Best Places to Live 2007
What do you think of this year’s Best Places to Live list? Which are your favorite cities? What makes them great American towns? Would you consider moving to one of them? What do you think is most important when considering where to live — real estate prices, school systems, taxes, job opportunities, lack of stress? Tell us what you think. The best replies will be published here, and possibly in a future story on CNNMoney.com.
To all the people that are putting down Sayreville, you have know idea what your talking about. I grew up in Sayreville, went to the high school there and graduated with honors with a large number of students that not only graduated with honors but went to ivy league schools. Of course there are certain areas, just like any town, that produce uneducated and low-income households, but that is definitly not the majority of the town. The taxes are lowest here compared to surrounding cities. The commute is fantastic, you can get on to the GSP, Turnpike, Routes 9, 18, 34, 35, 1, etc. in a matter of minutes. In the past couple of years the influx of highly educated and qualified families has brought culture, diversity, and class to the community. Not only does the town offer residential areas that are affordable but new housing complexes have been built for families that are a little bit more wealthier. The town is also going through a development program that is going to make Sayreville a waterfront community in the next couple of years. Also, the high school is being expanded, the new Upper Elementary School has been successfully running for the past couple of years, and there are many Sayreville graduates giving back to the community working with middle school and high school aged children. Before you write negatively about the town, expand your own horizons and get to know successful people in the community that are making something of there lives and helping Sayreville become an even better town that is.
Sayreville deserved to be listed as one of the best places to live in the USA, ignorance will make you think otherwise.
I have to admit, Naperville definetly should have been in your top 10 again. You can’t get any more “picture- perfect” a town. Great downtown,culture and the schools have a great reputation.
It is unfortunate though that it can have a very “elitist” and snobbish vibe-a majority of the people Ive met from there have this attitude that they’re from “Naperville” and it seems like they look down on the rest of us in other western burbs. Also,they have an overzealous police force and I agree with other comments made about racial intolerance. And the traffic is just terrible! (But it pretty much is driving through any of the west burbs…its taken me 2 hours to get to work sometimes in morning traffic! Awful!) I was born and raised here but Im pretty much done with the western burbs and just want to move out of the midwest all together. Winters are so brutal here, especially last winter that didnt want to end!
To the person who suggested Las Vegas: You ARE kidding right? I left Las Vegas (and I am a native Las Vegan) specifically because it’s a horrible place to live if you have a family. The school system is horrible, the open space is nothing but dirt (and soon to be a strip mall, housing tract, etc.), there is no sense of community, and the weather is LOUSY (HOT, HOT, HOT in the summer, and windy much of the time). The Pacific Northwest is much better, and the people are much friendlier. It was the best move I could ever make.
You must be kidding. If you want even a little bit of culture, skip Russellville, Arkansas! The library here just started opening on Saturday! The hospital here is where you go to die. If you find a doctor who didn’t go to UAR Medical School, hold on to him for dear life. Smart people go to the Mayo Clinic for their yearly checkups. Pay here is also pitiful. If a woman moves to town she can sell her briefcase and suits, she won’t need them in Russellville. Oh the horror stories about minimum wage for nurses. As far as crime goes, I’ve never lived in such a high crime area. When you open the paper it’s rape, murder, or a robbery on the front page. When we retire, it’s eat my dust Russellville, I’m going east of the Mississippi where civilization exists.
Overland, MO very demanding-forcing folks to paint, spruce up their houses-not all crimes reported, laxed
Posters aren’t not realizing that this was a list for SMALL TOWNS this year. The previous year was for cities.
Little Rock is a great place to live. The weather is great all year round. The nature is so beautiful and serene. It’s very family oriented as well as a great place for singles to mingle. I love it here!!!
I used to live in Cambridge,Ma and drove through Milton all the time. There is really nothing special about Milton unless a 200-year old house for $500,000 is appealing to you. The point is that “The Best Places to Live” thing is helpfull but it depends on what’s appealing to you.
What about Las Vegas? I love living in Las Vegas. There is lots of open space and fantastic weather.
Have a nice day!
How about a list on the “BEST PLACES TO LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES”? With our economy in turmoil and the US Dollar so weak compared to Canada & Europe. I am thinking about leaving the US soon. We are losing our “Super Power” status - I am very (sadly) concerned.
Here is a city that people will not want to visit, live or try to find a job. I think it should be 1st on the worst place to live the USA
Most of these ‘best places’ have houses that most people can’t afford!
For example:
Milton, Ma average house over $450K? Are you kidding me? Their average income 110K? Sound like house-poor to me! And the pics of the houses for sale there…over $200 per square foot for OLD 60’s style (meaning NO style) ranch houses.
What about Western Springs, IL? Sure it’s expensive, but there’s almost no crime, it has a small-town feel, the homes are adorable, the schools are great, and people are actually friendly. Plus, it’s 2 minutes from the expressway and there’s a train that runs right through the center of town. It’s a 20 minute train ride to downtown Chicago. I can’t believe Lisle, IL made the list. There are some really bad areas in that town.
Naperville does have some serious racial problem with an out of control police department that consistently target people from the surrounding cities. There is a drug problem that they fight hard to cover up.
The Western Suburbs are great. All of these towns, Naperville, Lisle, Downers Grove, Woodridge, depending on your likes/dislikes, they each have distinct attributes. Home prices and taxes vary according to township. Medical is good and the schools are always concerned with the students. Shopping is easy, and easy access to The City (Chicago), Wisconsin, etc. Been here 12 years from California and just love it EXCEPT Jan-April, like warmer, but…..vacations.
I’ve lived in Woodridge, Lisle and currently in Naperville for 10 years. Comparing them is like comparing an apple,orange and a vineyard. Congrats to Woodridge – good schools and affordable housing. Lisle – charmy little downtown and the fantastic morton arboretum. Naperville - world class, small city with awesome downtown, schools, neighborhoods (yes you pay for it$$$) Great business community.
