The financial news outlet Business Insider analyzed more than 380 metro areas in the country to determine the 30 best American cities to live in after the coronavirus pandemic, and Ithaca came in at 19th on the list.
To determine its ranking, Business Insider used government data and academic resources and came up with nine economic, educational, and demographic metrics that might help the area recover faster from the economic effects of the pandemic while also appealing to people who might be considering moving.
Specific data that were measured included the pre-coronavirus unemployment rate, ability to work from home, population density, housing affordability, monthly household costs, cost of living, weekly two-way work commute, total elementary- and secondary-school spending per student, and share of residents age 25 and over who have at least a bachelor's degree.
In ranking Ithaca at #19 out of the more than 380 metro areas studied, the publication noted that it has the sixth-largest share of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher, at 51.9%, and is seventh in total spending per student in elementary and secondary public schools.
Business Insider cited recent polling suggesting that many Americans are thinking about moving, especially to less densely populated places. Additional research has found that such places with a larger share of jobs requiring a bachelor's degree or higher were likely to recover first from the economic impact of the pandemic.
Ithaca has frequently been named among the best places to live and one of the best college towns in America by a variety of publications.