Our friends at the Worcester Business Journal reported today that Worcester makes "U.S. News' 100 best places to live." For many of us who live here this is not news, merely affirmation. Worcester has often been the butt of many a joke but inhabitants know it is a great place to raise a family, get an advanced degree, or care for aging loved ones, with proximity to ocean, mountains, lakes and cities chock full of activities. Commutes here can be very reasonable compared to many cities, crime is relatively low, and culture abounds if you are willing to seek it out. Our numerous colleges bring a host of benefits both academic and cultural. And if, you are looking for something that isn't here, chances are you can find it nearby.
The U.S. News & World Report's 2016 Best Places to Live list includes the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas. Denver, CO took the top honors, followed by Austin, TX and Fayettville, AR. According to U.S. News & World Report, the ranking evaluated areas based on the factors that most people use when selecting somewhere to live: the area's value prospect, quality of life, job market health, whether or not people want to live in an area and whether an area is attracting new residents. Portland, Maine narrowly beat out Boston as the northeast's highest ranked area with the 29th spot on the list to Boston's 30th. Worcester holds down the second highest rating for Massachusetts at 65th, beating Springfield at 74th and the city's rival Providence at 92nd. The 2016 Best Places to Live ranking was determined in part by a public survey of thousands of individuals across the U.S. to find out what makes a place desirable to live in. The methodology also factors in data from the United States Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as U.S. News rankings of the Best High Schools and Best Hospitals."