BROOKINGS, S.D. — South Dakota is infamous for its cold, windy winters and open landscapes. To many outside the Midwest, it may be difficult to imagine living in South Dakota.
However, South Dakota offers great communities for people of all ages and is consistently highly ranked as a great place to age, explained Bethany Stoutamire, SDSU Extension Aging in Place Coordinator AmeriCorps VISTA Member.
Stoutamire pointed to a 2012 AARP survey which ranked Sioux Falls as the number one small metro to successfully age. Rapid City ranked 10th. In 2017, a MetLife Foundation report ranked Sioux Falls as the fifth best small metro to age in.
“These rankings are based on a variety of sources and is a conglomeration of traits,” Stoutamire explained.
Information based on AARP Livability Index. To learn more, visit https://livabilityindex.aarp.org/compare. (Courtesy of iGrow.org)For instance, the engagement index contains several metrics including broadband cost and speed, voting rate, and art and cultural institutions, among others.
“By being able to examine specific components, it makes it easier to see the areas where our communities excel and where they fall short,” she said. “This makes the livability index a valuable tool in determining where improvement is needed.”
To learn more, Stoutamire encouraged readers to check out the AARP Livability Index themselves by visiting https://livabilityindex.aarp.org/compare.
“Regardless of the size or demographics of our communities, there is always room for improvement,” Stoutamire said. “With passion, hard work, and resources at the tips of our fingertips, we can help make South Dakota an even better place to live.”
— SDSU Extension
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