PULLMAN AND MOSCOW RATED AS UNITED STATES "DREAMTOWNS"

The cities of Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho, have many things in common.  For example, they are both home to their state's land grant institution.  Now the two communities, which are located only eight miles apart, have something else in common.  Both were selected by Demographics Daily as "Dreamtowns."  Demographics Daily is a strictly online Internet publication of American City Business Journals, Inc.  As the nation's largest publisher of metropolitan business newspapers, American City Business Journals, Inc. serves 41 of the country's most vibrant markets including the Puget Sound Business Journal.  The following information relating to "Dreamtowns" has been extracted from the information provided from Demographics Daily at the web site  www.bizjournals.com  You may view another document regarding "Dreamtowns" called Morgantownbest using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Demographics Daily recently rated 632 non-metropolitan U.S. cities.  The study included every U.S. non-metropolitan city with 10,000 to 50,000 residents, along with several cities in small metro areas or on the sparsely settled fringes of large metros.  The study was inspired by strong public interest in small-town life.  More than 18 million people moved from metropolitan areas into small cities or rural counties during the 1990's, according to a Demographics Daily analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.  A 1998 poll by Professional Builder magazine found that two-thirds of Americans would prefer to live far from a major city.

Demographics Daily used 20 sets of statistics to answer the following eight questions that residents of metro areas commonly ask about small towns.  Scores in the eight categories below were combined to determine each city's overall rating:
  1. Vitality:  Are the local population and emploment bases growing at a healthy pace?  (Kingsland, GA, was best in this category).
  2. Supply of good jobs:  Can a newcomer easily find a challenging job that pays well? (Charlottesville, VA, was No. 1).
  3. Freedom from stress:  Is the community a refuge from metropolitan evils such as violent crime and lengthy commutes?  (Brookings, SD, was the category leader).
  4. Connection to cultural mainstream:  Do residents feel connected to the outside world?  (Canandaigua, NY, was at the top of this list).
  5. Support for schools:  Are local adults committed to education, and are they willing to open their wallets to support it?  (Pullman, WA, led this category).
  6. Access to health care:  Is it easy to find a doctor or a medical specialist?  (Charlottesville, VA, finished first).
  7. Low cost of living:  Are housing prices and taxes at affordable levels?  (Troy, AL, ranked first in this category).
  8. Small-town character:  Does the community have a distinct identity, and is it likely to retain its small -town feel in the future? (Brookings, SD, was best).
    9.

Pullman was the only western community to take first place in one of the eight categories.  Within the overall rankings among the 632 small cities nationally, Moscow and Pullman both were ranked among the 141 "dreamtowns" that were defined as places with 10,000 to 50,000 residents and an excellent quality of life.  Only 28 cities in the 13 western states were selected for the list of "dreamtowns."  The top cities in the western states were Bozeman, MT, at number three; Laramie, WY, which was ninth; Durango, CO, at number 10; Moscow, ID at number 15; Logan, UT, at number 20; Pullman, WA, at number 26; Helena, MT at number 29; and Idaho Falls, ID, at number 38.

Moscow was rated at the top of the Idaho cities that were included in the study.  The other Idaho cities that were included were Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Mountain Home, Post Falls, and Twin Falls.

Pullman was rated number one among the Washington cities that were included in the study.  The other Washington cities were Anacortes, Centralia, Ellensburg, Kelso, Longview, Moses Lake, Mount Vernon, Pasco, Port Angeles, Walla Walla, and Wenatchee.

With respect to the eight criteria, Pullman and Moscow ranked among the 632 cities as follows:
Criteria
 Pullman
 Moscow
Vitality: population and employment bases growing.
 432
 492
Supply of good jobs:  challenging jobs that pay well
 84
 47
Freedrom from stress, e.g., violent crime/ lengthy commutes
 9
 17
Connection to cultural mainstream (outside world)
 424
 126
Support for schools: commitment and financial support
 1
 16
Access to health care:  access to doctor or medical specialist
 351
 325
Low cost of living: housing and taxes at affordable levels
 7
 62
Small town character: distinct identity and small-town feel
 77
 27

Pullman finished in the top 10 in three of the eight criteria.  In comparing scores for the two communities, the greatest point differential on any criteria was on the fourth criteria, Connection to cultural mainstream, where Moscow rated much higher in the rankings than Pullman.