100 best places to live in the US
Money magazine's annual list names the top American small towns based on job opportunities, fiscal strength, schools, safety, health care, activities and weather.
Money magazine's 2011 list of "100 best places to live in America" highlights small towns across the country with populations of 50,000 or less. For the annual cover story, published in August, Money looked for places with the optimal combination of job opportunities, fiscal strength, top-notch schools, safe streets, good health care, cultural and outdoor activities, and even nice weather. Money's editors write, "With the current state of the economy -- and the dispiriting sight of the nation's leaders endlessly battling about how to fix it -- the phrase 'small town' conjures up images of a happier time. When unemployment wasn't above 9%. When people didn't stress out about home values. When school budgets weren't under siege. Those were the days, right?"
Topping the list is Louisville, Colo., 23 miles outside of Denver. It has a strong economy, stable housing and lots to do. Louisville has one of the lowest crime rates in Colorado and was also ranked No. 1 in 2009, when Money assessed places with populations of under 50,000.
There are good jobs in Louisville in tech, telecom, aerospace, clean energy and health care. Additionally, Money's editors report that businesses are flourishing in the historic downtown. "This summer alone saw the opening of three restaurants, a rooftop bar, a coffee shop, a yoga studio, a gift shop, and two art galleries. And world-class outdoor recreation is a short drive away."
Here are Money's top 25 places to live in the United States:
1. Louisville, Colo.
2. Milton, Mass.
3. Solon, Ohio
4. Leesburg, Va.
5. Papillion, Neb.
6. Hanover, N.H.
7. Liberty, Mo.
8. Middleton, Wis.
9. Mukilteo, Wash.
10. Chanhassen, Minn.
11. Sharon, Mass.
12. Farmington, Utah
13. Johnston, Iowa
14. Arden Hills, Minn.
15. Sammamish, Wash.
16. Acton, Mass.
17. Montville, N.J.
18. Newcastle, Wash.
19. Castle Rock, Colo.
20. Superior, Colo.
21. Hunter's Creek, Fla.
22. South Brunswick, N.J.
23. North Salt Lake, Utah
24. Mason, Ohio
25. West Goshen, Pa.
See all of "Money's 100 Best Places to Live in America" here.
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I guess you can make whatever list you want, but how was each category weighted? Is that nut Lisa Pullman still working here?
No Southeastern States indeed. It is hard, in the extreme, to believe.
I call BS. I live in Western Washington. Three of our cities are listed. Yes, they are nice places, but the Puget Sound region is nuts and our political leadership has spent us into oblivion. Live elsewhere. I'm trying to escape myself!
Interesting to see two suburban Seattle cities on the list (Multikeo and Sammamish).. Yes they are great small towns to live in, but try to live in Sammamish where your average home price is about 500 k. You will need an income of about 120 k a year to afford a mortgage on a house there, and that assumes that you put 100 K down. Unfortunately, I am nearing retirement, and I do not have that kind of money to spend on a house in Seattle Metro.
Lived in WA state for years,in Eastern WA (Spokane) and housing prices are a lot more reasonable there. Love Seattle Metro, but again, it is too pricey for today's economy, so when I retire it will be in Eastern WA, or in the Midwest (northern MI) where houses are dirt cheap.
I live in suburban Denver just 5 or so miles from Louisville. It really is a nice little town and they have a great event in June called Taste of Louisville. It's better than the main Taste of Colorado in downtown Denver every Labor Day.
What's funny about this list is that Superior is #20 and basically right next to Louisville!
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