Posted by: Adam McCann

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

According to the Social Security Administration, one in five Americans lives with a disability, and one in 10 has a severe disability. Managing poor health can be quite expensive, considering the high cost of U.S. health care. To add insult to injury, disability checks for most beneficiaries are insufficient for monthly living expenses — let alone disability-related costs. “At the beginning of 2015, Social Security paid an average monthly disability benefit of $1,165” according to the SSA. “That is barely enough to keep a beneficiary above the 2014 poverty level ($11,670 annually).”

Although disability benefits can increase based on inflation, many people with disabilities rely on low cost of living and wages for financial relief. In 2016, nearly 5.4 million people with disabilities were employed. But the unemployment rate for this group has risen in recent years, concerning those who hope to earn a living in order to cover the shortfall in income.

With the physical and economic challenges of managing a disability in mind, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 150 most populated cities across 28 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	Total Score	‘Economy’ Rank	‘Quality of Life’ Rank	‘Health Care’ Rank
1	Overland Park, KS	61.91	3	57	5
2	Grand Rapids, MI	58.49	73	39	1
3	Denver, CO	58.18	82	12	12
4	Salt Lake City, UT	57.32	69	29	7
5	Aurora, CO	57.18	29	34	17
6	St. Louis, MO	56.76	116	17	6
7	Chicago, IL	56.42	100	10	31
8	Chandler, AZ	56.18	4	51	95
9	Amarillo, TX	56.02	6	90	42
10	Kansas City, MO	55.99	56	32	15
11	Louisville, KY	55.91	49	81	4
12	St. Petersburg, FL	55.87	5	88	54
13	Seattle, WA	55.78	121	9	23
14	Sioux Falls, SD	55.76	59	52	9
15	St. Paul, MN	55.49	79	27	14
16	Virginia Beach, VA	55.15	2	126	36
17	Pembroke Pines, FL	54.85	1	142	33
18	Cincinnati, OH	54.83	70	22	40
19	Milwaukee, WI	54.49	93	59	3
20	Minneapolis, MN	54.48	132	15	13
21	Colorado Springs, CO	54.46	54	65	19
22	Des Moines, IA	54.32	66	103	2
23	Toledo, OH	54.31	63	42	27
24	Huntington Beach, CA	54.27	48	44	47
25	New York, NY	54.18	97	1	150
26	Tempe, AZ	54.04	10	50	108
27	Tampa, FL	53.99	51	36	52
28	Chesapeake, VA	53.96	8	130	39
29	Jacksonville, FL	53.91	14	113	29
30	Columbus, OH	53.90	26	45	73
31	Baltimore, MD	53.79	119	18	21
32	Peoria, AZ	53.62	16	56	100
33	Sacramento, CA	53.42	103	14	70
34	Fort Lauderdale, FL	53.37	27	78	50
35	Lincoln, NE	53.30	80	69	10
36	Lubbock, TX	53.28	21	136	11
37	Grand Prairie, TX	53.24	7	147	64
38	Miami, FL	53.21	99	13	87
39	Cleveland, OH	53.18	108	16	66
40	Wichita, KS	53.17	35	62	68
41	Scottsdale, AZ	53.16	18	54	100
42	Glendale, AZ	53.08	13	47	119
43	Lexington-Fayette, KY	53.02	36	94	26
44	San Francisco, CA	52.96	146	2	86
45	San Diego, CA	52.90	125	7	92
46	Detroit, MI	52.83	130	21	16
47	Indianapolis, IN	52.82	67	71	22
48	Portland, OR	52.81	112	6	113
49	Laredo, TX	52.72	45	106	30
50	Washington, DC	52.52	147	3	51
51	Little Rock, AR	52.37	37	118	20
52	Plano, TX	52.21	9	141	32
53	Pittsburgh, PA	51.98	106	24	57
54	Irvine, CA	51.93	86	49	38
55	Reno, NV	51.87	11	87	114
56	Newport News, VA	51.86	25	120	48
57	Madison, WI	51.81	77	73	28