So, no need to compare 2 small towns of 30-50K population to big town of 140K. Naperville is without question fantastic place to live and raise a family.
Vandals cause up to $10,000 damage to Cape Elizabeth High School
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By JOSIE HUANG/Staff Writer March 24, 2008
John Ewing/Staff Photographer
enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer
Cape Elizabeth High School was closed today after vandals caused damage during the night.
Ten students have confessed to the vandalism incident at Cape Elizabeth High School that forced cancellation of classes for the day. Repairing the damage could cost the school district more than $10,000, police said.
Capt. Brent Sinclair said four of the students showed up at the high school around 8:30 this morning and told police they had only intended to play a prank. The rest of the students arrived later in the morning, and admitted their involvement.
The group included nine boys and one girl, Sinclair said. Most, if not all of the students, were seniors.
“It was intended to be a prank, but certainly there were unintended circumstances,” Sinclair said. “We expended a lot of resources down there today.”
Most of the damage was centered in the library, where the students pulled down ceiling tiles. Students also barricaded classrooms with desks, and smeared peanut butter on doors, windows and walls.
Sinclair said charges were likely to be brought against all the students. They could include burglary, criminal mischief and theft.
Money was taken from some of the classrooms, as well as a digital camera.
Some of the students are 17 years old and will be charged as juveniles, Sinclair said.
Sinclair said the students were in the school for about an hour and a half after midnight. They were able to go undetected by police, who drive around the school at least a couple times a night, because they had parked their cars in a nearby neighborhood and walked to the school, Sinclair said.
Once inside, they kept the lights off and covered up several surveillance cameras with black tape.
“We will have school tomorrow,” said Principal Jeff Shedd.
Hawkins said this cancellation date puts the school over its scheduled number of yearly cancellations. Students will make up the lost day this Saturday with classes from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The following is the letter Shedd sent out first thing this morning to parents of Cape Elizabeth High School students.
I own a condo in Leland. We are right on Magnolia Greens Golf course 15th green. We wouldn’t live anywhere else. The cost of living is good, the ammenities are great and the entertainment is fabulous.
Wow, I can’t believe the number of complainers on this board! Those of you who are requesting additional info can go to many places such as city-data.com or placesrated.com and I am sure there are many others.
It is impossible for Money (or anyone else) to compile a list with all the features that will please everyone.
And if anyone chooses a place to live based only on the info from just this (or any other list) then they deserve whatever crap they get. Please, grow up a little and learn to make decisions on your own AFTER doing some substantial research!
Get a grip Napervillians! I’ve lived in Naperville for 10+ years and have raised two children here. We love it, but do have to admit that there are some pretty snobbish people here. There are some racial issues that our city needs to recognize and an overall feel that poverty is not welcome. As a Latina, coming from the inner city of Chicago I do miss the culture that we had there, but as a mother raising my children I feel the opportunity is greater for them here. We don’t need to be on the list to feel good about our city. Maybe if we spent as much energy working on the personal issues Naperville has we wouldn’t look like ignorant, arrogant complainers to the rest of the nation. Sorry everyone.
Rating should consider water supply reliability. This continues to be a real problem for the West and Southeast.
Median commute time is meaningless without knowing the distance. My average commute time is 50 minutes, but I travel 42 miles. A much better measure would be average speed.
you could consider world cities instead of just confining it to US, as there are much more lively cities out there.
our family future and so does the nations future is based on our children’ education, child activities, so best places should list the cities that have schools and communities that focus on young children development as whole person with strong self esteem, strong personality and best education. next thing is if you can shorten the commute between child activities to home and to work place to groceries, I think we have lot of time for our self to relax and to enjoy our hobbies as well, not just bogged down with children busy activities. So I would say
#1.best public schools
#2. shortest commute to the school, community events, library, university, and to shops that have day to day necessary things.
of course, I like the way CNN look in to safety, crime rate ..etc
Ironic that as soon as a city is listed, everyone moves there and then the city falls off the list. The more humans you have the more problems…..
I dont know why Raleigh, NC is overlooked? It has a moderate climate, high education, a mecca for biotech industry and is centrally located - East coast wise.
I have lived in or near three of your top five and have no inclination to ever return to live in or near any of them.
I have never seen Papillion but I have seen Nebraska. Imagine New Mexico, but cold, flat and without even a pinon.
This is the stupidist list that I have seen in some time.
First off, isn’t it funny how people from any other Chicago Suburb excluding the ones from the city itself feel that Naperville is definitley not one of the best places to live by any means. Face it Naperville is once again the most over priced, over rated, and over crowded places to be. Traffic is outrageous, I find myself avoiding Naperville at all costs. Naperville is an extreme “plastic” community raising “plastic” children. In conclusion, no one is jealous of Naperville, get over yourselfs. Congrats to Woodrige and Lisle!
Lake Mary Fl is great, but ratings should consider the immediate cities around and compare what you can get for your money elsewhere.
The comments and feedback from folks all over America are great since we are considering a move from CA to another state. What seems to be a common theme from many on this blog are cities that grow too fast, do not plan growth, over-crowded schools, long commutes and too many people. Wake up America! Overpopulation will eventually drown the quality of life in any “Top-10″ town…
I just moved to IL and considered Naperville as my first choice as to where I would be purchasing a home. After living here in temp. housing, I have found this place to be very crowded. Traffic is extremely bad and the pot holes! You would think that a state which charges just to drive ona freeway (tolls) as well as a very high tax rate would have perfect roads. But ohhh no, the roads are terrible. Bottom line - we will not be moving to Naperville. The home prices are inflated and what you get for the money you spend on the home, well, high traffic, pot holes, people who can’t say thank you when you let them in on the road and last people are just rude.
