Department of Internal Medicine

Department of Internal Medicine - News

Iowa City No. 1

If there is no place like home, then there is no place like Iowa City, which tops the 1999 Editor & Publisher Market Guide’s list of best metropolitan areas to live in the United States.

Iowa city and a handful of other college towns fill the top five spots in the rankings of the "Better Living" index, appearing for the first time in the 75th annual market guide.

Mary Gilchrist, a native Iowan who came home to rural Iowa City after spending 25 years in other parts of the nation, said she has lived in some lovely places but none better than Iowa City. From an educational standard, she said, it is wonderful.

"I’ve always been able to adapt to any situation, but I came back anyway," she said. "It’s really just a good home town."

Michael Gaye, research manager for Editor & Publisher, said the cost of living index, crime index and education levels were the three factors used to formulate the Better Living list. Education data included high school and college graduation rates. Iowa City also was listed as a top metropolitan area in high school graduates.

The scoring process weighed violent crimes only, purchasing power per dollar and achievement at the higher education level, said Thomas Dahlin, director of forecasting for Editor & Publisher. What made Iowa City No. 1 was the complementary interaction of the factors, he said.

The most recent graduation rate for City High School is 96%, 98% for West High and 100% for the Regina Education Center. About 50% of Iowa City residents have at least a four-year college degree compared to a statewide average of 17%.

Although Iowa City topped the 1999 list, Richard Estella, who has lived in Iowa City since 1965, said he misses the old days. He misses several structures that have since been removed to make way for growth and development. Estrella himself works in construction and helped build the Old Capitol Mall and many building at the University of Iowa.

"It used to be a peaceful town, but that’s changed," Estella said. "It’s turning more into a big city. They call it progress, but I think it’s going backwards."

Bill Bywater, chairman of the Iowa City Area Development Group board of directors, is elated with the news. It is very gratifying that a magazine of Editor & Publisher’s caliber has recognized the community, he said.

"ICAD and our citizens and many more have worked hard to tell our great story," Bywater said. "ICAD and I’m sure everyone else involved will work even harder to live up to the recognition."

John Beckord, president of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, said the ranking confirms what has been said all along – Iowa City is a high-quality place to live not only for families but for retirees who desire safe, enlighten places to retire. The data shows Iowa City still has a very competitive price structure for housing, he said.

"And it’s clear that we are an oasis in the state of Iowa concerning educational attainment," Beckord said.

Editor & Publisher included the Better Living index in the market guide this year because consumers wanted more relocation data. The company expanded its market guide from four to six sections.

The printed market guide includes rankings for all 315 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, the top 250 counties and top 250 daily newspaper cities in the country. A CD-ROM version extends the rankings to include every newspaper city and county. The guide is available now in libraries and on the Editor & Publisher Web site at www.mediainfo.com.

Editor & Publisher Co. is a 114-year-old company that publishes print and electronic periodicals and annual newspaper industry reference books.