58	Austin, TX	51.69	44	68	78
59	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	51.66	30	64	112
60	Phoenix, AZ	51.57	41	30	125
61	Philadelphia, PA	51.50	128	8	110
62	Honolulu, HI	51.25	131	11	83
63	Albuquerque, NM	51.24	91	111	8
64	Fort Worth, TX	51.09	20	125	58
65	Arlington, TX	51.01	12	140	53
66	Akron, OH	50.98	64	79	55
67	Columbus, GA	50.94	33	105	67
68	Nashville, TN	50.85	52	83	74
69	Orlando, FL	50.84	68	40	97
70	Omaha, NE	50.81	101	74	25
71	Buffalo, NY	50.49	92	19	129
72	Augusta, GA	50.44	19	124	90
73	Houston, TX	50.37	38	100	75
74	Tallahassee, FL	50.34	58	137	24
75	Los Angeles, CA	50.27	149	5	84
76	Oakland, CA	50.15	144	4	107
77	Boise, ID	50.08	55	143	18
78	Fremont, CA	50.06	47	97	77
79	Gilbert, AZ	50.00	50	89	94
80	Dallas, TX	49.86	32	108	82
81	Stockton, CA	49.80	122	38	44
82	Aurora, IL	49.78	57	138	34
83	Garland, TX	49.67	23	145	76
84	Las Vegas, NV	49.63	40	61	130
85	Springfield, MO	49.58	111	55	43
86	Riverside, CA	49.49	53	63	123
87	Corpus Christi, TX	49.40	17	133	81
88	Port St. Lucie, FL	49.37	65	116	60
89	Spokane, WA	49.05	87	91	59
90	Tacoma, WA	49.01	107	75	49
91	San Antonio, TX	48.94	60	115	61
92	Glendale, CA	48.87	138	26	56
93	Ontario, CA	48.85	42	86	127
94	Richmond, VA	48.74	136	53	35
95	Tucson, AZ	48.73	94	31	122
96	Anaheim, CA	48.59	113	46	71
97	Jersey City, NJ	48.48	98	20	140
98	El Paso, TX	48.45	39	131	85
99	Mesa, AZ	48.43	71	67	118
100	Fort Wayne, IN	48.29	88	107	41
101	Irving, TX	48.05	31	148	69
102	Santa Clarita, CA	48.05	110	93	46
103	Chula Vista, CA	47.84	105	70	89
104	Raleigh, NC	47.77	61	84	126
105	Norfolk, VA	47.76	75	128	45
106	Memphis, TN	47.73	62	95	115
107	Rochester, NY	47.64	123	37	96
108	Henderson, NV	47.41	34	134	109
109	New Orleans, LA	47.03	126	60	79
110	Montgomery, AL	47.03	15	127	144
111	Fresno, CA	46.96	134	41	91
112	Jackson, MS	46.95	24	150	37
113	Oceanside, CA	46.95	104	82	99
114	Oklahoma City, OK	46.84	81	129	65
115	Hialeah, FL	46.77	78	104	106
116	Garden Grove, CA	46.69	135	66	62
117	Anchorage, AK	46.48	28	99	148
118	Santa Ana, CA	46.23	127	58	102
119	Moreno Valley, CA	46.11	72	101	128
T-120	Long Beach, CA	46.05	150	28	62
T-120	Vancouver, WA	46.05	124	92	72
122	Atlanta, GA	45.97	139	33	98
123	North Las Vegas, NV	45.86	22	146	134
124	Boston, MA	45.77	145	25	103
125	Fontana, CA	45.66	76	109	124
126	Charlotte, NC	45.65	46	119	137
127	San Jose, CA	45.65	140	35	104
128	Yonkers, NY	45.41	85	43	149
129	Modesto, CA	45.28	118	76	116
130	Worcester, MA	44.75	129	80	111
131	Durham, NC	44.31	74	110	138
132	Tulsa, OK	44.29	96	117	117
133	Oxnard, CA	44.22	109	77	139
134	Birmingham, AL	44.21	95	98	136
135	Huntsville, AL	44.17	43	135	141
136	Knoxville, TN	43.88	102	122	120
137	Bakersfield, CA	43.67	114	85	135
138	Mobile, AL	43.66	90	112	142
139	Chattanooga, TN	43.65	89	123	131
140	Santa Rosa, CA	43.53	142	48	121
141	Cape Coral, FL	43.35	115	139	93
142	Fayetteville, NC	43.18	83	114	146
143	Baton Rouge, LA	42.81	137	102	105
144	Shreveport, LA	42.58	120	149	88
145	Newark, NJ	42.13	148	23	147
146	Brownsville, TX	42.05	133	144	80
147	Winston-Salem, NC	41.64	84	132	145
148	Providence, RI	41.57	143	72	132
149	Greensboro, NC	40.60	117	121	143
150	San Bernardino, CA	40.51	141	96	133