I loved living in Apex, NC. Problem is when we left it was quickly becoming a typical suburban community. It actually got to the point that we would not go to Target on Sunday (it was so packed). Housing is going in quickly and I am afraid it will be too packed to enjoy the town anymore. I am glad we left when we did so we were left with a good memory of it. As well as Wake Co. Schools are concerned- don’t believe it when they tell you they have a top notch education. I am a teacher and worked for Wake Co Schools when I lived there. As a professional in their school district I was treated horribly. The school district is huge and could care less about their employees or students. In fact, the administration at my school changed the teacher’s grades at the end of the quarter. I taught Language Arts and they would not allow me to fail a student. Several students had turned in almost nothing (one had a 0%) and they still changed their grades to passing (without informing the teacher). After the students found out they could pass without doing anything I lost them for the whole year. There was no consequence to their actions. In fact the reason we left is because I refused to work for Wake Co ever again. Some of their schools are fine but many are not.
We now live in Albuquerque, NM. My husband is in graduate school at UNM and loves it. I would really love Albuquerque if the crime rate was not so high. I would also love to get to a state with smaller school districts. Overall it’s a good place to live but I think we will be moving when my husband is done with school.
If there’s a better site for this kind of stuff, I’d like to know.
Here, though, it would be nice if there were more criteria to include when searching for YOUR best place to live. Being that I have no kids in school and have interest in subsidizing my neighbors’ kids, I want to find the area having the WORST schools and low[est] crime.
Everyone notice how Money Magazine has not responded back with any comments since they started this section???
Jeff
Your numbers on most of these locations are wildly out of sync –I suspect that, do to costs, you are “best guessing” rather than finding the facts. Thats OK as long as you tell folks that it’s just someones guess’ People can’t afford to base long term investments upon irresponsible media hypes just to save a media job
To those “fair weather friends” out there! I’ve lived in both cold and more temperate climates, and much prefer the colder “climes.” (Can’t wait to get back to the Northeast.) I would much rather be in a cold place where I can bundle up rather than in a hot place where, no matter how little clothing you wear, you’re still hot and have to depend on air conditioning. Yuck. Also, as a sidenote, the recent survey of the happiest people in the world found little correlation between weather and happiness. And the happiest country was Denmark! You go, Danes!
how about a retirees’ list, with emphasis on low-cost housing, good medical facilities and a temperate climate?
I think you need to add singles who are older, starting over after the death of a spouse or divorce. Where are the single baby boomers?
hi ! i am from sayreville and i am very happy to see that it has made an appearance onto the best places to live! when i think of sayreville i think of a tight and friendly community. it is just the perfect size town to raise a family. i don’t understand why some many people on this blog are putting sayreville down. no town is perfect. it depresses to see people writing bad things about this town because i feel as if sayreville deserved this !! GO SAYREVILLE !!!
p.s. i mean come on BON JOVI is from sayreville . how can you dislike it ?
and if you hate sayreville so much then leave and stop talking badly about it !! move to a place you think is great .
I have lived in Naperville for 20 years. It used to be a great place to live and raise children. Unfortunately, Money Magazine’s ranking attracted all the opportunists who proceeded to tear down almost every historic farm house in the downtown area in order to build McMansions. As soon as my children graduate high school…I’m gone.
I believe that Highlands Ranch, Colorado and surrounding area is one of the busiest. It certainly has the rudest and worst drivers I’ve ever seen in parking lots and on the highways. Accidents, roll-overs, speeding, drunk driving, road rage and fatalities here are too frequent. I have lived here 15 years and was a Southern California resident for the other 40 years. So, I have a valid comparison. Just here for the kids!
San Diego is by far the best place to live. I wish I could go back there. Where I live - Atlanta - isn’t even ranked and I totally agree with that!
Why not the most moderate climate - Hottest and Coldest are bad things, so how can you rate them as good?
I agree with readers who have noted the importance of public education in checking out places, particularly for families! The education stats need to be clearer: Are the test scores compared for public schools or a mix of the public/private schools? Shouldn’t there be two numbers indicating above AND below percentages for both reading and math as the descriptor on the left seems to indicate? Hard to believe all these places fit a “normal curve” stat mode!
Well it’s obvious the gather of info. only knows I-95 when going south. Next time get someone who’s not afraid to get off the well worn path and out of the North East area. 27 locations within 3-4 hours of New York/ New Jersy??? Pleeeeeeease!! Someone give this person a car to go see the rest of the USA. Who really wants crime, crappy schools, bad roads, high taxes and freeze your butt off every winter. God really blessed us here in the South, you need to check it out for yourself, don’t take someone else’s word. I did and stayed!! $750 a yr. taxes on 2,000 sq.ft., new schools, new industry, 3 major resorts, 10 golf courses (YES 10) where you can play on most for less than $30 w/cart!!! Crossville/Cumberland Co., Tennessee. (Psssssst….don’t tell everybody, we don’t want to turn into these places their talking about!!!)
Weather is a big deal. It should be considered when selecting the “Best Places to Live”. Claremont, CA is charming, but it’s too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. You can also choke to death on the smog!
Have traveled all over the world and lived in 7 states due to husbands military career. We have now lived in Naperville Illinois for 13 years and love it. I live in a nice comfortable home five bedrooms, huge yard within walking biking distance to everything I enjoy. Parks and recreation gallore
My home is worth around 345K. The only thing I would recommend is to avoid Naperville “North” highschool.Winters are cold however more activites than you could ever imagine. Summer is wonderful, and winter seems “milder” than other parts of the midwest. Check out the older neighborhoods just south of 75th. And yes, I have met zillions of friendly helpful and courtious people in Naperville. My experience has been the snobs are those trying to live above their means and struggle to keep up appearences. They can be found in every state across America. Lisle and Downers Grove are also very nice less expensive communities. Hindsdale is also wonderful but $$$$$.
I was raised in and graduted High School in Baldwin, New York. I attest to the first rate education that I got in this town.
However, since I graduated in 1981, and have left that area of the Country, I do return to the area on a regular basis.
