MONEY's annual ranking of America's best towns has placed Allen at #2!
Allen is the only Texas city represented in MONEY's "Best Places to Live 2017" list, which evaluated 2,400 places on eight categories: cost of living, economy, education, housing, crime, convenience, cultural and recreational amenities, and an overall sense of pleasantness. Fishers, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis, tops this year's list.
In his editor's letter, MONEY editor Adam Auriemma writes, "Where you choose to live is an important decision, one that influences your life in every way. So we had to make sure to consider as many factors as possible. This year, our methodology is as robust as ever. We’ve gathered 170,000 data points about 2,400 places…. Our final list…represents the best of America's towns and cities: places that offer economic opportunity, a sense of community, and access to amenities that make life more enjoyable."
This year marks MONEY’s 30th Best Places to Live list. Over the past 30 years the basic elements that make a great place to live have rarely changed - good schools, a good economy and good neighbors. When MONEY launched its inaugural Best Places to Live list in 1987 crime rates were rising nationally placing an emphasis on safety. During the financial crisis in 2007 good job security was a big priority. Today, rising demand for urban living has pushed up prices for homes in cities, driving more people to suburbs. That’s why MONEY chose to look at places with a population between 10,000 and 100,000 this year. For the first time MONEY teamed up with realtor.com® to leverage its rich data and understanding of housing markets.
“The MONEY Best Places to Live annual ranking is the nation’s most iconic housing report and showcases what makes communities so special,” said Nate Johnson, chief marketing officer of realtor.com®. “Choosing where to live is such a personal decision that is impacted by so many different factors. We understand this process and recognize the important role realtor.com® plays in providing homebuyers with the most comprehensive listings and key market insights that allow them to make informed decisions.”
MONEY's 2017 Top 10 Best Places to Live:
1. Fishers, Indiana
2. Allen, Texas
3. Monterey Park, California
4. Franklin, Tennessee
5. Olive Branch, Mississippi
6. Dickinson, North Dakota
7. Lone Tree, Colorado
8. North Arlington, New Jersey
9. Schaumburg, Illinois
10. Bozeman, Montana