MONEY Magazine Reveals Annual "MONEY's 100 Best Places to Live in America"

NEW YORK, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, MONEY reveals the 2011 list of "MONEY's 100 Best Places to Live in America," highlighting small towns across the country with populations of 50,000 or less. For the annual cover-story, on sale August 19, 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.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110815/NY52188)

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?"

Louisville, Colorado tops this year's list at number-one. 23 miles outside Denver, Louisville has a strong economy, stable housing and lots to do. Louisville has some 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 the tech, telecom, aerospace, clean energy, and health care space. Additionally, MONEY editors report that businesses are flourishing in the historic downtown district writing, "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."

MONEY's 2011 top-ten list:  

1. Louisville, CO http://cnnmon.ie/pZGV36
2. Milton, MA http://cnnmon.ie/pVK3gT
3. Solon, OH http://cnnmon.ie/njtiIa
4. Leesburg, VA http://cnnmon.ie/r2j6KD
5. Papillion, NE http://cnnmon.ie/nuHOEl
6. Hanover, NH http://cnnmon.ie/qIHOVD
7. Liberty, MO http://cnnmon.ie/pnxqf5
8. Middleton, WI http://cnnmon.ie/ntBOjr
9. Mukilteo, WA http://cnnmon.ie/nbZB6M
10. Chanhassen, MN http://cnnmon.ie/okTt1D

See all of "MONEY's 100 Best Places to Live in America" here:
http://cnnmon.ie/nrqmsg

As part of an exclusive real estate partnership, CNNMoney will incorporate Trulia's local housing stats, trends and content to help its readers find out what it's like to live and buy a home in the Best Places locations. See more about "MONEY's 100 Best Places to Live in America" from CNNMoney:

25 Best Places for the Rich and Single. In these affluent towns, singles are abundant. In Manhattan Beach, CA, for example, 30% of the population is unattached, and median family income is a hefty $155,000. http://cnnmon.ie/pesE0S

25 Top-Earning Towns. These cities from the Best Places database have some of the highest incomes. Great Falls, VA, tops this year's list of affluent towns, with a median family income of $367,660.
http://cnnmon.ie/pFSHsP

25 Best Places for Job Growth. These counties have had the highest 10-year job growth. In Rockwall County, TX, home of the towns of Heath and Rockwall, job growth from 2000-2010 was a whopping 98%.
http://cnnmon.ie/pLOGBC

Best home deals in the top 10 towns. Get a home in one of MONEY's 100 Best Places to Live in America for as much as $255,000 off.
http://cnnmon.ie/olwWoB

MONEY also features the top-five places to:
Get an affordable home: 1 – Hunters Creek, FL.; 2 – Johnstown, IA; 3- Papillion, NE; 4- The Colony, TX; 5 – Mason, OH
Pay less taxes: 1-Madison, AL; 2- Black Forest, CO; 3-Brandon, MS; 4- La Palma, CA; 5- North Logan, UT

Find your Best Place to Live:
http://cnnmon.ie/pXphTu

Hashtag: #BestPlaces

Articles from the issue not yet online are available upon request.

The September issue of MONEY goes on sale Friday, August 19.

SOURCE MONEY