Oceanside, Rockville Centre, and many other towns on the South Shore of Long Island far outweigh the quality of life and house for the dollar.
Money, please recheck #25 on this list. I have a feeling it is an error.
Pollution and pollen counts should be rated in several ways. This is a big issue in the Phoenix and Nashville Metro areas and is really being glided over.
Interesting study but last years list 2006 was more realistic.
I just wish Money Magazine would REALLY do some deep research on their yearly list of the best cities and become more realistic as to what we the actual people are looking for.
You lose credibility when you don’t even take into account one of the fastest growing cities such as Mesa Arizona and Tucson Arizona?!?!??! Are you nuts to not include these cities on your list??
Jeff
so i guess Hawaii and its towns and cities were not included? I guess its not fair to everyone else to include us as all 100 are probably here. Aloha.
For those of you who enjoy hot summers and mild winters with no need to worry about driving in ice and snow or pouring rain, Arizona is the place for you. Be forewarned though,summertime the heat is brutal as temps average 100 degrees from June thru to mid September. If you want to feel what that’s like, just open up your oven door when it’s been baking for about 1/2 hr. That’s what it feels like going out the door. LOL LOL… and i’m not kidding. Schools are definitely poor quality, and the high school teachers have been known to change 3 times during a school year according to a parent’s comment. So they put their kids in private schools which cost about 12,000 for high school. Groceries and clothes same as NY and NJ. Gas right now is almost $3 a gallon. Real estate taxes are much lower than northeast. But due to bad drivers here, car insurance yearly is double that of NJ, even for good drivers. Scottsdale has plenty of entertainment and events. They have so many transplants here that people are very careful and not very open. What I found interesting: while job hunting I temped, and even temps here get drug tested! Also as soon as I moved here I made sure to install a car alarm, as car thefts are very common.
I noticed that Mason was considered the 81st best town to live in this year. I’ve lived here nearly my whole life. It wasn’t so bad at one time, but living in a suburban community for a long time can cause you to feel boxed in. It only gets worse and worse with every new retail outlet that gets built to prey on the citizens. It’s almost appalling how many there are…I’m definitely looking to live in a real town with some history that doesn’t have the gridlock feel of a suburb. As you can tell, I wouldn’t agree with the ranking — it’s clear they’re doing these rankings on numbers alone, kind of like No Child Left Behind. heh.
I think it would be helpful to add the areas that have the highest coastal real estate appreciation rates (based on OFHEO data), for retirees
don’t worry about lack of grond water in plainfield IL, the villages stormwater policy has the groundwater levels increasing to the point many homes have basements flooding with just an inch of rain
Add cities with: least crime, best local governments and best public schools and cities with best green programs
I travel 4 miles from Queens to Manhattan via the NYC Mass Transit System. It takes me no less than 1:15 for this commute, door to door. And when it rains, add on another 1/2 hr. If it only took me 46.9 minutes to get to work, I would be a much happier person.
Slowest commute? According to this ranking system, the longest commute is 46.9 minutes. My commute is 18 miles and it takes me 94 minutes each way standing and sweating. I think we need to redo this poll.
Now that we are at peak oil, maybe you should research cities and towns that offer walk-to-work convenience, with shopping close by. I’d love to relocate to a place like that!
I think the safety of the city such as crime rate should also be considered. Have good job, good income and nice home, I guess that people will probably want to live longer too?
To those who are considering moving to Austin, Texas, I just want to say beware of allergies. We’re in one of our worst allergy seasons yet and they just seem to get worse each year. My family and I never had allergies before we moved here and now we’re all suffering. I wish I had known about this before we moved here.
Michigan, despite its struggling economy, is a wonderful place to live. My spouse and I have lived in Holland, MI for the past 8 years. While it is not a thriving metropolis, it is a charming city, with a lovely downtown, full of great shopping and dining. Our farmer’s market is wonderful and full of locally grown and organic produce.
Great schools and colleges in the city and surrounding area abound. Holland’s strength is in its diversity as well (25% of our population is of Hispanic descent and some of our closest friends who have settled in the area are from a variety of European countries.
Much of the coastal areas of Western Michigan, with their endless dunes and pristine beaches are breathtaking. Small art communities also dot the coastal cities.
East Grand Rapids is another great community, Grand Rapids has some wonderful areas, and Saugatuck is quaint city–much of it continuing to be bought up by Chicagoans looking for a second home.
While the east side of the state is hurting due to the auto industry, I still love Ann Arbor, Birmingham, Grosse Pointe(s), and Royal Oak. Lots of great culture, food, and art.
While at times I dream of living in Munich or Spain again, I try to seek out the best of what there is in where I live now, and enjoy it. There is good everywhere.
It’s hilarious to see all these towns in Burlington County, NJ within 20 miles of each other on the clean air list! Who did THAT research??
If you rank Columbus, OH, at the top of anything, you’re playing politics, not giving us accurate information.
When you’re looking to retire, only one thing counts; Lowest Cost Of Living. No state income tax = FL & TN. Best weather = TN. Within TN, where is the lowest property tax rate, where are the lowest insurance rates? Where is the least extreme weather? Where is there a municipal electric utility? Case closed.
Give me 5 acres of trees, a two bedroom log cabin, satellite communications, and a cell phone tower. Maybe an airport within 50 miles.
You are being dishonest and doing a great disservice by quoting average property tax as representative of what a new home owner would pay in the state of Florida. Buy a house in Florida and I assure you your property tax will be 2 or 3 times what the average is. Anyone thinking of buying a home in Florida should become aquainted with the “Save Our Homes” portion of the Florida constitution.
Am I the only person who thinks it’s funny that none of these places have very much diversity at all?
best variety of jobs that pay living wage.
male to female ratio
open to diversity
best renter protection
With the retired baby-boomer population growing, I think that “Best places to retire for the Disabled” should be a consideration. Things like accessibility, commute, doctors, safety and crime should be factors for those of us on fixed incomes; as well as the usual shopping, affordable housing and leisure activities factors.
i don’t get it…i know a bunch of these towns and they are run down, with higher crime rates and poor schools. is low price of housing a factor in this? if so, you need to use other criteria like schools ranking and crime to counteract the low priced housing. you get what you pay for. we always get a kick out of lists like this.
