Adam McCann, Financial Writer

Oct 9, 2019

When searching for a new home, people with disabilities often have a longer and more complicated list of considerations compared with other individuals. In addition to common wish-list items, such as reliable public transportation and diverse entertainment options, people with disabilities also must think about things like the accessibility of facilities or even the cleanliness of the air.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four U.S. adults, or 61 million total, have a disability that impacts their major activities. And among Americans age 65 and older, that number rises to two in five. Keeping up with the costs of a disability can be very expensive. The average monthly Social Security disability benefit as of July 2018 was only $1,103.68. That makes a yearly income of $13,244.16, only a few hundred dollars above the federal poverty line for a single individual at $12,490.

Although disability benefits can increase based on inflation, many people with disabilities rely on low cost of living and wages for financial relief. In 2018, over 5.7 million people with disabilities were employed. Naturally, though, a far lower share of people with disabilities is able to work compared to the share of people with no major health issues.

With the physical and economic challenges of managing a disability in mind, WalletHub compared more than 180 most populated cities across 33 key indicators of disability-friendliness. Our data set ranges from physicians per capita to rate of workers with disabilities to park accessibility. Read on for our findings, expert insight from a panel of researchers and a full description of our methodology.

Main Findings

In the overall ranking below, readers who are particularly interested in the best places to live on disability income should focus on the “Economy” category. Likewise, those who place a higher premium on quality of medical care should focus on the “Health Care” category.



