Best Places to Live

The 100 best (and worst) places to raise kids

2009-10-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

The 100 best (and worst) places to raise kids

You and your kids call it home, but how does your city rank nationally? Children's Health magazine conducted a statistical analysis to rank 100 noteworthy American cities, considering factors like safety, education, economics and more. (MSNBC)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33385798/ns/today-parenting_and_family/page/2/from/ET

Cedar Falls, Iowa

2009-09-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

Iowa, an often overlooked state is starting to gain recognition. In the 2009 CNBC Top States for Business ranking, Iowa came in fourth overall and first place in competitve cost for doing business. So what does this mean to you? Jobs. Many young professionals are taking a second look at Iowa for many reasons: quality of life (many green spaces), relatively low cost of living, and low housing costs.

In my eyes, Cedar Falls is a standout gem in this great state. Located in northeast Iowa, Cedar Falls boasts a lively walkable downtown, a large network of bike trails, a variety of restaurants, and it is home to the University of Northern Iowa. The University adds a lot to this community including: a variety of sporting events available in the UNI Dome and McLeod Center, cultural events at the UNI Multicultural Center, and performing arts at the Strayer-Wood Theater and the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

Major employers in the area include: PFG Best, John Deere, Target Distribution Center, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, Allen Memorial Hospital, Viking Pump, and the University of Northern Iowa.

The Cedar Valley Board of Realtors has a great searchable website. Take note that housing prices in Cedar Falls are significantly higher than those in neighboring Waterloo. The area at the border of the two communities is often referred to as Cedarloo.

Stats:
Population- 36,000
Schools- 3 high schools: NU High, Cedar Falls High, and Valley Lutheran High. 2 junior highs and six elementary schools.
2008 Cost of Living Index- Cedar Falls 82.2, National Average 100
Outdoor Activities- Located on the Cedar River, nearby George Wyth State Park, Pheasant Ridge Public Course, Beaver Hills Private Course, The Falls Cedar Falls Waterpark

Where Are the Next Cities?| young knowledge workers, Next Generation Consulting, NGC | Area Development Online

2009-09-23T11:11:00.001-07:00

Where Are the Next Cities?| young knowledge workers, Next Generation Consulting, NGC | Area Development Online

I ran into this article today at work while I was reading Area Development magazine. It gives an interesting spin on the "where to live" debate, especially for young professionals.

Shared via AddThis

Pining after a life in the country. Here's the list for you:

2009-09-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

Find an ideal place in the country based on your preferences.
http://progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/top10.html

Take the quiz!

2009-09-07T14:37:00.000-07:00

Here are two fun resources:

Find Your Best Place
http://www.bestplaces.net/fybp/
This listed my top spot as Seattle- even though I had selected a dislike of fog and the climate in that area.

Find Your Spot
http://www.findyourspot.com/
I love this site and the format of their quiz. The results are presented in printable PDF files. Fun!

Lake Havasu City, Arizona

2009-09-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

Lake Havasu City, a sunny oasis in the desert, is a friendly community that has a small town feel. In the 1960's the British government put the London Bridge up for auction to the highest bidder. Robert McCulloch of Lake Havasu City was the high bidder at $2,460,000. After a trip around the world, the bridge was put in place brick by brick and dedicated in 1971. Since then Lake Havasu City has grown into a popular spot for tourists, families, and retirees.

We spent our first evening having dinner at a great seafood restaurant on the canal. The city is especially charming in the evening when the bridge is lit. The next morning we headed to the English village for a little shopping. After going to a couple of tourist shops, we got ice cream and watched the boats.

In the afternoon we hit a few model homes. This picture is inside one of the gorgeous models. These were across the bridge, but there were many great houses for sale throughout the city.
That evening we went to a local bar to play pool and talk with the locals. The main street of the town has a few hole in the wall spots. I'm sure they are really busy during spring break when college students descend upon the city.

The Facts:
According to www.zillow.com the average median single family home price in LHC is $154,800 which is an appreciation of -24.4% from last year. A quick search of the same site for a 2 bedroom single family home turned up four pages of results with houses ranging in price from $82,900-$499,900.