I am interested in the greenville, SC area to relocate to. Any ideas or experiences housing,jobs, etc….
I love culturally diverse, walking cities with great restaurants, cool coffee shops, parks, and car share. For that reason my vote goes to NYC and San Francisco.
I agree with the opinions that public school ratings and private education available should be made a search option. For families with children, good schools are one of the major if not the most important consideration when relocating.
Performing arts centers, the sorts of places that host Broadway and Carnegie Hall level shows should be listed.
Louisville, Colorado came in at the #3 spot. Excellent weather, low crime, and a well planned and maintained community. However the job market IMO is very weak here. If you are self employed or have very portable skill sets then you are OK. I think Louisville should have been top 30, not top 3.
wHERE DOES A 50+ single choose to live that has fun, single people, good jobs, and culture? Mpls area is for families and singles under 30
Maple Heights, OH???? Has anyone checked city finances, crime rates, schools? Of course the homes are inexpensive, few locally would intentionally buy there!
After reading through these comments for the past hour or so I have come to the conclusion that there are definitely some great places to live in the U.S. it just depends on what is most important to you within your lifestyle… I am a 22 year old single male from NOVA who doesnt understand why the area is so expensive. I moved to Va from Ga when i was in high school and thought it was a good move. I made $60,000 this year as a salesman without a College Degree which is great right?? WRONG!! the area is not a place to build your life but yet a place to relax with your earnings. I do not travel to D.C. every month but I pay for it everyday with the cost of living. I have to stay with 4 roomates in a townhouse that costs $2100 a month and that was a DEALLLL when we got it! Just to survive im forking out hundreds of dollars everyweek and not saving a damn dime! which hurts to admit.You get NO land at all with your home you can count on that ..and when you walk down the street and pass someone do not expect a hello or how are you doing just a person who will take a quick glance at you and then their sneakers.. I am looking to move back to Georgia here in the coming months and am looking for a place where I can start my life and not live paycheck to paycheck because of the surrounding areas. Any feedback would be great! And if anyone knows of any Sales or Marketing Job openings in the suburban Atlanta area info would be great. Thank you for your time. Hope I was helpfull.
Yeah, I think Minneapolis is a great place if you want to freeze to death seven months a year. Ditto for Madison. I especially like their gloomy overcast skies and three-hour commutes when it snows (Money magazine is apparently unaware of this problem and foolishly thinks their commutes are short). I lived in both frozen holes will take Scottsdale any day.
I believe the ‘real’ purpose of this list is to identify towns where Money Magazine’s affluent readers can buy up residential and commercial real estate so then the entire middle class of America can ultimately pay rent to them.
Posted By cas, New York, NY : July 16, 2007 10:38 am
Absolutely the most enlightened comment of all. Your skeptcism is refreshing. Thanks.
Harpers Ferry, WV should be on the list. We have a low crime rate, low taxes, beautiful scenery, festivals, parades, and hospitality. I moved to WV about 11 years ago and I love it here. The school system is great. This town in like a Diamond in the rough. Please Google our town and you will see for yourself.
Your average property taxes may be correct BUT anyone buying into Florida housing pays property taxes based upon “market” We sold our 4500 square foot house with $2400 taxes and got a 3000 square foot house with $8000 taxes.
Everyone always seems to forget about West Virginia! Under the “Most Affordable Homes” section, what about Barboursville, Hurricane, Teays Valley, or Huntington??? These are thriving communities that are always overlooked!!
Perhaps next year the ranking should take cost of living into the calculations. Without it the Median Family income can be very skewed.
Vienna, VA? You mean the “gateway to Tysons Corner.” What old glory there was to Vienna is getting torn down DAILY. Old homes replaced by castles scraping each other on the sides. Traffic…so bad it’s not even worth complaining about.
Vienna is a no more than a congested “cut-through” now. I grew up there. Boy, has it changed. R.I.P.
Out of the 7 states that I have lived, Bradenton, Florida has to be the WORST place ever. High taxes, CRIME, bad schools, drugs, rude people, high cost of living…horrible, horrible, horrible!
How did Catonsville, MD wind up number 49? We moved away from the Baltimore area (which is where Catonsville is) because the crime was so terrible. If you don’t want to live in a bad neighborhood you have to be able to afford at least a 350k home. We got out of there 2 years ago and are so much happier with our quality of life.
look at Southlake Texas, instead of North Haven CT, and Salem NH, I’ve lived in all three and Southlake is by far the best out of all three.
We moved her from England after reading much about how Raleigh was in the Top 10 of places to live, investment, job growth etc.
I agree with others here in that there is far too much building, an uncountable number of apartment “communities”, strip malls with the same low-end 3-4 shops at almost every intersection. Add to that the poor driving habits of southerners, high property prices, high car prices and zero public transport and not being able to shower when you want to because of water shortages and we are wondering where is this Top 10 city we read about?
Every year one suburb of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area makes the top 10, I think that is worth a lot! Great people, great jobs, great towns!
If i may..as i trucker driving (18wheelers)(15yrs) i recently moved from NYC Queens to Florida (Kissimmee)area…May 2007…hence all was GOOD till i was laid off due to no freight in the central Florida area…let alone the entire state..my rent was $699/month affordable to me since i came from a high cost of living city (NYC) i was able to make ends..however now….after about 1 month of searching for trucking jobs…the majority of replies i get are Not hiring in the area….try calling again in Jan.2008 and these are from outside trucking companies !! jEEz
Ugly cookie-cutter suburbs in northern Illinois, where the arctic winter lasts 7 months, with three months of blazing heat and humidity, and 30 days of decent weather scattered throughout?! LOL! Who is paying these people off?