Best & Worst Cities for People with Disabilities

Overall Rank

(1 = Best) City Overall Score ‘Economy’ Rank ‘Quality of Life’ Rank ‘Health Care’ Rank 1 South Burlington, VT 56.64 2 32 53 2 Scottsdale, AZ 55.37 9 43 24 3 St. Louis, MO 55.37 126 9 14 4 Minneapolis, MN 55.06 149 18 3 5 San Francisco, CA 54.10 157 2 92 6 Overland Park, KS 53.93 1 172 7 7 Denver, CO 53.58 88 19 31 8 Grand Rapids, MI 53.07 96 30 17 9 St. Paul, MN 52.63 147 51 2 10 Columbia, MD 52.61 22 94 16 11 Pittsburgh, PA 52.24 116 23 32 12 Huntington Beach, CA 52.23 17 64 48 13 Portland, OR 52.14 173 1 100 14 Chandler, AZ 51.83 15 97 30 15 Albuquerque, NM 51.74 110 57 12 16 Gilbert, AZ 51.50 18 116 28 17 Baltimore, MD 51.46 152 21 26 18 New York, NY 51.27 135 3 148 19 St. Petersburg, FL 51.16 11 58 107 20 Omaha, NE 51.05 86 72 18 21 Nashua, NH 50.99 99 47 27 22 Kansas City, MO 50.96 38 74 40 23 Tucson, AZ 50.93 123 15 73 24 Cleveland, OH 50.71 161 12 44 25 Lewiston, ME 50.71 159 77 1 26 Milwaukee, WI 50.60 144 65 6 27 Peoria, AZ 50.56 32 112 29 28 Philadelphia, PA 50.44 166 6 75 29 Springfield, MO 50.38 92 52 37 30 San Diego, CA 50.37 106 14 121 31 Virginia Beach, VA 50.34 3 87 133 32 Columbus, OH 50.31 27 37 125 33 Tampa, FL 50.23 31 46 105 34 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 50.22 4 92 118 35 Tempe, AZ 50.21 61 69 41 36 Irvine, CA 50.19 90 48 43 37 Toledo, OH 50.19 73 38 80 38 Los Angeles, CA 50.16 172 5 95 39 Chicago, IL 50.11 148 13 83 40 Seattle, WA 49.91 171 7 59 41 Sioux Falls, SD 49.88 98 118 8 42 Las Vegas, NV 49.76 69 17 150 43 Orlando, FL 49.66 66 31 113 44 Glendale, CA 49.58 137 24 61 45 Colorado Springs, CO 49.54 68 82 33 46 San Antonio, TX 49.53 49 76 57 47 Santa Clarita, CA 49.35 47 96 50 48 Des Moines, IA 49.34 53 124 20 49 Lincoln, NE 49.30 75 88 34 50 Sacramento, CA 49.26 117 20 109 51 Portland, ME 49.25 156 55 15 52 Madison, WI 49.21 77 70 51 52 Salt Lake City, UT 49.21 105 26 102 54 Las Cruces, NM 49.18 111 158 4 55 Fort Lauderdale, FL 48.95 93 33 106 56 Lexington-Fayette, KY 48.85 81 71 54 57 Austin, TX 48.79 41 45 132 58 Washington, DC 48.75 180 4 72 58 Manchester, NH 48.75 101 40 88 60 Cedar Rapids, IA 48.71 42 150 25 61 Buffalo, NY 48.64 87 28 129 62 Glendale, AZ 48.63 56 91 47 63 Boise, ID 48.59 120 135 5 64 Bismarck, ND 48.56 71 161 11 65 Jacksonville, FL 48.51 14 129 87 66 Miami, FL 48.47 139 11 145 67 Oakland, CA 48.43 170 8 108 68 Little Rock, AR 48.40 51 134 35 69 Spokane, WA 48.39 109 63 52 70 Mesa, AZ 48.31 70 89 46 71 Vancouver, WA 48.24 131 35 91 72 Akron, OH 48.19 64 78 89 73 Laredo, TX 48.18 80 153 12 74 Reno, NV 48.14 58 62 101 75 Henderson, NV 47.97 13 123 112 76 Long Beach, CA 47.96 150 36 67 77 Louisville, KY 47.84 94 54 98 78 Billings, MT 47.79 54 163 21 79 Anaheim, CA 47.64 104 59 90 80 Riverside, CA 47.62 37 66 144 81 Charleston, WV 47.61 95 83 68 82 Indianapolis, IN 47.60 118 75 45 83 Phoenix, AZ 47.56 91 84 55 84 Aurora, CO 47.49 72 127 36 85 Cheyenne, WY 47.48 67 155 22 86 Plano, TX 47.37 7 168 63 87 Cincinnati, OH 47.37 132 25 128 88 Yonkers, NY 47.36 16 106 138 89 Raleigh, NC 47.35 30 113 103 90 Port St. Lucie, FL 47.35 12 166 77 91 Columbus, GA 47.34 89 105 65 92 Fargo, ND 47.22 107 137 23 93 Honolulu, HI 47.17 142 10 178 94 San Jose, CA 47.11 141 41 84 95 Boston, MA 46.86 179 27 49 96 Augusta, GA 46.78 102 130 38 97 Casper, WY 46.69 124 120 39 98 Fremont, CA 46.60 45 138 69 99 Charleston, SC 46.57 65 100 99 100 Oceanside, CA 46.52 43 108 120 101 Pembroke Pines, FL 46.49 20 169 81 102 Tulsa, OK 46.42 60 125 86 103 Salem, OR 46.40 136 67 74 104 Santa Ana, CA 46.36 125 44 117 105 Missoula, MT 46.28 167 95 19 106 Rochester, NY 46.22 155 22 141 107 Chesapeake, VA 46.22 5 147 126 108 Wichita, KS 46.20 44 148 79 109 West Valley City, UT 46.20 21 131 135 110 Tallahassee, FL 46.15 82 154 42 111 Corpus Christi, TX 46.09 25 165 64 112 Oklahoma City, OK 46.06 19 157 96 113 Fort Smith, AR 45.94 103 99 94 114 Lubbock, TX 45.87 46 145 85 115 Aurora, IL 45.49 36 170 82 116 Amarillo, TX 45.41 6 174 147 117 Durham, NC 45.40 79 121 97 118 Rapid City, SD 45.40 122 98 76 119 Atlanta, GA 45.38 176 16 136 120 Modesto, CA 45.31 48 81 173 121 Jersey City, NJ 45.27 130 68 114 121 Garden Grove, CA 45.27 121 109 66 123 Tacoma, WA 45.18 100 73 139 124 Pearl City, HI 45.14 23 115 172 125 Columbia, SC 44.93 133 104 78 126 Nampa, ID 44.90 163 162 9 127 Nashville, TN 44.86 113 86 116 128 Wilmington, DE 44.83 178 49 62 129 Jackson, MS 44.77 97 182 10 130 Richmond, VA 44.74 168 29 131 131 Fresno, CA 44.73 165 56 93 132 Ontario, CA 44.71 39 128 155 133 Grand Prairie, TX 44.64 10 180 123 134 Houston, TX 44.53 62 114 143 135 Baton Rouge, LA 44.50 162 85 70 136 Warwick, RI 44.44 26 136 168 137 Fort Worth, TX 44.23 35 146 142 138 Detroit, MI 44.21 177 53 71 139 New Orleans, LA 44.16 154 50 137 140 Stockton, CA 44.01 127 61 159 141 Newark, NJ 44.01 158 42 151 142 El Paso, TX 43.98 34 160 127 143 Dallas, TX 43.92 78 93 167 144 Huntington, WV 43.87 174 39 110 145 Anchorage, AK 43.78 24 152 175 146 Burlington, VT 43.68 181 34 60 147 Shreveport, LA 43.56 129 151 58 148 Fontana, CA 43.38 40 149 156 149 Bakersfield, CA 43.30 50 103 181 150 Santa Rosa, CA 43.20 143 79 134 151 Chula Vista, CA 43.19 114 126 119 152 Arlington, TX 43.15 33 177 122 153 Newport News, VA 43.11 63 133 153 154 Dover, DE 43.07 128 117 124 155 Brownsville, TX 43.00 134 164 56 156 Cape Coral, FL 42.92 57 141 158 157 Oxnard, CA 42.92 83 111 171 158 Chattanooga, TN 42.75 153 60 162 159 Fort Wayne, IN 42.68 145 110 115 160 Charlotte, NC 42.62 85 132 157 161 Knoxville, TN 42.57 151 80 146 162 Hialeah, FL 42.50 76 142 149 163 North Las Vegas, NV 42.48 52 156 154 164 Fayetteville, NC 42.38 84 139 164 165 Moreno Valley, CA 42.22 74 144 161 166 Memphis, TN 42.09 138 101 160 167 Irving, TX 41.99 28 179 140 168 Garland, TX 41.81 29 178 152 169 Worcester, MA 41.69 164 119 111 170 San Bernardino, CA 41.57 140 107 165 171 Greensboro, NC 41.52 55 159 169 172 Montgomery, AL 41.46 59 171 170 173 Juneau, AK 41.31 8 181 182 174 Birmingham, AL 40.33 146 143 130 175 Norfolk, VA 40.08 160 122 163 176 Mobile, AL 39.66 108 167 179 177 Huntsville, AL 39.05 112 173 176 178 Gulfport, MS 38.64 119 176 174 179 New Haven, CT 38.41 182 102 104 180 Winston-Salem, NC 38.15 115 175 177 181 Bridgeport, CT 37.94 169 140 166 182 Providence, RI 37.93 175 90 180

