2026 E-Insights Report
Section 3: Quality of Life
Quality of life reflects how residents experience daily life within the region — how stable their households are, how affordable it is to live, and how easy it is to function, connect, and participate in their communities. Rather than focusing on systems or programs in isolation, this section takes a people-centered view, emphasizing the everyday conditions that shape well-being, opportunity, and a sense of belonging.
To capture these experiences, the Quality of Life theme is organized into three interrelated dimensions:
- Housing affordability and stability considers the cost, availability, and tenure of housing, recognizing housing as a
central driver of household security and displacement risk.
- Community context looks at how easily residents can navigate everyday life, access services, and remain
connected to their communities, including factors such as mobility, digital access,
inclusion, and civic connection.
- Foundational stability examines how well households meet basic needs and avoid crisis, focusing on economic security, health, safety, and access to essential supports.
These dimensions provide a holistic view of quality of life across the region. By examining both material conditions and the social context of daily life, this framework helps illuminate how regional growth and change are experienced by residents, and illustrates where pressures, constraints, or opportunities are most likely to shape lived outcomes.