Washington, DC (May 8, 2006) – Albuquerque has earned a place as Number Three on “ 50 Smart Places to Live,” a ranking of American cities released today by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine and published in the June 2006 issue. The magazine’s editors and writers looked for U.S. cities that combine affordability and livability—places that are vibrant and fun, and where a dollar still goes a long way. To make the list, a city had to score well in a variety of areas, including housing prices, cost of living, economic vitality, education, health care, the local arts scene and recreational facilities. “Choosing where you live is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll ever make,” says Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Senior Editor Robert Frick. “We looked for cities that offer value, but also have a great quality of life.”
The complete rankings:
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1 |
Nashville , TN |
26 |
Richmond , VA |
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2 |
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN |
27 |
Olympia , WA |
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3 |
Albuquerque , NM |
28 |
Bismarck , ND |
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4 |
Atlanta , GA |
29 |
Morgantown , WV |
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5 |
Austin , TX |
30 |
Lafayette , IN |
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6 |
Kansas City , MO |
31 |
Sioux Falls , SD |
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7 |
Asheville , NC |
32 |
St. Cloud , MN |
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8 |
Ithaca , NY |
33 |
Evansville , IN |
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9 |
Pittsburgh , PA |
34 |
Fort Collins , CO |
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10 |
Iowa City , IA |
35 |
Jefferson City , MO |
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11 |
St. George , UT |
36 |
Tacoma , WA |
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12 |
Harrisburg , PA |
37 |
Lancaster , PA |
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13 |
Lexington , KY |
38 |
Virginia Beach , VA |
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14 |
Indianapolis , IN |
39 |
Charlottesville , VA |
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15 |
Logan , UT |
40 |
Boise City , ID |
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16 |
La Crosse , WI |
41 |
Abilene , TX |
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17 |
Rochester , MN |
42 |
Lynchburg , VA |
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18 |
St. Louis , MO |
43 |
College Station , TX |
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19 |
State College , PA |
44 |
Bloomington , IN |
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20 |
Madison , WI |
45 |
Oshkosh , WI |
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21 |
Provo , UT |
46 |
Wichita , KS |
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22 |
Philadelphia , PA |
47 |
Eugene , OR |
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23 |
Fargo , ND |
48 |
Burlington , VT |
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24 |
Columbia , MO |
49 |
Ogden , UT |
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25 |
Ann Arbor , MI |
50 |
Holland , MI |
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The 50 Smart Cities feature includes profiles of each of the top ten cities. A full-page table that lists all 50 cities includes criteria such as median home price and cost of living. The table also indicates whether each city is particularly suitable for young singles, families with kids, empty-nesters or retirees.
As an online supplement, Kiplinger.com is presenting slideshows of the top ten cities, plus a separate housing slideshow for each city, showcasing local homes recently selling for $300,000 to $600,000. In addition, Kiplinger.com features a calculator that lets users find ideal cities based on their personal criteria.
Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine has been providing millions of Americans with practical advice on how to manage their money and achieve financial security since 1947. Together with Kiplinger.com, it provides a reliable guide to saving and investing, taxes, credit, homeownership, paying for college, retirement planning, car-buying and many other personal finance topics.