Ask The Experts

Living with a disability can be both financially and physically burdensome. In light of these challenges, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

What are some unique financial challenges faced by people with disabilities, particularly those who rely on government assistance? How can they be overcome?

In evaluating the best cities for people with disabilities, what are the top five indicators?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was adopted nearly three decades ago. What 21st century improvements should be made, if any, to this important act?

What local policies and programs have proven effective in increasing inclusion of and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities?

Methodology

To determine the most livable places for people with disabilities, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Economy, 2) Quality of Life and 3) Health Care.

We evaluated those dimensions using 33 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for people with disabilities. Please note that data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only. For metrics marked with two asterisks (**), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the “city proper” in each case and excluded cities in the surrounding metro area.

Economy – Points: 33.33

Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)

Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Housing Costs (accounts for both rental and sale prices) / Median Annual Household Income.

Cost of Living: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)

Median Earnings for People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)

Employment Rate for People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)

Share of Persons with Disabilities Living in Poverty: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)

Share of Homeless People with Disabilities: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)

Annual Cost of In-Home Services: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)

Note: In-home, or homemaker services, include basic household assistance such as shopping, laundry, personal hygiene and meal preparation.

Presence of CDC Funding for Disability & Health Programs: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)

Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of funding for disability and health programs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Presence of Public-Housing Waiting List for Seniors/People with Disabilities: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)

Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of public-housing waiting lists that are currently open for seniors and persons with disabilities. Public Housing is a federal program managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Presence of “Disability Insurance” Programs: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)

Presence of Employment First: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)

Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of employment first activity, executive order or legislation in a state. The Employment First Program facilitates inclusion of people with significant disabilities in the workplace, encouraging integrated employment as the first and preferred option for youth and adults with disabilities receiving assistance from publicly funded systems.

Quality of Life – Points: 33.33

Share of People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~6.06 Points)

Special-Education Teachers per 1,000 School-Aged People with Disabilities: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)

Graduation Rate for Students with Disabilities: Half* Weight (~1.52 Points)

Wheelchair-Accessible Restaurants per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)

Wheelchair-Accessible Grocery Stores per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)

Wheelchair-Accessible Art, Entertainment & Recreational Establishments per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)

Wheelchair-Accessible Trails per Capita**: Half* Weight (~1.52 Points)

Share of Population with Walkable Park Access: Half Weight (~1.52 Points)

Walkability: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)

Effectiveness of State Medicaid Programs: Full* Weight (~3.03 Points)

Note: This metric is based on the annual ranking of how well state Medicaid programs serve Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD).

Share of Young Buildings: Half Weight (~1.52 Points)

Note: This metric considers the difficulty in making older buildings accessible and accounts for buildings built in 2000 or later.

Share of Accessible Homes Listed on Redfin.com: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)

Health Care – Points: 33.33

Cost of Doctor Visit: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)

Average Per-Person Health-Insurance Premium: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)

Family Doctors & General Practitioners per Capita: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)

Occupational Therapists per Capita: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)

Home Health Aides & Personal Care Aides per Capita: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)

Note: Home health aides and personal care aides help people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or cognitive impairment by assisting in their daily living activities.

WalletHub “Doctors” Ranking: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)

WalletHub “Nurses” Ranking: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)

Hospitals per Capita: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)

Quality of Public Hospital System: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)

Share of Uninsured Population: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)



Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Education Statistics, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Trust For Public Land, Genworth Financial, United Cerebral Palsy, APSE - Association of People Supporting Employment First, WalkScore, Yelp, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Affordable Housing Online, Kaiser Family Foundation, Eligibility.com, Redfin and WalletHub research.

Image: Spotmatik Ltd / Shutterstock.com

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