Quality of life and living conditions in various geographic areas can be measured in many ways. Statistics, comparative rankings, and information on local services and facilities can be helpful to people considering moving to other parts of the country or needing marketing information.

The CPI (Consumer Price Indexes) are indexes measuring the average change in prices over time in a certain group of goods and services, referred to as "market basket," such as food, housing, and gasoline. These indexes are calculated at the national level, the regional level, and some local areas. The Consumer Price Indexes are not the same as the Cost of Living Index.

Statistical Abstract of the United States. Washington, DC: Bureau of the Census. Annual.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HA202 .A1) Latest ed. at Reference Desk
LOCATION: Internet (http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS2878) (1878-)
LOCATION: Morris Library - U.S. Documents (U.S. Doc Census Area, first row)
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (CD-ROM 215) Computer #30

See the section on "Prices." Includes an explanation of CPI and inflation. Provides a Guide to State Statistical Abstracts. For quick access to tables containing state data, go to the index and look up "State data." "State Rankings" and "State Profiles" sections available on the introductory Web page.

CPI Detailed Report. Washington, DC: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Monthly.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HB235 .U6 .U54b) Latest 2 yrs. at Reference Desk
LOCATION: Morris Library - U.S. Documents (U.S. Doc L 2.38/3:) Earlier yrs.

Consumer Price Indexes.
LOCATION: Internet (http://www.bls.gov/cpi/)

Yahoo: Neighborhood Information.
LOCATION: Internet (http://realestate.yahoo.com/re/neighborhood/)

Web site featuring city profiles. Can compare two locations by cost of living, real estate, and quality of life or by salaries.

ACCRA Cost of Living Index. Louisville, KY: American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association (ACCRA). Quarterly.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HD6983 .C67) Latest 3 yrs.
LOCATION: Morris Library (HD6983 .C67) Earlier yrs.

Contains sections listing urban area index data, metropolitan area index data, and average prices. Measures for Dover and Wilmington are included. The Cost of Living Index compares prices for many metropolitan areas at a single point of time. The average is stated as 100 and each city is expressed as plus or minus 100. Unlike the CPI, the Cost of Living Index is not a measure of inflation.

County and City Data Book. Washington, DC: Bureau of the Census.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HA202 .A36) Reference Desk
LOCATION: Morris Library - Microforms (CD-ROM 23)
LOCATION: Internet (http://www.census.gov/statab/www/ccdb.html)
LOCATION: Internet (http://fisher.lib.Virginia.EDU/ccdb/)

Editor and Publisher Market Guide. New York, NY: Editor & Publisher Co. Annual.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HF5905 .E423)
LOCATION: Morris Library (HF5905 .E423)

Lists data, estimated for current year, such as population, disposable income, etc., for all MSAs, PMSAs, and the top 250 counties and cities of the United States. Includes lists of shopping centers for each city. Also includes some unusual information, such as, whether an area's water is fluoridated. Lists rankings for total retail sales.

Lifestyle Market Analyst. Wilmette, IL: Standard Rate & Data Service.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HF5415.33 .U6 L54) Latest ed.
LOCATION: Morris Library (HF5415.33 .U6 L54) Earlier eds.

Matches population demographics with lifestyle interests. Covers counties and cities.

Moving & Relocation Sourcebook and Directory: A Reference Guide for Moving and Relocation: with Profiles for 121 U.S. Cities. 3d ed. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 2001.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HT334 .U5 M58x 2001)

State and Metropolitan Area Data Book. Washington, DC: Bureau of the Census.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HA202 .A11) Latest ed. at Reference Desk
LOCATION: Internet (http://www.census.gov/statab/www/smadb.html)
LOCATION: Morris Library - U.S. Documents (U.S. Doc C 3.134/5:) Census Area

Survey of Buying Power (Sales and Marketing Management). New York: Bill Brothers Publications. Annual.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HC110 .C6 .S25) Latest ed.
LOCATION: Morris Library (HC110 .C6 .S25) Earlier eds.

Lists the buying power index and other data for the nation, region, states, counties and selected cities.

USA Counties. Washington, DC: Census Bureau.
LOCATION: Internet (http://www.census.gov/statab/www/county.html)
LOCATION: Morris Library - Microforms (CD-ROM 24)

More than 2,000 data items on a variety of demographic, economic and governmental subjects. Most tables are long time series, many covering 1969 to present. Topics are diverse and include agriculture, crime, personal income, population, social insurance and many more. Data are presented by nation, state, and county.

Climate Data for Delaware Recording Stations.
LOCATION: Internet (http://www.udel.edu/leathers/dedata.html)

Climatological Data (by state). Asheville, NC: National Weather Service, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. Monthly.
LOCATION: Morris Library - U.S. Documents (U.S. Doc Microfiche C 55.214/nos. for each state) 1986-1995 only
LOCATION: Internet (http://www5.ncdc.noaa.gov/pubs/publications.html#CD)
LOCATION: Internet (http://www2.lib.udel.edu/subj/godc/internet/epubs/climd/index.htm) Delaware & Maryland only
LOCATION: Library Annex (QC984 .M3 M54) Maryland & Delaware only

Note: Delaware is in the "Maryland & Delaware" issue.

Local Climatological Data (by place). Asheville, NC: National Weather Service, National Climatic Data Center. Monthly with annual summary.
LOCATION: Internet (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/pdfs/lcd.html#LCD)
LOCATION: Internet (http://www2.lib.udel.edu/subj/godc/internet/epubs/lcd/index.htm) Wilmington, Delaware only
LOCATION: Agriculture Library (Agr QC983 .L63) Wilmington, Delaware only
LOCATION: Library Annex (QC983 .L63) Wilmington, Delaware only

LexisNexis Academic.
LOCATION: Library Databases [restricted to UD users]

For smaller cities, use the News section called "U.S. News."

ABYZ News Links.
LOCATION: Internet (http://www.abyznewslinks.com/)

Guide to online newspapers and other news media.

Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media. Detroit, MI: Gale Research. Annual.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref Z6951 .A1 A97) Latest ed. at Reference Desk
LOCATION: Morris Library (Z6951 .A1 A97) Earlier eds.

Directory of newspapers and radio and television stations for cities and towns in the United States and Canada.

Delaware Public School & District Information.
LOCATION: Internet (http://www.doe.state.de.us/del_schools/school_information.htm)

Homebuyer's Fair.
LOCATION: Internet (http://www.homefair.com/homefair/calc/salcalc.html)

An Internet site containing useful information for cost of living comparisons and relocating and a salary calculator.

LexisNexis Statistical. Bethesda, MD: Congressional Information Service.
LOCATION: Library Databases [restricted to UD users]

Some areas publish State or metro area statistical abstracts. Try looking for the state as the agency/publisher.

World Chamber of Commerce Directory. Loveland, CO: World Chamber of Commerce Directory. Annual.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HF294 .W75)

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