Weekly Column: Best Places to Live

What makes a city livable? The answer varies depending on who is answering it. To many, jobs matter most. To others, schools. For some, culture.

Recently, Money Magazine released a list of small cities that are the best places to live in America. To develop this list, the magazine created a series of factors, including housing, jobs and quality of life. Under each of these categories, several sub-categories were created. For example, under quality of life, there are sub-categories for fastest commute and hottest weather.

Coming in number one on the list was Plymouth, Minnesota. As Money wrote, this city offers: “Topnotch schools, good jobs, affordable housing, low crime, an active outdoor culture - yep, they're pretty much all here. Plymouth could have become just another Twin Cities suburb, but more than 50,000 jobs keep residents working there.”

The article goes on to especially note the affordable housing, and mentions the “open-air amphitheater, the Hilde Performance Center,” which “hosts numerous summer concerts.” And, of course, there is shopping. “Residents are a quick drive from the Mall of America, the nation's biggest mall.”

Halfway down the list at number 51 is Hamilton, New Jersey. The article notes that with “Trenton, the state's capitol, to the immediate west, Hamilton is a bustling, diverse and relatively populous community.” Hamilton offers a great park, the 350-acre Veterans Park. And in the heart of the town is a “35-acre homage to modern moldings of steel, bronze, marble and other materials.”

Across the state is Wayne, New Jersey. And that city finished out the list as the 100th best place to live.

Just a few miles from New York City, Wayne provides a great view of the big city while still maintaining its small city attractions. According to the article:
“Schools are nationally ranked, and the city boasts several historic museums, including a mansion that served as George Washington’s headquarters in 1780. Activities like free movie nights under the stars are common, along with sightseeing trips to nearby Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and NYC.”

For all their differences and all their variety, these cities all have something in common: size. Plymouth, Minnesota has just over 70,000 residents; Hamilton, New Jersey has about 90,000; and Wayne, New Jersey has some 55,000. This makes all these cities mid-sized cities. They are big enough for jobs and commerce to flourish, but small enough to still have a hometown feel.

With all the talk about big cities in the media today, it’s good to remember the other places in America. All around the country mid-sized cities are providing great places to live for millions of Americans.For more information on the Money list of cities, click on the website, check out the list, compare cities and learn more about these great places:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2008/index.html