It makes me so sad to see what’s happened to Portland Oregon and the surrounding area including Sherwood, Or. I’ve lived in the Portland area all my life (48 yrs) it USED to be great, not so anymore. The growth has been so poorly handled schools are overcrowded and only worry about test scores, not a real education, and always having their hand out for more money. Traffic is horrendous, unless you ride a bike, city government does not care how long you sit in traffic. Big box retail is taking over. Water supply in crisis. No more room for growth. Housing prices are far beyond the medium income. Moving here is not the utopia, it is made out to be. Nothing but suburban sprawl, now, and builders won’t stop building. Strip malls are everywhere with the same stupid stores. This area is lost its charm. Your Magazine should not mislead people into thinking this is a place to move to.
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 definitely deserves a place on your list. It is a beautiful town located on the “Hills”. Excellent schools system that was on Newsweek’s top 100 Best Schools list.
My husband and I moved to northeast Florida (Jacksonville/St. Augustine) from central Illinois, mainly for the weather, but also because we had heard the area was ethnically diverse and open minded. Wow, is that ever wrong! My husband, who grew up in Mexico, is a hard working, professional, educated (has an economics degree)man, fluent in both english and spanish, but the people here treat him as though he should be mowing their grass, if anything! Schools are not the greatest, and you get so little for your money in housing it’s depressing. We’re thinking of moving to Charlotte, NC… any pros/cons from anyone out there?
I
My partner and Ipved our family to Chapel Hill a year ago. We love the triangle area and all it has to offer. Wemoved down from New England couldn’t be happier that we are now living in the “land of milk and honey”!
You will probably not find every great little town USA on this list as there are probably thousands…one of the best kept secrets not on any of these lists is Oregon, southern Oregon and the pacific northwest…people are moving here in droves from California NV AZ for the reasonable housing, no sales tax,excellent year round climate (south Or), job growth and steady economic expansion,no floods fires hurricanes earthquakes or immigration problems…nor do we get snow here in the Rogue River Valley in the winter, most people think it rains here non stop which is an old wifes tale, we get 300 days a year of sunshine with plenty of fun nearby, great schools and colleges
Kansas city is a great place to live lots to do downtown and if you live in the right neighborhood people are nice not racist and diverse the schools are nice spring days are beatiful
It makes me so sad to see what’s happened to Raleigh/Durham/Cary/Apex/Holly Springs area over the last 10 years. The growth has been so poorly handled that schools are overcrowded, traffic is getting horrendous, and we’re under permanent water restriction. I was born and raised here and the wonderful gem that the Triangle once was is long gone. Everyone moving here claims it’s utopia, but they have no idea how it was really utopia 15+ years ago. Nothing but suburban sprawl, now, and builders won’t stop building. Strip malls are everywhere with the same stupid stores. This area is quickly losing its charm.
Same thing goes for Asheville and Wilmington.
How did Vienna, Va make the top 100? We moved AWAY from there because it was so awful. Too many people, extremely expensive, traffic congestion at all hours of the day-every day of the week. I don’t understand how these rankings work.
Eagan, MN is number 12 from last year, where is it this year? it is a great place to live. I grew up there for 19 years till i joined the military. It is a wonderful place to be. And when this war is over I will be back.
LAS CRUCES NM! I have to agree. I will try to move there in the next year or so. That is such a cool valley they have there. The history is so full of mystery and intrigue! Truly the old west with great climate and outdoor sports!
I grew up in South Farmingdale, NY. Its a great place to live and work. The people are intelligent, well educated, hardworking and diverse. Yes its expensive and the winters are cold, but in the end your hardwork and taxes always pay off for the better. Crime is low thanks to the Nassau and Suffolk county police departments. The public school system is among the best in the country if not THE Best. Aesthetically the citizens do an excellent job of keeping their properties up to date and well groomed, thereby keeping the property values high.
To the citizens of South Farmingdale, I miss you all very much! It was a wonderful 25 years living there, you guys were like family to me, we always helped each other in times of need, I miss that!I look forward to one day moving back and raising a family there.
Arizona is a great place to live, I miss it. Chandler, AZ is beautiful with great schools, it is a great place to raise a family. Boston, was one of my favorite places to live, grew up in PA and don’t miss it much and as for Florida, Parkland is beautiful with great schools although it is expensive. Florida is nice to visit not to live it!
How can places with such severe winters be considered good places to live. I lived iin Illinois for many years and those winters just drag on.
I currently live in North County San Diego. Too much driving, plastic surgery, and SUVs. Culture is practically non-existant.
I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for 10 years. The land that time forgot. The Southwest will never “take off”.
For Charles: Try Raleigh, North Carolina. Great place in every respect. And check out Mariposa school there.
I grew up in Sherwood OR. It USED to be great, not so anymore. We have to laugh at all these stressed out suburbanites that move here from all over and cleverly think they are the first to proclaim it Mayberry when in fact they are the ones destroying it. Now we have overcrowded schools that worry only about test scores and not a real education. Our Old Town has been ruined. Traffic is horrible. Big box retail has been invited. Water supply in crisis. No more room for growth. Even with the population explosion there have been no benefits: still limited sports opportunities,still no cultural center, still no employment centers, the new library is an eyesore. Please Money Mag - do not advertise for us!
Hardly any mention of the SW. New Mexico is a great kept secret. Climate is perfect and there’s many undiscovered, beautiful areas. I hope it stays that way.
I would like to recommend Fairhope, AL (my parents moved there about 3 years ago)…it’s on the Gulf of Alabama, right in between Mobile and Gulf Shores. The town itself is something out of a storybook…beautiful downtown area, wonderful family environment, a little pricey as far as housing is concerned but a utopia in the U.S.