Stats from the LHC Website:

23,018 households

median age is 47.5

median household income, $35,881

labor force, 17,021

average min. temperature 63.26 degrees

average max. temperature 90.39 degrees

450 miles of lake shoreline

four city parks

1 dog park

performing arts center

eight lighted tennis courts

four private golf courses

Greater Phoenix, Arizona

2009-09-06T21:46:00.000-07:00

The greater Phoenix area has a special place in my heart. My husband and I had a fantastic time dreaming of our "could-be" life in this area during our visit last March. We spent one week in the greater Phoenix area and put some serious mileage on our rental car. We wanted to see it all!

Our favorite spots:

The weather was fabulous and the desert was in bloom. We took a day trip up to Tortilla Flat and did the entire circle of the Apache Trail. This is highly recommended if you're in the area and want to check out a scenic desert drive. Another one of our favorite tourist spots (which also seems to be a local favorite) is the Desert Botanical Gardens. We were lucky enough to be there during the Chihuly exhibit. This garden is almost completely uncovered so I would recommend going in the morning or evening. I checked their calendar and some evenings they have live music in the garden. My third must see is definitely a local favorite, The Farm at South Mountain. After taking a hike in the area, we spent the afternoon at the farm. As you enter, you see a picnic area lined with pecan trees and to the back an artist village and organic garden. We enjoyed a picnic lunch that we had packed and added a few organic treats from their onsite market. There were so many great day trip spots that we visited in the area, but I would also recommend Old Town Scottsdale. They have a trolley service that connects the various areas. After taking the "Walk the Line Artwalk", we had dinner at the Old Town Tortilla Factory. We had dinner in their romantic lighted garden. The food was great and the atmosphere was even better.

The Facts:
The greater Phoenix area was obviously hit and hit hard by the recession. While visiting model homes we got the same story over and over again- prices are nearly cut in half. If you telecommute or are fortunate enough to find a job in this area, lucky you!
The new light rail system shows the progressive attitude of the City of Phoenix. It may only be a 20-mile starter line, but it is moving the city in the right direction.
The median home price in the area is $180,000 with home appreciation from last year at -18.4%. Crime stats vary by area, but when comparing with the national average greater Phoenix's rate is higher. (Take into consideration the national average adds up all of the little towns too.) Winter temperatures average from 44-67 degrees while summer temperatures average from 81-107 degrees. Our favorite areas were: Fountain Hills & Surprise for affordability, Cave Creek, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley expensive but gorgeous, and Tempe for its young vibe. I have to mention how much I love the architecture of the homes in the area.

Monterey, California

2009-09-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

There are few places as beautiful as Monterey, California. From the flower lined streets to the abundance of sea life, this charming city has a lot to offer.

On a recent trip, my husband and I spent two days wandering the small city. We explored the shops, enjoyed the amazing seafood, chatted with locals, and watched the sunset over the bay.

My favorite things:
Sea Lions, Sea Otters, and Seals
Clam Chowder (YUM!)
The walkable shopping areas- trolley connects them
Gorgeous views of Monterey Bay

What is the local paper saying?
The headline from August 27th: "Monterey Peninsula mayors optimistic about economy," Monterey County The Herald.

The Facts:
Housing:
A quick search on www.realtor.com led me to a good-sized list of cute two bedroom, one bath cottages for around $325,000.
Weather:
According to www.weather.com, in the summer the temperature ranges from 48-70 degrees while in the winter the temperatures range from 43-64 degrees. We visited during July and it wasn't quite warm enough to swim in the outdoor pool.
Crime:
The violent crime rate has decreased by 26% over the last five years. For a full list visit the City of Monterey Website. During our visit we felt relatively safe. We stayed within walking distance (15 mins) to the main tourist areas. We didn't encounter any problems when we walked back to our hotel at night.
Monterey Bay Aquarium

See the list of stats on CNN Money's list of the best small towns 2009.