Quality of life study: Live longer, prosper elsewhere

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BY PATRICK GUINANE
pguinane@nwitimes.com
317.637.9078 | Monday, July 28, 2008 | (27 comment(s))

INDIANAPOLIS | Northwest Indiana and the Hoosier state as a whole rank near the bottom third of the nation in a new measure of quality of life.

The nonprofit American Human Development project took United Nations methods for comparing the status of countries and used them to size up the states and individual congressional districts. Life expectancy, educational attainment and income data were used to the take the pulse of the populace.

"It's an imperfect measure, but it does tell a lot about a big population group (such as a congressional district)," said Kristen Lewis, the study's co-author. "It's a way to start a conversation about how people are doing."

Northwest Indiana's 1st Congressional District, which covers all of Lake, Jasper, Newton and Benton counties and all but the northeast corner of Porter County, placed 285th out of the 436 congressional districts.

The report found region residents live nearly two years shorter than the national average, earn $343 less a year and are nearly a third less likely to have a college degree. Put another way, Northwest Indiana offers a standard of life below what a majority of the nation had attained by 2000.

"It doesn't surprise me in the least," said Meg Haller, executive director of the Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council.

The council uses similar data to produce an annual report on the societal well-being of Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. Haller was surprised, however, to learn the new study suggests Northwest Indiana falls largely in line with the rest of the state.

Indiana ranks 33rd among states and Washington, D.C., compared with 14th for Illinois.

The study put Hoosier life expectancy at 76.9 years -- about six months better than Northwest Indiana but a year below the national average. Meanwhile, region residents earn about $500 more than the median annual Indiana income of $26,442.

"To me that says two things," Haller said. "One is we're not as extreme as we think we are. And, two, a lot of this must have to do with state policies, because if it was local differences that were causing disparities you would see it in these numbers."

On that front, Hoosiers have a choice this November. They can give Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels another four years to continue his efforts to improve the quality of life in Indiana or replace him with Democrat Jill Long Thompson.

"This is just the latest statistic to come out to show that Indiana is not going in the right direction," Long Thompson spokesman Jason Tomcsi said of Indiana's 33rd place ranking. "We saw the largest unemployment jump in the nation last month. The job situation is crucial to quality of life."

Daniels spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said "the governor has made job creation his highest priority," and he plans to build on the 65,000 job commitments and $15 billion in investment Indiana has secured since 2005. Daniels also has encouraged healthier living through his INShape Indiana program, and he pushed for a new health insurance program that has enrolled more than 18,000 low-income adults.

"With these programs and others, Governor Daniels wants to help Hoosiers live longer, better quality lives, collectively bring down health care costs and make Indiana more attractive to businesses," Jankowski said.

Tomcsi said Long Thompson's plans to seek health insurance pooling options for small business, invest in education and target job-creation incentives to struggling communities would do more to boost Indiana's collective well-being.

A new study by the nonprofit American Human Development Project uses life expectancy, educational attainment and income data to measure qualify of life in the states and the 436 congressional districts. Connecticut scored the highest state ranking, which the study authors say puts that state's quality of life 30 years ahead of last-place Mississippi. Both Indiana and Northwest Indiana (1st Congressional District) scored near the bottom third of the nation, meaning Hoosier quality of life still lags behind what a majority of the country had attained by 2000.

THE STATES (including the District of Columbia)
Rank State Life Expct Med. Income % with college degree
1 Connecticut 80.1 years $35,387 34.9 %
14 Illinois 78.1 $29,598 29.2
33 Indiana 76.9 $26,442 21.3
51 Mississippi 73.9 $22,042 18.7

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS (Out of 436)

Rank District Life expct Median income % w/ College degree
129 5, Indiana 77.8 yrs $31,995 34.0%
162 2, Illinois 77.9 $28,588 21.2
191 4, Indiana 77.7 $27,492 25.1
197 11, Illinois 78.3 $28,025 21.2
271 3, Indiana 78.0 $26,800 19.8
285 1, Indiana 76.2 $26,956 19.2
287 9, Indiana 76.9 $25,447 17.3
317 2, Indiana 77.1 $25,524 17.7
319 6, Indiana 76.6 $24,387 16.9
335 7, Indiana 75.5 $25,527 22.1
341 8, Indiana 76.5 $24,505 17.5

