How Vancouver Compares?

Editor's Notes

1. The Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Quality of Life ranking assesses living conditions in 140 cities based on survey completed by regional specialists. It evaluates 30+ indicators in five main categories which includes Stability 25 per cent, Health Care 20 per cent, Education 10 per cent, Infrastructure 20 per cent (which includes quality of road network and public transport) Culture and Environment 25 per cent (which includes the indicators of recreation, sport and culture).“The Economist liveability ranking: Melbourne storm.” http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/08/liveability-ranking
2. Mercer’s Worldwide Quality of Living Survey compares 215 cities based on an annual survey of professionals working for multinational companies and regional specialists. The Index is derived from 39 quantitative 'quality of life determinants' in 10 individually weighted categories. Public services and Transportation being in a category on its own at thirteen per cent Recreation weighing in at nine per cent, and the Natural Environment six per cent. As Mercer is based in New York, they give their hometown a baseline score 100 and other cities are rated in comparison (their own rank is # 49). With the highest ranked city on the survey being Vienna, scoring a 108.6 and Baghdad, the lowest on the survey with a score of 13.5.“Mercer quality of living rnking highlights.” http://www.mercer.ca/articles/quality-of-living-survey-report-2011?siteLanguage=1007
3. Monocle is a global affairs magazine and website based in the United Kingdom. They are new to the Most Livable Cities survey, having only launched for the first time in 2007. Important criteria in their survey are safety and crime, international connectivity, climate/sunshine, quality of architecture, public transportation, tolerance, environmental issues and access to nature, urban design, business conditions, pro-active policy developments and medical care.Vancouver was at one point topping both the EIU and Mercer’s index. Even though it the city is no longer #1 it is still seen as one of the most desirable places to live in the world, at least from afar.City Economics: MONOCLE’S MOST LIVABLE CITIES INDEX 2012 http://cityeconomics.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/monocles-most-livable-cities-index-2012/
4. MoneySense – Canada’s Personal finance website compiled their 8th annual list of Best Places to Live in Canada. They looked at all the data they could find to name the communities that offer the best overall quality of life. This included high incomes, employment opportunities including employment opportunities in the arts, affordability rates, weather, crime rates, access to medical treatment and percentage of resident who bike to work.