I hope it has nothing to do with my 224 613 Project? That would be associated more with Reno, NV; Minneapolis, MN; Rohnert Park, CA; Palm Harbor, FL; Itasca, IL; and some other places more than with the Villages, FL. DC, NYC, LA, Denver, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, and other cities as well. To see what I mean Google Taltarzac725.

The documents rarely mention the Villages, FL. And I have been doing a lot of work on Facebook and I could really be anywhere in the world to post on there.

I suspect this article was originally intended for The Onion. They said they used the two main causes of stress- money and work - to determine the listing. With the Villages unemployed index being listed as 7.7% I am stressed thinking that I am part of the 7.7%...and 9% of us are poor....

And the data was all taken from Government indexes...so that sort of makes the weekly reports on unemployment and poverty somewhat suspicious...

The Villages is a CITY?
You've got to be kidding!

The "source" is the Huffington Post - hardly a source
I would take seriously.

How about if we insist Section 8 be put next to Arianna Huffington's house (mansion).

I furrow my brow every time someone critiques The Villages? What is it about this place that draws so much attention good or bad?

Perhaps its because I am well settled in or perhaps its because I have never been enamored by celebrity, status, class, or glitz. Many cities have unique markers, history, attraction transportation methods.

This is stressful news. I think I'll take a nap.

Following your lead.

I have decided that most of the stuff that floats in from outside is suspect, including most interpretations of the news.

I believe in the goodness of the folks who surround me and in the serenity of this lovely place I live.

Here's the factors:
Total population:114,350
> Poverty rate: 9.3%
> Avg. weekly hours worked: 39.3
> Unemployment rate:7.7%
> Violent crime rate (per 100,000 people): 421
> Pct. of adults in fair/poor health: 14.8%

I thought the health factor would have been the big one. Surprise; unemployment rate (must include surrounding areas), violent crime high (cc anyone). Not surprising; poverty rate (average SS $1000+- per month?)

My favorite comparisons are the best places to retire to: I think Alaska was in the top three in a recent one!

Take the chairs out of the village squares And the violent crime rate will drop in half

Looking at the statistics, my gut tells me these numbers are for The Villages MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) which is essentially all of Sumter County.

Isn't something like 80% of the Sumter County population in The Villages?

I think you're right. Most demo data I think would be at the county level, except for maybe the big cities. Also, maybe the analysis combined the 3 counties' data for TV. Who knows. It doesn't take much to skew the data. For instance, take big city violence out of the national stats, and the US is a very safe country. Take the worst couple of city blocks out of the urban areas, and even the big cities look relatively safe.

Villages stress
 

I agree. It's bullcrap. But the people who decide where to locate a new Trader Joe's or Wegman's, or whatever, do they know? Hopefully the developer's people are setting the record straight.

So... if 9 people were on an elevator and Bill Gates got on then their average net worth would be $6,000,000,000 (give or take a few $$). If Bill got off on the next floor their average new worth would drop by billions.