NATIONAL AVERAGES

Year Life Expct Med. Income % w/ College degree
2005 77.9 yrs $27,299 27.2%
2000 77.0 $27,382 24.4
1990 75.4 $23,164 20.3
1980 73.7 $21,432 16.2
1970 70.8 $20,613 10.7

Source: American Human Development Project, 2008-09 report

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nlb wrote on Jul 28, 2008 9:43 PM:

" A couple of things. I've lived all over the midwest and the taxes, particularly property taxes, in Indiana are lower than most of our neighboring areas. IL taxes are horrible, Wisc is much worse than here.. Sure, nobody wants to pay more taxes than they have to, but quit being so myopic.
As another person said earlier, to lump Valpo and Chesterton (more progressive) in with Gary and Hammond (depressed and corrup) is ridiculous.
NWI needs to eliminate some of the borders. Go to more of a Unigov type of arrangment in Lake County. At least we would cut out the number of corrupt officials. "

Bonnie wrote on Jul 28, 2008 8:38 PM:

" I plan to relocate here from the northwest side of Chicago. Cook County, Chicago, and Illinois governments are the most corrupt in the country - think of Todd Stroger and Cook County's highest tax rates in the US! Gas prices! Overbuilding (especially condos) so that it takes you 45 minutes to go 3 miles. People who look down on Hoosiers, Christians, those who believe in the 2nd amendment, yet aren't smart enough to put a battery in a smoke detector, nor drive a car (because they're all yapping on their phones). I am middle-aged but educated with a Master's, however the drunken, self-centered overeducated/common-sense deprived yuppies are insufferable... I could go on and on and on... Suffice it to say, I am choosing to come here. "

I Wonder wrote on Jul 28, 2008 5:04 PM:

" Could it be that so many of the residents in NWI are uneducated, overweight, lazy, and dependent on welfare and other state programs to carry them. They still smoke (after all the warnings and mortality stats), elect politicians without knowing what they represent, complain about everything but do nothing to change themselves, spend money on cigarettes, alcohol, fireworks, and SUVs, and rarely help others in need. It is a selfish area. "

WJOB is right wrote on Jul 28, 2008 4:14 PM:

" This area is the MOST corrupt and polluted area in the United States of America!!

Look at who we have as "leaders" - Spiros Batistatos, Tom Philpot, Christine Cid, Anthony Higgs, George Pabey, Rich Medina, Myrna Maldonado, Charlie Brown, Mike Brown, Frank Mrvan Sr., Chet Dobis, Pete Visclosky, Evan Bayh, Bobby Cantrell, etc. - all examples of poor leaders and why we're heading in the direction we have been heading - downward. "

Mike wrote on Jul 28, 2008 4:13 PM:

" I moved to Nevada 11 years ago, and never had any regrets. Grew up in Hammond, lived there for 24 years before finally moving out west. "

Duh wrote on Jul 28, 2008 3:08 PM:

" Did you miss something here?

Th 1st Congressional District has been a DEMOCRATIC stronghold for a VERY long time. The Republicans have not controlled this district so you can't blame them for the results of inept leadership.

By the way, Democrats have held the seat since 1930 - Pete since 1984. "

JDub wrote on Jul 28, 2008 1:59 PM:

" Take Gary, East Chicago, and Hammond out of the picture and I'd bet the area would have done a lot better in these "rankings". Another thing, we can't blame this on republican presidents no more than we can blame it on the democrats who are currently running this area into the ground...i.e Rudy Clay and his "non-violent" city. "

Jamie wrote on Jul 28, 2008 1:48 PM:

" Quality of Life = Clean Air and Water. Daniels has sacrificed both in the name of jobs; allowing BP to pollute even more, steels mills, CAFOs...the list is disgustingly long. A governor with "integrity" would take action against allowing more pollution, and would instead work hard to attract businesses that won't spew pollution into the very environment you and I rely on to live. Indiana ranked sixth in the 2005 EPA Toxics Release Inventory. This is Daniels legacy. For the people that vote for him, remember your actions when you or someone you love is diagnosed with cancer or breathing problems. "

Hoosier wrote on Jul 28, 2008 1:41 PM:

" I had to laugh at the comment from "educated thinker". How can you call yourself "educated", when there are misspelled words and poor grammar in your post? As for the "quality of life" in NW Indiana, I lived in the Milwaukee area for 13 years and can attest to their quality of life. Talk about a progressive area! Great highway system, great urban planning, and that area knows how to take advantage of the Lake Michigan lakefront. This area can become something special, if people would come together as one and stop fighting all the proposed improvements (South Shore expansion and South County highway). Progress is inevitable. I agree with ambiguous metrics - this study is very misleading. How can you compare Chesterton, Valparaiso, and other communities that are above the national averages to Gary, Hammond, and East Chicago that are well below national averages? "

geronimo wrote on Jul 28, 2008 12:50 PM:

" Kristen Lewis is correct in that the study IS an imperfect measure and is a way to way to get people talking. Unfortunately, may of our self-serving politicians are taking this as an opportunity to tear each other down. I voted against the govenor in the first election, but will vote for him for reelection. Even though we don't rank in the top percentiles, I think he has integrity and a good vision for the state and with the cooperation of other law makers will eventually improve our standard of living. NWI sucks because of the continuum of greedy, crooked local politicians at all levels. "

CJ Dunnaway wrote on Jul 28, 2008 12:14 PM:

" Hmmm. Ha-ha! Uh-huh. Yup. Go figure! "

Intellegence wrote on Jul 28, 2008 12:12 PM:

" I'VE SAID IT ONCE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN "DOWN WITH ALL REPUBLICANS!!". YOU PEOPLE WANT THE COUNTRY AND THIS STATE TO KEEP TAKING A DIVE THEN REVOTE THE REPUBLICANS BACK IN OFFICE. STUPID. ABSOLUTELY STUPID! "

NWI Resident wrote on Jul 28, 2008 11:47 AM:

" Okay, so we've had a democrat representing us for 20+ years in this district and yet our quality if life is still this bad? Seems there would be no logic in electing another democrat to "help" with the situation. Entrusting your quality of life to any politician is pure folly - they take your income through taxes, dumb down your schools to the lowest common denominator, and have no interest in seeing high-paying jobs in the oil and steel industry go away. Until each of you make a commitment to healthier choices, demanding and acting for efficient government, and educating yourself, you will be subjects not citizens. "

Resident Rich wrote on Jul 28, 2008 10:54 AM:

" Wow, what a great statement ambiguous metrics! I am in full agreement and see evidence of high quality of life all over the region. I really wish everyone would open their eyes and realize how great many areas of the region really are. Although a lot of weight is placed on the income and education levels of the population in this QoL study, this can be rather misleading since these are merely averages across a large geography. Although poverty can be found in many areas, Lake and Porter county also have some of the wealthiest towns in the midwest with highly educated residents. "

educated thinker wrote on Jul 28, 2008 10:20 AM:

" Well if Indiana wasnt filled with bigots and racism, maybe people could work together to push for more money. Look at Milwaukee, multicultural pot of the U.S, doing well and expanding. You fools so self centered and self absorbed in your on yards that you forget the grand design of community building, stop worring what a person looks like and put ideas together to have a coucil within your community who would push and focus your demands to be heard in order to raise funds, bring jobs, and cut spending. Complaining about multicultualizm in the community only means that your quality of life still hasnt move from caveman status. So premitive "

Doofus wrote on Jul 28, 2008 10:06 AM:

