Great communities are partnerships between the local government, private sector, community-based organizations, and residents. Each of these entities plays a crucial role in shaping a community’s livability and determining whether a place is merely habitable or actively desirable for residents.

Because of this interconnectedness, data scientists from Polco’s National Research Center pioneered the Model of Community Livability, which identifies key areas (known as domains) that most influence residents’ quality of life. 

Polco categorizes community livability data into these 10 domains:

• Safety
• Economy
• Mobility
• Community Design
• Utilities
• Health and Wellness
• Natural Environment
• Parks and Recreation
• Inclusivity and Engagement
• Education, Arts and Culture

Organizing data by these domains allows local governments to measure both the quality and impact of each area on overall community livability. In addition, leaders can easily evaluate which domains are community strengths and which may need more attention.

These domain categories serve as a common framework across various Polco tools, such as The National Community Survey reports, the Polco Library search functionality, Track performance management dashboards, and the Community Livability Snapshot. By leveraging these domain-based insights, communities can identify key priorities, track progress in specific areas, and collaboratively work toward improving residents’ overall quality of life.