For Immediate Release
March 2, 2016
Contact: Susan Norton
Director
Communications Department
479.575.8330
snorton@fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville Places Third on U.S. News and World Report’s Inaugural Best Places to Live
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — U.S. News & World Report unveiled the 2016 Best Places to Live in the United States today. The new list ranks the country's 100 largest metropolitan areas based on affordability, job prospects, and quality of life. Fayetteville, Arkansas is named the No. 3 with an overall score of 7.5 out of 10 points. Other cities in the top five include Denver, Colorado at No. 1; Austin, Texas at No. 2; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina at No. 4; and Colorado Springs, Colorado at No. 5.
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 ranking lists of the Best High Schools and Best Hospitals.
"The Best Places to Live ranking accounts for the most important concerns people have about where to live, such as cost of living, employment opportunities and access to good schools," said Miriam Weiner, product manager for Real Estate at U.S. News. "Top-ranked areas not only have steady job markets, but they also have attributes that contribute to a high quality of life – affordability, low crime rates, shorter commute times and quality health care."
Roughly two-thirds of the U.S. population lives within one of the metropolitan areas on the Best Places to Live list. Among these cities, some smaller ones in the middle of the country make a notably strong showing. Information and statistics gathered by U.S. News and World Report about the Fayetteville MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) can be found here: http://realestate.usnews.com/places/arkansas/fayetteville.
“Fayetteville is part of a region of exceptional leadership, expanding business opportunities, accessible education, and active citizenry,” said Mayor Lioneld Jordan. “This is a tremendous recognition of a place I’m honored to call home. The Northwest Arkansas region is a great place to live, work, learn, and play.”
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