It has been 20 years since the magazine started the first annual tally of Best Places to Live in this country. Today, Money Magazine just published its 2007 list. Here are the top three, and you can find the complete list of Top 100 towns at here:
1. Middleton, Wis.
Population: 17,400
Median home price (2006): $290,269
Average property taxes (2005): $5,067
Pros: Small-town charm; booming economy; extensive parks and bike trails
Cons: Do you like winter?
2. Hanover, N.H.
Population: 8,500
Median home price (2006): $428,329*
Average property taxes (N/A): N/A
Pros: Rich cultural and community opportunities; diversity
Cons: Winter isn't for wimps.
3. Louisville, Colo.
Population: 19,400
Median home price (2006): $322,812
Average property taxes (2006): $1,986
Pros: Historic downtown; hiking and skiing
Cons: Tech-heavy economy
According to Money, this year's focus is on "smaller places that offered the best combination of economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community." If you have a unique taste of quality of life, you may use Money's online tool to customize the weighting of factors like affordable housing, plentiful leisure activities, plentiful cultural options, job growth, sunny weather, short commute time and good health care access, and find the best town only for you.