Athens has been named one of the best small metro areas in the country for aging successfully by a national economic think tank.

The non-partisan Milken Institute, based in Santa Monica, CA, has given Athens Clarke County a score of 84.34 based on indicators that include health care, wellness, financial, employment, living arrangements, transportation and community engagement.

The Milken staff talked with demographers, examined results from other surveys and consulted with professionals who work in the aging fiel. They then created a list of 78 factors that can help lead to an active and productive old age.

According to the Institute's website,

many communities are well-positioned to help mature Americans age in place. The Milken Institute's Best Cities for Successful Aging index identifies what these metros are doing right and creates a path other communities can follow to help their seniors remain healthy, active and engaged.

Athens Clarke County's overall ranking is #61; for those 80 and older, it’s #45.

Athens ranked high for transportation—in fact, it was #1—but low in community engagement, with less than half of those 65 and older engaged in volunteer activities. In employment, Athens ranked 38, mainly because of employment growth.

For the full report, click here.