Money Magazine Names Best Places to Live

Middleton, Wis., is Money magazine’s top 2007 Best Place to Live.

The magazine, whose annual selection of attractive locales has the power to turn a sleepy borough into a blossoming hot spot, says that this year it focused on small cities, between 7,500 and 50,000 in population. It chose areas that offered the best combinations of economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do, and a real sense of community.It also added a ranking for ethnic and racial diversity, and it paid special attention to home prices and property taxes. That meant that some expensive locales that had done well in the past slid in the rankings.Visitors to the "Best Places to Live" section of CNNMoney.com will be able to see the latest homes for sale, recent home sales, and "Million Dollar Homes" for all of the cities highlighted in the annual feature. Users can click on city maps powered by Trulia.com to view data for each home, including location, price, photos, bedrooms/baths, and square footage.

Here’s the top-10 list:

1. Middleton, Wis.
2. Hanover, N.H.
3. Louisville, Colo.
4. Lake Mary, Fla.
5. Claremont, Calif.
6. Papillion, Neb.
7. Milton, Mass.
8. Chaska, Minn.
9. Nether Providence, Pa.
10. Suwanee, Ga.

Source: CNNMoney, Kate Ashford, Asa Fitch, Stephen Gandel, Josh Hyatt, Sarah Max, Jennifer Merritt (07/16/07)