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And the winners are...
And the winners are...
These terrific small cities -- even now -- boast plenty of jobs, great schools, safe streets, low crime, lots to do, charm, and other features that make a town great for raising a family. More
  1. Eden Prairie, MN
  2. Columbia/Ellicott City, MD
  3. Newton, MA
  4. Bellevue, WA
  5. McKinney, TX
See the top 100
  1. Fort Collins, CO
  2. Overland Park, KS
  3. Fishers, IN
  4. Ames, IA
  5. Rogers, AR

Big-money cities
Big-money cities
Bethesda, Md., residents pull in more than $170,000 a year. Which other places have high incomes? More

25 top hotspots for the rich and single
25 hotspots for the rich and single
We're not saying you're a gold digger. But you could follow the money to these affluent cities, where singles are abundant. More


WBest places, state-by-state
Best places, state-by-state
Minnesota and New York both are home to 5 top 100 cities this year. See the best places to live in your favorite state. More
California Minnesota
New York See the rest

800+ cities
800+ cities
See detailed city stats, homes for sale and job openings for all the cities in our Best Places database. Facebook users: Post your thoughts on our picks. More
• Big cities

Compare cities
Compare cities
Dreaming of moving to one of our Best Places? First see how it stacks up against other cities. More

iReport
What's the best thing about your hometown?
What's best about your hometown?
Do you have a favorite hangout? Is there a special festival you love to attend? Send photos and videos that show your city's charms. More
Quick Vote
What's most important to you when choosing where to live?
  • Good jobs
  • Affordable homes
  • Top schools
  • Low crime
  • Things to do
Follow Money on Facebook
Keep up with the latest personal finance news. More

  • Find Homes for sale
    Real estate and homes for sale on Trulia

  • Property Type
  • Find a home in:
  • New York | Atlanta | Chicago | Los Angeles
  • Washington D.C | Houston | Philadelphia | More options
Find Your Best Places
Region
Northeast South
Midwest West
Ranking
Top 100 winners only
Population
8.4M
46,000
Home Prices
2009 median sales prices
$1.2M
$36K
Video
How we picked the Best Places
Using statistics from data provider Onboard Informatics, we crunched the numbers in order to zero in on America's best small cities for families. (Last year, we looked at small towns, with populations between 8,500 and 50,000.) More

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