In my opinion, the best places would be the ones that gives you most bang for the buck now and for future. That would be Farmington Hills, Troy and Ann Arbor in Michigan. If you are a investor looking for the best return, Michigan is the place. It is a home of beautiful summer, snow, fall, and spring, beautiful lakes, skiing, best schools and colleges in the country, cheap housing, low taxes, ethnic diversity, and no hurricanes or earthquakes.
I’ve lived in Arizona, Texas and California and by far the worst place to live is Phoenix. The air quality is so bad that you are sick for half the year and the other half of the year it is too hot to go outside. Cost of living isn’t that great and it’s hard to build personal relationships as most people here are transients — leave in the summer, live here in the winter.
Brainerd,Mn is not a great place to live right now because the levy didn’t pass. Schools are not gonna get better and all the good opportunities for kids will be gone starting next year. Too bad……
You forgot to mention Carson City, Nevada. Minutes from world class skiing at the numerous resorts surrounding Lake Tahoe and the solitude of the northern high desert, Carson City provides never ending possibilities for entertainment.
I lived in Milwaukee for over 20 years. It is very racist and not a good place because of race relations. I would not recommend anyone move there.
We love Homer, Alaska as the best place to retire! It has the most beautiful scenery. It is the halibut capital of the world. You can fish for salmon all year. It is a professional artist’s community. The citizens are helpful and friendly. In addition are many other ‘perks’ of things to do. — The weather is relatively warm. It can be much colder in Chicago than in Homer!
If you are looking for cheap places to live try Missouri and Oklahoma.You can buy a house for very little.If you have a low income and will need to rent from a housing authority don’t move to Kansas.They are so rude and ugly to you.I’ve been very dissappionted in the housing authorities there.
In response to all the anti-Baldwin postings I have to say there is good and bad in every neighborhood. I have lived in Long Beach which is approx 20 min from Baldwin and I have to say the difference is night and day.
Long Beach is one of the nicest, cleanest, safest communities on Long Island and a beautiful beach at your doorstep. I dont understand how Long Beach has been overlooked on this list.
The best place to live in the USA has to be Calais ME. Low housing prices , no crime, friendly people, great schools, beautiful area, four seasons..so many things to do and see there to keep you busy. Check it out!!
There is no perfect place to live. It depends on what is important to you. And I believe location is important. As for me, I grew up in Indianapolis, IN and can’t say many good things about it. A lower standard of living, but then it would have to be to get anyone to stay. As for education, a braindrain. As for crime, don’t go out at night. Just a joke in my opinion. ESCAPE FROM INDIAoplace. I did.
If you are looking for diversity, culture, variety and decent drivers…then by all means avoid San Antonio. I moved my family here for a job that dried up in 8 months and have ow lived in this city/village for almost 2 years. Everyday in this place has been arduous and frustrating. From the lack of fresh vegetable markets and bread bakeries to drivers who refuse to follow road rules, to sub-standard schools, this place is a huge disappointment. I would have moved back to Michigan immediately after being laid-off if only I have could afforded it. San Antonio can only be enjoyed as a short vacation stop but to live here? Look elsewhere. If you must move to Texas, I can only recommend Austin which has a more Northern-like and diverse atmosphere.
I am so looking forward to moving in a few months.
Our family moved from Ohio in 1985 and I have to say, living in Cape Coral, Florida is wonderful. Located in Southwest Florida, it’s a short drive to the Florida beaches, intercoastal waterways, and golf. Right now it’s a perfect opportunity to buy a new home in Cape Coral, Americas Best of the Best in a buyers market. I am enjoying the best time of my life and am very happy I live here. The weather is awesome, the birdlife is heaven. Check out the Coral Oaks Golf Community, it’s a beautiful new area, with 100 year old oaks and tropically beauty. Near by Coral Oaks Golf Course,is Pine Island, an Old Florida Fishing Village with art galleries, seaside restaurants. Southwest Florida is a sanctuary home.
I will like a place with good schools. I have an autistic child that needs specialized schools. pls help.
Nothing like Belmar NewJersey (Jersey Shore)…close commute to N.Y…beaches.Small town atmosphere,great schools.
I’ve lived in Arkansas my entire life, and I’ve lived in Little Rock since 1995. The job market is horrible for experienced, educated individuals. The talented individuals typically leave the state for better opportunities (which is what I’m doing now). It’s unfortunate because I love Arkansas, and I hate being forced to do this, but to get ahead, I must go somewhere else.
All of Florida is getting to be a dunghole - the tourists moved here, made a mess of the state physically, governmentally, etc. Prices are really high for the low quality of life. The ONLY thing they can’t screw up is the weather. Whoopy.
I lived next to Suwanee for a year. That place is over congested and is getting worse, just like the rest of metro Atlanta. And the county it’s in, Gwinnett, is hell on earth as far as traffic goes.
One of the things that my wife and I are considering is moving the family to the Raleigh/Durham area. Currently, we live in Fort Wayne, IN and even though both of us were born and raised here, Fort Wayne just doesn’t have the opportunties we are looking for. The cost of living here is probably the among the lowest in the country, but the lack of decent paying jobs, means that costs have to be low just in order to survive. My wife and I both have masters degrees, but the Fort Wayne area just does not offer the opportunities we are looking for. — In Raleigh, NC and the Research Triangle, jobs are plentiful for young professional like ourselves, plus with Wake Co. Schools offering exceptional education opportunities for our children, the move really just makes great economic sense for us. Plus it doesn’t hurt the the grandparents already moved there a year ago.
My husband and I are researching New Mexico and Arizona as possible states to relocate to,,,,,any ideas iwll be appreciated
Since getting married 20 years ago, my husband and I have lived in three countries, six cities, and eight homes. My children have attended schools in six different school districts and were even home-schooled. Keller is by far the best place that we have ever lived. The schools are excellent, the homes are beautiful and available in all price ranges, and the shopping is plentiful and easily accessible. The airport is only 30 minutes away. I hardly ever leave this area because I can find everything I need right here. My husband and I wanted to find a safe place for our children and Keller was the right choice.
