The AARP Livability Index™ Platform

The Livability Index is a signature initiative of the Public Policy Institute to measure the quality of life in American communities across multiple dimensions.

April 17, 2025 · 1 min · 176 words · Nicole Phillips

See a full list of benefits and explore all that AARP membership offers.

A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Thefree, online toolhelps users better understand their communities and make decisions about future needs.

The platform may be used in a number of ways.

Housing

A county executive wants to know how to meet the housing needs of older adults.

Transportation

The director of a nonprofit organization wants to show the need for transportation services in the community.

A health official is interested in exploring how the built environment may influence health.

Neighborhood

Mary has a 15-year old son and is a caregiver to her father.

Yet, paradoxically, sprawl continues.

Those are just a few of the compelling trends highlighted in analysis of data from the 2018 Livability IndexTMplatform.

Is This a Good Place to Live?

![Article image](https://aarp.widen.net/content/sd5kwy7xni/jpeg/GettyImages-1308438709.jpg?crop=true&anchor=268,386&q=80&color=ffffffff&u=hg9ney&w=1601&h=920&credit=Getty Images)

illustration of U.S. map with trees, buildings, and house images

‘Comparing Scores’ text next to 3 scales showing sample scores for US locations

‘AARP Livability Index: mapping your location’ text surrounded by 4 illustrations of buildings, trees, cars

‘Customize Your Score’ text next to 3 small illustrated images and sample score indexes

Preparing Homes for Life’s Changes

![Mature people getting onto bus, City Street, Transportation, Public Policy Institute, AARP, Livable Communities](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/aarpe/en/home/pri/topics/livable-communities/livability-index/_jcr_content/root/container_main/container_marquee_co/container_marquee_100/container/featuredlist/tabItem/ppi2.coreimg.75.932.jpeg/content/dam/aarp/ppi/Liveable Communities/1140-livable-communities-transportation-bus.jpg)

![Bicyclists, road, Jacksonville, Florida, Travel patterns, Transportation, Public Policy Institute, Livable Communitiies](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/aarpe/en/home/pri/topics/livable-communities/livability-index/_jcr_content/root/container_main/container_marquee_co/container_marquee_100/container/featuredlist/tabItem/ppi3.coreimg.75.932.jpeg/content/dam/aarp/ppi/Liveable Communities/1140-livable-communities-travel-patterns-jacksonville.jpg)

![smiling woman riding a bike](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/aarpe/en/home/pri/topics/livable-communities/livability-index/_jcr_content/root/container_main/container_marquee_co/container_marquee_100/container/featuredlist/tabItem/ppi4.coreimg.75.932.jpeg/content/dam/aarp/ppi/Liveable Communities/GettyImages-831540980copy.jpg)