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 use government programs? How can they be overcome?
• In evaluating the best cities for people with disabilities, what are the top five indicators?
• What effect will the recent reforms to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) proposed by Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney have on people with disabilities?
• 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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• Esther Isabelle Wilder Ph.D., Professor, Department of Sociology, Lehman College, The City University of New York (CUNY)
• Theo Braddy CEO, Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania; Adjunct Professor at Millersville University

Methodology

To determine the most livable places for people with disabilities, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 150 most populated cities across three key dimensions: 1) Economy, 2) Quality of Life and 3) Health Care.

We evaluated those dimensions using 28 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 total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the cities in 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 (~3.03 Points)
• Cost of Living: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
• Median Earnings for People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~6.06 Points)
• Employment Rate for People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~6.06 Points)
• Share of Persons with Disabilities Living Below Poverty Level: Double Weight (~6.06 Points)
• Share of Homeless People with Disabilities: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
• Annual Cost of In-Home Services: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
• Presence of CDC Funding for Disability & Health Programs: Half* Weight (~1.52 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 (~1.52 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.

Quality of Life – Points: 33.33

• Share of People with Disabilities: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
• Special-Education Teachers per 1,000 School-Aged People with Disabilities: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
• Graduation Rate for Students with Disabilities: Half Weight (~2.08 Points)
• Wheelchair-Accessible Restaurants per Capita**: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
• Wheelchair-Accessible Grocery Stores per Capita**: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
• Wheelchair-Accessible Trails per Capita**: Half* Weight (~2.08 Points)
• Share of Population with Walkable Park Access: Half Weight (~2.08 Points)
• Walkability: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
• Effectiveness of State Medicaid Programs: Full Weight (~4.17 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 (~2.08 Points)Note: This metric considers the difficulty in making older buildings accessible and accounts for buildings built in 2000 or later.

Health Care – Points: 33.33

• Cost of Doctor Visit: Full Weight (~4.76 Points)
• Average Per-Person Health-Insurance Premium: Half* Weight (~2.38 Points)
• Family Doctors & General Practitioners per Capita: Full Weight (~4.76 Points)
• Occupational Therapists per Capita: Full Weight (~4.76 Points)
• WalletHub “Doctors” Ranking: Half* Weight (~2.38 Points)
• WalletHub “Nurses” Ranking: Half* Weight (~2.38 Points)
• Hospitals per Capita: Half* Weight (~2.38 Points)
• Quality of Public Hospital System: Half* Weight (~2.38 Points)
• Share of Uninsured Population: Full Weight (~4.76 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, WalkScore, Yelp, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Affordable Housing Online, Kaiser Family Foundation and WalletHub research.

Image: Spotmatik Ltd / Shutterstock.com

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