" Well, "BP and Mittal Steel" you are, of course, right, but we can AT LEAST begin to recognize the problems reather than living in denial by enforcing and making more strict the rules regarding the amounts of poison those companies put into our air and water. We can at least begin to develop sane and SUSTAINABLE economies as we look to the future, instead of continuing to pave over every open space in order to satisfy developers' greed in their lunatic drive to mallify NW Indiana. We can develop an economy that doesn't solely rely on fossil fuel transportation like focusing on current downtown revitalization and creating bike and walking pathways for people so they can safely walk or ride to shop there. I'm just sayin'... "

of the past wrote on Jul 28, 2008 9:58 AM:

" If you fairy tale voters are really going to say ''See what happens when 28 out of the past 40 years have had republican presidents'' DON'T FORGET TO ADD the thieving, greedy, worthless DEMOCRAT politicians we constantly get saddled with around here. They have a lot more to do with the conditions here....They created it. "

To BP and Mittal Steel wrote on Jul 28, 2008 9:53 AM:

" The reason these companies produce pollution is because we the people demand it. They produce products to satisy consumer demand. If no one drove a car there would be no need to expand the refinery. Same with steel. We'd all live on a farm, raise sheep for meat and wool, and milk our cows every morning. Don't forget to fetch a pail of water from the well. "

Just One Thing wrote on Jul 28, 2008 9:50 AM:

" This can mean only one thing, we need far greater levels of government spending. Big government at the federal, state, and local levels is the only way to provide for a higher "quality of life" for all of us. Elect politicians who believe in grand visions, huge levels of spending ("investments"), and more taxes. Yep, that's the answer and I'm sure the American Human Development Project has some hand in this. "

Ambiguous wrote on Jul 28, 2008 9:40 AM:

" I agree with ambiguous metrics. These data are meaningless taken out of context; the devil is in the details. As far as income levels go, I think the people in Mississippi probably don't have to pay as much for a house than those in Illinois, on average. Also, Abe Lincoln once said a man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be. Money, a big house, and even a longer life don't equate to happiness and quality of life. "

BP and Mittal Steel wrote on Jul 28, 2008 8:57 AM:

" yup, good thing we have all this industry providing all these "great paying jobs" they provide for about 1% of the population.. The trash they put in our air and water is killing us and all their profits go overseas..
Isn't it great being a colony again?? See what happens when 28 out of the past 40 years have had republican presidents?? "

Doofus wrote on Jul 28, 2008 8:53 AM:

" No surprise to any of us who live and work and try to eek out a living here. Now the chambers of commerce, developers, and their hack lawyers and elected "officials" want to ruin what's left of "quality" of life in places like Duneland, Crown Point, and Hobart by paving over every last bit of open space so that we can have more of the same crap that every other already existing multinational mega-store sells and at the expense of already existing mom and pop stores and our environment. "

ambiguous metrics wrote on Jul 28, 2008 8:51 AM:

" While income level and educational status are interesting statistics to cite, without context they provide no insight into a region's quality of life. Also, painting a broad brush across the entire region is misleading - for example, Chesterton and Valparaiso are above the national averages in each of these categories, whereas Gary is far below.

Quality of life is determined mostly by personal choices, not geographical location. I personally noted many people jogging along the Calumet trail on Sunday morning, and saw even more families enjoying the day at Porter Beach in the afternoon. To me, these are evidence of a high 'quality of life'.

Sensationalistic journalism such as this is not at all newsworthy and only serves to reinforce the stereotypes associated with the region. "

pension EATER indiana wrote on Jul 28, 2008 8:39 AM:

" we will consider moving due to retirement; our pension being taxed is only one of the many reasons. the real estate tax debacle and the inadequate politicians make this area UNDESIRABLE. "

Lets all face it..... wrote on Jul 28, 2008 8:33 AM:

" NWI is and always will be the armpit of the world. Air quality, taxes, and Lake County Govt.....GVT and Gary,In the list goes on and on "

ho hum.. wrote on Jul 28, 2008 7:09 AM:

" This does not surprise me at all "

think wrote on Jul 28, 2008 12:22 AM:

" maybe it's because the taxes are too high on incomes and homes while interest rates are high as well. Also, pensions are terrible and make people work even longer, affecting the health of older folks. Not that anyone we elect to help us cares... "

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