…assuming you live near your co-religionists. At least, according to an economic study by Jonathan Gruber, research associate with the National Bureau of Economic Research:

Gruber’s results suggest a “very strong positive correlation” between religious market density, religious participation, and positive economic outcomes.” People living in an area with a higher density of co-religionists have higher incomes, they are less likely to be high school dropouts, and more likely to have a college degree.” Living in such an area also reduces the odds of receiving welfare, decreases the odds of being divorced, and increases the odds of being married. The effects can be substantial. Doubling the rate of religious attendance raises household income by 9.1 percent, decreases welfare participation by 16 percent from baseline rates, decreases the odds of being divorced by 4 percent, and increases the odds of being married by 4.4 percent.

By the way, Gruber’s research uncovers something that may explain why church attendance is so low amongst Unitarian Universalists…

His solution draws on the fact that individuals are more likely to attend religious services if they live near others of their religion (that is, where there is a “higher density of co-religionists” in Gruber’s terms). Catholics who live in more heavily Catholic areas attend church more than those who live in less Catholic areas. Further, living near others of one’s religion can be predicted by living near others in certain ethnic groups that share the religious preferences of your ethnic group.

…so if you belong to a small congregation serving a wide geographical area (as is the case here in New Bedford), wouldn’t average attendance be even lower? If so, yet another reason why small congregations (under 100 members) just aren’t sustainable….