators?
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was adopted nearly three decades ago. What 21st century improvements should be made, if any, to this important act?
• What local policies and programs have proven effective in increasing inclusion of and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities?

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• Catherine Kudlick Ph.D. – Professor of History and Director, Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability, San Francisco State University
• Patrick Shannon MSW, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, University of New Hampshire
• Elizabeth DePoy Ph.D. – Professor, School of Social Work, University of Maine
• Michael A. Schwartz Associate Professor of Law, Director, Disability Rights Clinic, Syracuse University

Methodology

To determine the most livable places for people with disabilities, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Economy, 2) Quality of Life and 3) Health Care.

We evaluated those dimensions using 33 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for people with disabilities. Please note that data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only. For metrics marked with two asterisks (**), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the “city proper” in each case and excluded cities in the surrounding metro area.

Economy – Points: 33.33

• Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Housing Costs (accounts for both rental and sale prices) / Median Annual Household Income.
• Cost of Living: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
• Median Earnings for People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)
• Employment Rate for People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)
• Share of Persons with Disabilities Living in Poverty: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)
• Share of Homeless People with Disabilities: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
• Annual Cost of In-Home Services: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)Note: In-home, or homemaker services, include basic household assistance such as shopping, laundry, personal hygiene and meal preparation.
• Presence of CDC Funding for Disability & Health Programs: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of funding for disability and health programs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Presence of Public-Housing Waiting List for Seniors/People with Disabilities: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of public-housing waiting lists that are currently open for seniors and persons with disabilities. Public Housing is a federal program managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• Presence of “Disability Insurance” Programs: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)
• Presence of Employment First: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of employment first activity, executive order or legislation in a state. The Employment First Program facilitates inclusion of people with significant disabilities in the workplace, encouraging integrated employment as the first and preferred option for youth and adults with disabilities receiving assistance from publicly funded systems.

Quality of Life – Points: 33.33

• Share of People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~6.06 Points)
• Special-Education Teachers per 1,000 School-Aged People with Disabilities: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
• Graduation Rate for Students with Disabilities: Half* Weight (~1.52 Points)
• Wheelchair-Accessible Restaurants per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
• Wheelchair-Accessible Grocery Stores per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
• Wheelchair-Accessible Art, Entertainment & Recreational Establishments per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
• Wheelchair-Accessible Trails per Capita**: Half* Weight (~1.52 Points)
• Share of Population with Walkable Park Access: Half Weight (~1.52 Points)
• Walkability: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
• Effectiveness of State Medicaid Programs: Full* Weight (~3.03 Points)Note: This metric is based on the annual ranking of how well state Medicaid programs serve Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD).
• Share of Young Buildings: Half Weight (~1.52 Points)Note: This metric considers the difficulty in making older buildings accessible and accounts for buildings built in 2000 or later.
• Share of Accessible Homes Listed on Redfin.com: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)

Health Care – Points: 33.33

• Cost of Doctor Visit: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)
• Average Per-Person Health-Insurance Premium: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Family Doctors & General Practitioners per Capita: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)
• Occupational Therapists per Capita: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)
• Home Health Aides & Personal Care Aides per Capita: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)Note: Home health aides and personal care aides help people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or cognitive impairment by assisting in their daily living activities.
• WalletHub “Doctors” Ranking: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)
• WalletHub “Nurses” Ranking: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Hospitals per Capita: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Quality of Public Hospital System: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Share of Uninsured Population: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)

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 Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Education Statistics, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Trust For Public Land, Genworth Financial, United Cerebral Palsy, APSE - Association of People Supporting Employment First, WalkScore, Yelp, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Affordable Housing Online, Kaiser Family Foundation, Eligibility.com, Redfin and WalletHub research.

Image: Spotmatik Ltd / Shutterstock.com

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