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Rating the Region

Metropolitan Indicators Report

Product No.: 16010

Date Published: 6/2016

Pages: 118



View/Download PDF [36.1 MB]

If you would like to request a printed copy (or copies) of this product, please call DVRPC at 215-592-1800 or email the staff contact listed below. If you would like to request this publication or portion of this publication in another language or format, please fill out a request form.

Geographic Area Covered: The nation’s 25 largest metropolitan statistical areas (New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; Dallas-Fort Worth; Houston; Philadelphia; Washington, DC; Miami; Atlanta; Boston; San Francisco; Phoenix; Riverside-San Bernardino; Detroit; Seattle; Minneapolis-St. Paul; San Diego; Tampa; St. Louis; Baltimore; Denver; Charlotte; Pittsburgh; Portland; and San Antonio) plus the Trenton-Ewing MSA.

Abstract: This report compares 26 metropolitan areas in terms of demographics, natural resources and the environment; livable communities; the economy; and transportation. The Philadelphia region’s strengths include its diverse economy; relatively affordable housing, myriad of colleges, universities, and cultural opportunities; health care resources; extensive highway and transit network; and quality air and port facilities. These strengths, however, threaten to be checked by regional challenges, including urban concentrations of poverty and unemployment; low labor force participation; disparately low educational attainment in its cities; an aging population; and fragmented local government. The challenge facing the region is identifying how to capitalize and build on its strengths while recognizing and working to resolve its identified weaknesses.

Key Words: Metropolitan statistical area (MSA), demographics, livable communities, the economy, transportation, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, dependency, educational attainment, income, housing, affordability, parks, air quality, clean jobs, safety, health care, arts, recreation, governance, employment, income, real estate, gross domestic product, exports, innovation, internet access, commuting, congestion, transit, maritime trade, aviation.

Staff Contact(s)

Brett Fusco (bfusco@dvrpc.org)