RelocateAmerica’s Top 100 Places to Live report has garnered considerable attention and this is a good thing as we are in our 13th year connecting relocating families and individuals with America’s best communities. This year’s list focuses on communities poised for recovery and future growth. Additionally, and new for 2010, we created separate Top 10 breakout lists and videos from our Top 100 in a variety of categories including recovery, being earth friendly, recreation, retirement and size. These Top 10 lists have captured a large share of the attention. And as such, we wanted to pile with some more detail and rationale on why we selected our various breakouts. We have already blogged about our Top 10 Earth Friendly Cities for 2010 and now let’s hammer away at our Top 10 Overall Cities for 2010 in reverse, countdown order.
Coming in at Number 10, Minneapolis Minnesota. The city of lakes features a progressive vibe, great schools, an active job market, the country’s best city park system and tremendous family appeal along four distinct seasons including a real winter.
Number 9. Boulder, Colorado. A truly unique community nestled into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. With its positive economy, expanding green space, active community efforts and enough outdoor options to exceed anyone’s calendar, Boulder promotes an outstanding quality of life.
Our Eighth selection is Raleigh North Carolina. The largest corner in the Research Triangle provides the vitality of a major metropolitan area matched with the friendliness of a southern town. With its thriving job market, affordable housing and excellent educational system, its no wonder Raleigh is one of our top places.
Coming in at Number 7, also from the great state of North Carolina is Charlotte. This charming reborn southern city offers a vibrant business community, a highly educated populous, strong family sensibility, steady real estate market and a lower than US average cost of living. Charlotte is a great city.
Number 6. Tulsa, Okalahoma – RelocateAmerica’s 2009 Winner for Best City and it’s community prominence continues today with flourishing economy, low unemployment and solid business base especially in its energy sector. Match this with its close-knit feel, diverse neighborhoods and ample housing options and you’ll see why Tulsa belongs in our Top 10 cities again.
Our fifth selection is San Antonio, Texas. This southern gem promotes a tremendous quality of life and true Texas warmth. A cultural melting point with good sense of history, a strong economy, fantastic educational system, and the incredible River Walk make San Antonio not just the number one spot of Texas tourists and tops for current and future residents as well.
Coming in at Number 4. San Diego, California – Southern California’s finest large city and a playground for life as it should be. San Diego offers ideal weather, near perfect location, diversity, vibrant neighborhoods, and an inviting business culture all wrapped up in one beautiful city. It’s a dream spot to call home.
Austin Texas is our Number 3. The state capital as well as the home for Texas free spirits, music and BBQ lovers is a high tech haven with a strong, growing economy nicely balanced with a laid back college town feel. Any city intentionally trying to keep itself weird deserves a place on our list.
Number 2 and our nation’s capital – Washington DC. Not sure if you heard, but the government is busy and that’s a good thing for DC. The now goto spot for young professionals with an incredible job market, diversity, cultural opportunities galore, this city just missed our top rating.
And finally, our Number 1. Huntsville, Alabama is our top Overall City for 2010. Huntsville offers incredible southern charm and a stable economy thanks to Rocket City’s aerospace, defense and tech industries. Huntsville is a highly livable city and a terrific place to raise a family with its low cost of living and wealth of cultural and recreation options.
Hope that gives some more insight into our Top 10 Overall Cities for 2010. Be sure to check out our videos on our website or Youtube.
[...] Although their methodology is unclear, RelocateAmerica.com says this is their 13th year releasing these lists and their reasoning is outlined in their blog. [...]