Best Places To Live in the Best Places To Live in the United StatesUnited States

Brett Spencer, Reed Hogan and Jeffrey Brett Spencer, Reed Hogan and Jeffrey ParkPark

Why are some cities the best Why are some cities the best places to live?places to live?

►Different Criteria for Different Different Criteria for Different DemographicsDemographics Recent College GraduatesRecent College Graduates FamiliesFamilies

►Factors We ConsideredFactors We Considered Median AgeMedian Age Unemployment RateUnemployment Rate PopulationPopulation Number of BarsNumber of Bars Average TemperatureAverage Temperature Crime RateCrime Rate Percent of Population who are MarriedPercent of Population who are Married Number of Higher Education InstitutionsNumber of Higher Education Institutions

MotivationsMotivations

►College students face the decision of College students face the decision of where to live. where to live.

►A successfully descriptive model, which A successfully descriptive model, which estimates quality of life in various cities estimates quality of life in various cities for recent graduates, might help for recent graduates, might help students to approach that decision.students to approach that decision.

►As individuals age and begin to build a As individuals age and begin to build a family, their preferences change – family, their preferences change – affecting which cities are desirable to affecting which cities are desirable to live in.live in.

Expected Relations between Rankings and Expected Relations between Rankings and Independent VariablesIndependent Variables

Variable Recent College Graduates

Families

Median Age Positive Negative

Unemployment Rate Positive Positive

Population Negative Positive

Number of Bars with a 15 mile radius

Negative Positive

Average Annual Temperature

Negative Negative

Crime Rate Positive Positive

Percent of Population who are Married

Positive Negative

Number of Higher Education Institutions in the Area

Negative Negative

Monthly Rent Positive Negative

Multiple RegressionMultiple Regression

  Coeff. t StatP-

value

Intercept 58.31 2.13 0.04

Median age -0.68 -0.88 0.38

Unemployment rate 0.79 0.88 0.39

Number of bars -0.02 -2.21 0.03

Average temperature -0.62 -2.51 0.02

Coeff. t Stat P-value

47.74 1.62 0.11

-1.30 -1.99 0.06

0.67 0.81 0.42

0.03 2.35 0.03

0.02 0.08 0.93

Recent College Graduates Families

Multiple Regression ContinuedMultiple Regression Continued

  Coeff. t StatP-

value

Crime rate 0.86 1.88 0.07

Percent married 0.39 0.94 0.35

Colleges in the area -0.22 -0.96 0.35

Population Size

5.58E-06 1.26 0.22

Coeff. t Stat P-value

0.83 1.27 0.21

0.01 0.03 0.97

0.09 0.65 0.52

-9.96E-06 -3.05 0.00

Recent College Graduates Families

Validity Tests of Recent College Validity Tests of Recent College Grads RegressionGrads Regression

Validity Tests of Families Validity Tests of Families RegressionRegression

Is the Recent College Grad. Is the Recent College Grad. Regression Valid?Regression Valid?

ANOVA

  df SS MS F Significance F

Regression 8 2457.431268 307.1789085 3.314993323 0.007483385

Residual 31 2872.568732 92.66350747

Total 39 5330      

F.05,8,31=2.27

R.R: F>2.27

F-stat = 3.315 We can reject the null hypothesis.

H0 : B1 = B2 = B3 = … = B8

= 0

H1 : At least 1 Bi ≠ 0

Is the Family Preference Is the Family Preference Model Valid?Model Valid?

ANOVA

  df SS MS F Significance F

Regression 8 2037.104917 254.6381147 2.397216236 0.038535882

Residual 31 3292.895083 106.222422

Total 39 5330      

F.05,8,31=2.27

R.R: F>2.27

F-stat = 2.397

We can reject the null hypothesis.

H0 : B1 = B2 = B3 = … = B8

= 0

H1 : At least 1 Bi ≠ 0

ConclusionsConclusions► For recent college graduates, average annual For recent college graduates, average annual

temperature and availability of bars are significant temperature and availability of bars are significant predictors of quality of life in the top 40 cities.predictors of quality of life in the top 40 cities.

► As individuals begin to build a family, average annual As individuals begin to build a family, average annual temperature is no longer a significant variable. temperature is no longer a significant variable. Interestingly enough, however, the availability of bars, Interestingly enough, however, the availability of bars, remains significant, while the city’s population also remains significant, while the city’s population also becomes significantbecomes significant

Suggestion on Best Cities

1. New York, NY2. Chicago, IL3. San Francisco, CA4. Philadelphia, PA5. Miami, FL

1. Billings, MT2. Honolulu, HI3. Manchester, NH4. Virginia Beach, VA5. Springfield, IL

Recent College Grads Families