The attractiveness of new communities to industries and workers : a comparative study of the midwest and sunbelt new communities in the United States of America

Abstract

This study investigates the relative attractiveness of new towns to different industries in the midwest and the sunbelt new communities and attempts to determine just how attractive new community living environments are to persons actually living or working in these environments. The study tests three hypotheses: (1) The sunbelt new communities have stronger economic bases than the midwest new communities. (2) The sunbelt new communities have more favorable market characteristics than the midwest new communities. (3) The average number and quality of the community amenities is greater in the sunbelt new communities than in the midwest new communities. They were tested by using the t-test and the "test of the difference between two proportions." Two different instruments were used for the survey of the industries and workers in Park Forest South and The Woodlands. The industries and workers were randomly sampled. In Park Forest South, thirty three industries were sampled. Thirty-two responded to the survey. Two hundred workers were sampled and 178 responded to the survey. In The Woodlands, thirty industries were sampled, and twenty-eight responded to the survey. Two hundred workers were sampled and 150 responded to the survey. It was found that the sunbelt new communities have stronger economic bases than the midwest new communities. It was found that the second hypothesis is not supported by the results presented in this study. It was also found that although the sunbelt new communities have a higher number of community facilities, there was no significant difference between the midwest and sunbelt new communities with respect to the number and quality of these facilities. In summation, this study indicates that when attractiveness is assessed by economic base alone, the sunbelt new communities are more attractive than the midwest new communities. However, when attractiveness is assessed by all three variables (economic base, market characteristics and amenities) there is no significant difference in the relative attractiveness of the midwest and sunbelt new communities.