POLL: HOW WOULD YOU GRADE 'QUALITY OF LIFE' IN SAN ANTONIO?
SAN ANTONIO - TELL US: How would you grade 'Quality of Life' in San Antonio?
A recent study shows San Antonio as one of the worst cities in the country in terms of quality of life.
The study by LawnStarter ranked cities for quality of life based on 16 categories including; employment wages, life expectancy, unemployment rates, food security, workers' rights, and more.
Of 500 cities compared, San Antonio ranked 436.
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"People like being in places that are quiet, safe, and pleasant. In cities, that mostly means keeping cars out, since they are the main source of noise, air pollution, and physical danger," says Shalom Flank, PhD, and professor of Urban and Regional Planning at Georgetown University. "A low-density urban area that is entirely dependent on cars and highways will be congested and disconnected. People with cars will suffer from long commutes and the high cost of vehicle ownership; people without cars, because they can’t afford them or physically can’t drive them, will suffer from reduced employment opportunities and lack of community support."
The study showed that urban neighborhoods that provide the most happiness for residents typically include people-friendly streets that are narrow, tree-lined, and car-free. They are low in density but have enough residents and workers to support businesses. And offer a variety of public spaces for social activities, nature, and athletics.
San Antonio ranked in the bottom 20% in health and wellness, family and food security, leisure time, physical health, and employment protection. The city also ranked in the bottom half of comparable cities for air and water quality, housing and infrastructure, access to healthcare, mental health, economic stability, housing affordability, social and personal freedoms, and education.
See the 10 best and worst cities for quality of life in the Lone Star State.
According to Lawnstarter, residents in cities with lower quality of life often face challenges like poor air and water quality, limited healthcare services, and economic instability, which affects overall well-being.
RELATED: San Antonio ranks 104th in national health and wellness study
The city ranked with the highest quality of life is Redmond, Washington particularly because the city offers greater employment protections and plenty of social and personal freedoms.
You can make a positive impact on your health, air quality, and community by choosing active travel, planting trees, conserving energy, reducing waste, volunteering, and supporting local businesses.