Youth and the city
According to YouthfulCities, “50 per cent of the world’s population is under 30 years of age and 50 per cent of the world’s population now live in cities.” What happens when that population ages? In Chicago, growing out of the “youthful” phase does not always offer the accessibility and ease that can be found when young.
According to the Index, Chicago ranks 2nd in public space, sports, and gaming. Our thankful abundance of public parks, beautiful waterfront, and loveable sports teams speaks to this easily. A middle-class lifestyle as a young 20-something is an ideal situation in Chicago.
However, a middle-class lifestyle while trying to raise young children presents new hurdles. In the Index, Chicago ranked 21st overall in environmental sustainability. And while the Index claimed we were ranked 6th in the “Economic Status Sub Index” (comprised of indicators such as minimum wage, housing, and student housing), it does not speak to the sustainability and viability of these numbers in the long run.