Dont come to bradenton fla. Average pay is 10.00 an hour(if you can find a job). Houses, taxes and insurance are out of reach for most working people making twice that!
Mechanicsville, Virginia does not belong on this list! Anyone moving here would be bored to the point of suicide. It’s an ugly area bordering the bad side of Richmond. Rt 360 is a mess and I’m moving.
Glen Allen is a nice place, but I’m surprised that Mechanicsville VA made the list at all? There is nothing there, run down old gas stations and one larger redneck shopping center and a bunch of messy cow fields. Who wants to live there? I don’t think it qualifies and neither a town nor a city. It’s just ugly.
Spring Hill, Tn…just south of Nashville. EXCELLENT school system, rated most friendlist city and fastest growing small town in the US. It has the small town feeling but with booming convienience …we are getting a target, have most of the most popular fast food chains, a publix and kroger…and much much more!!! It is sooooo pretty and crime is almost absolete.
My wife and I moved to Helena, Ala (#91) from Atlanta in 2006. It is close to great malls/retail centers, theatres, parks, and restaurants/bars. But, most unfortunately, morning and evening rush hours are ABSOLUTE gridlock. We live 3.6 miles from I-65…takes 30-40 minutes just to get THERE (then finish the commute into Birmingham). Until the transportation issues are resolved, I would NEVER recommend the move.
I have lived and worked in Charleston, SC, Manhattan, Chicago, San Antonio, San Francisco, and Houston. Last year when I found out my job would be relocated to Pittsburgh, PA, I just about lost it. I really wondered what the heck I did to deserve this? After settling in and living here for a year, I have to say I am utterly stunned and suprised at what a great place this is! I understand Pittsburgh has its fair share of problems, but it has way more positives than I ever imagined. It really has the amenities of a big city but with a hometown feel. The place just has a certain character that I’ve never felt anywhere else. And the people I’ve met are so friendly and helpful! Not to mention the cost of living is low. I can’t believe this place lost so many people in the past few decades. I have heard that local government makes it difficult for new and current businesses though…anyone have any thoughts, ideas?
We have lived in Old Orchard Beach, Maine for over 20 years. It has been a wonderful place to raise our children and to call home. The population swells from 9,000 residents in the Winter months to about 90,000 in the Summer. We have a beautiful beach and people visit from all over to enjoy our tourist attractions, including an amusement park right on the beach! Check out our town’s website: oldorchardbeachmaine.com
Sheila Lauzon
Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Folks need to start looking into moving to Spring Hill Florida. The weather is just great!!!! Homes are beautiful!!!
It seems Naperville is a touchy subject on here, you either hate it or love it. I have to say, I have several friends from Naperville, all of which come from well-to-do families, but I would not consider there to be a snob-mentality as has been suggested by other comments. It is a nice place to live with nice people. It is on the expensive side though and is larger than the population cut off for this particular list. Nothing spectacular, just your average nice town.
Where is Gold Camp AZ? It is shown on your “0″ list. We live in Gold Canyon, which is considered one of the best kept secrets in AZ…maybe that’s why we are missing from your list?
I have lived in Helena, AL (#91) for over three years. After visiting my sister who moved here first, I was convinced that this was a great place to raise our family. The schools are EXCELLENT and are truly dedicated to their education. Helena has quickly become home and I wouldn’t think of ever moving back to Mississippi, or anywhere else for that matter. Helena is also in short driving distance to an amusement park, water park, and zoo.
Fairfield California is an excellent place to live! Halfway between Sacramento and the Bay Area and with quick commutes to Travis Air Force Base, Stockton, Napa Wine Country and the South Bay. Condos are a real steal in Fairfield right now. I bought one and rented it out as an investment-I’m making $1,000 a month.
Rock Hill, NY should be on this list
I moved with my family three years ago on Emerald Green, scenic views, lake access, tennis courts, pool, 90 minute drive to NYC, crime non-existent, good schools. You can get a colonial house 2300 sq feet for under 300K.
My wife and I recently moved to Baldwin and our experience has been very positive overall. Our main reasons to move were the statistics on the school system, diversity, and the crime rate. I would definitely recommend this town to anyone looking to move to the island. All the negative comments about crime being on a rampage or never wanting to drive on Grand Ave after dark are totally absurd.
Yes, Naperville is nice when it comes to schools and shopping but as you read below the people can be quite snobby in believing “poor people should live elsewhere”. You couldn’t pay me to live there!! I prefer to live near people who are real.
Grand Terrace is a smog riden dumpy town surrounded by trashy other towns. It’s amazing you can even breather there in the summer time because the air is so brown and polluted. Bring a gas mask to live in Grand Terrace.
I moved to Clayton from San Diego almost 3 years ago. When I first saw the town, I fell in love, everytime I come home from work, I fall in love once again. There are many reason why Clayton is one of the Best Places to live in the US, you need to visit to agree. I Love Clayton!
I was dismayed to see Baldwin Li on this list at all. I have been unhappy since moving here 5 years ago and we will be relocating to Fl next year. The taxes are ridiculous. The community is changing rapidly and NOT for the better. Crime is rampant. HOME EVASION LAST DOWN THE STREET FROM ME. I have to call the police about 1x per month cause teenage gangs hang out on my corner and harrass my family! This is in the Harbor by the way! South part of town.
Stamford, CT is a great quaint town with a lot of culture, and it’s only an hour car ride into nyc..or a 47 min metro north express ride into nyc..you should see our wonderful life like sculptures of everyday people, and even some movie stars..like Maryland Monroe.placed all around the town on corners for the summer months. This town is very safe and clean. I will need to leave here after I finish school since I hate winters..ck this place out, it’s not cheap, but I managed to find an apt (mixed) using a housing voucher in a great building and neighborhood..I have only one more class to get my degree (traveling papers) and I’m off to a year around warm climate area. Ciao
p.s. their are a lot on people from India living in this town. :-)…and coporations.