Brandon is one of the top 20 cities to live in Canada based on:
Weather and air quality (out of a total of 20 points)
This category included four sub-categories: The total amount of precipitation in a year (out of 6 points: the closer it was to the ideal amount of 700 mL/year, the better), the number of wet days (6 points: the fewer the better), the number of days where the temperature drops below 0°C (6 points: the fewer the better), and the air quality based on measurements of ozone (in parts per billion) and particulate matter (in micrograms per cubic meter). (2 points: the lower the better). Source: Environment Canada.
Housing (15 points)
This category included two sub-categories: Average absolute house prices (7.5 points: the higher the average house price the lower the score), and time to buy a house (7.5 points: this was calculated by dividing the average house prices by the average pre-tax household incomes for the community, and the higher the number of years to buy a house, the lower the score). Sources: house prices from MLS, Toronto Real Estate Board, Fraser Valley Real Estate Board and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.: average estimated 2008 household incomes from Canadian Demographics, FPMarkets/MapInfo.
Household income (5 points)
The higher the average household income, the higher the score. Source: 2008 estimates as per Canadian Demographics, FPMarkets/MapInfo.
Discretionary income (5 points)
We calculated the average discretionary income as a percentage of total household income. The higher the percentage, the higher the score. Source: 2008 estimates as per Canadian Demographics, FPMarkets/MapInfo.
New cars (5 points)
We looked at the number of 2004 to 2006 model year vehicles as a percentage of the total vehicles in the community in 2006. The higher the percentage, the higher the score. Source: Canadian Demographics, FPMarkets/MapInfo.
Unemployment (10 points)
The lower the unemployment rate, the higher the score. Source: Statistics Canada and 2008 estimates as per Canadian Demographics, FPMarkets/MapInfo.
Walk/Bike to work (10 points)
The higher the percentage of people who walk or bike to work in the community, the higher the score. Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 data.
Population growth (10 points)
The average population growth in Canada between 2001 and 2006 was 5.4%. We determined that the ideal growth rate for a community would be higher than the national average, so we chose an ideal rate of 7.4% in total over the 2001 to 2006 time period. The closer a community's actual growth rate was to this ideal rate, the more points it got. Communities with a negative growth rate received zero points. Source: Statistics Canada
Crime (7.5 points)
The total rate of violent crime in each community per 100,000 people. The higher the rate, the lower the score. Source: Statistics Canada.
Medical professionals (7.5 points)
The number of physicians, per 1,000 people in each community in 2007. The higher the number of health professionals, the higher the score. Source: Canadian Medical Association and Statistics Canada.
Amenities (5 points)
We awarded up to 2 points for public transit and 1 point each for a hospital, university or college. Sources: Statistics Canada, web searches.
Attractions (up to 4 bonus points)
Communities received 1 bonus point for each of the following: having a casino, being a provincial or federal capital, having a major sports team, and having a major attraction such as a theatre or ski hill. Cities with multiple teams or attractions only received 1 point per category.
Here is a link to the actual list where we are number 18: (shows all stats)
This first one is the Prosperity list
http://list.canadianbusiness.com/rankings/bestplacestolive/2008/prosperity/Default.aspx?sp2=1&d1=a&sc1=6&sub=n1&df=bestcities
Next is housing:
http://list.canadianbusiness.com/rankings/bestplacestolive/2008/housing/Default.aspx?sp2=1&d1=a&sc1=4&sub=n2&df=bestcities
And then Weather (believe it or not)These weather stats are very interesting to look at!!!
http://list.canadianbusiness.com/rankings/bestplacestolive/2008/weather/Default.aspx?sp2=1&d1=a&sc1=7&sub=n3&df=bestcities
And finally Lifestyle
http://list.canadianbusiness.com/rankings/bestplacestolive/2008/lifestyle/Default.aspx?sp2=1&d1=a&sc1=13&sub=n4&df=bestcities
I had also heard this on the radio during the summer, but to actually look at the statistics is interesting!