Best Places to Live In Maryland

The Top 100 places to live in America

Each year Money magazine conducts a survey of the top 100 places to live in America. Many states can’t even crack the list—more than half fail to place even one city within their boundaries in the top 100.  In 2011 Maryland had the distinction of finding three of its cities on this enviable list.

The Best Places to Live

The survey ranks “best places to live” on a number of criteria.  Chief among these is levels of stress experienced by residents—which may be linked to crime rates and availability of good jobs; also important area availability of good schools, and access to the amenities and benefits of being near a larger city or major metropolitan area without having to live in the midst of the metro areas congestion, crime and high costs of living. Other factors cited in the survey include economic strength, good climate and recreational opportunities.

Three Maryland Cities that make the List

Montgomery Village

Clocking in at #40 on the list of top 100 places to live is Montgomery Village, Maryland.  Situated near Baltimore but classified as a suburb of Gaithersburg, this large, planned community lies in the middle of an unincorporated section of Montgomery County.  The population is approximately 40,000 and is considered a fairly affluent area—a reputation bolstered by its location near the Maryland “technology corridor with its high paying technical jobs.  The Montgomery Village schools are well regarded and low stress living is enhanced by the planned nature of the community, with no fewer than six law enforcement agencies servicing the area, crime is low.  Housing prices are high—as might be expected from a prime location between Baltimore and Washington D.C.

Eldersburg

Eldersburg, in Carroll County is ranked as the 67th best place to live in the US by the survey.  Eldersburg claims a population of just over 31,000.  Eldersburg’s close proximity to Washington D.C. makes it a popular “bedroom” community for professionals, federal and contract workers who commute to the nation’s capital daily.  Once a thriving farming region, recent decades have seen a steady influx of families moving into the area and yet the rural appeal of the town is maintained by its small size and its location nestled in scenic, rolling hills.  Public schools in Eldersburg  are ranked as among the best in the state; housing prices—again due to the proximity to the very high cost District of Columbia are higher than average, but the economic health of the area is excellent, which supports the higher real estate costs.

Crofton

The third Maryland community in the top 100 is Crofton, which comes in at number 82.  Crofton, situated in Anne Arundel County started its existence in 1965 as planned, gated community equidistance from both Washington D.C. and Baltimore (20 miles to each).  With a population of only slightly over 20,000, Crofton is situated around a scenic 3.5-mile scenic loop that includes two elementary schools, the town hall, and a country club and which is famous for its jogging, cycling and walking opportunities.  Crime is low and the schools are among the best in the state.  Housing prices however are reported as being “significantly” higher than the statewide average.

While one man’s paradise can be another’s purgatory, the criteria cited by Money magazine’s survey identify the most important factors that go into making a particular location among the “best places to live in the United States.  Not everyone can move to these oases of domestic tranquility, but for those relocating due to job or schooling reasons to Maryland’s Baltimore-D.C. area, these three cities rank among the best places to live in Maryland.

The Best State to Live in the Central US

The central United States encompasses a broad area, making it difficult to determine the best states to live in. Several places in this region deserve a spot on the list for one reason or another. From Colorado to Texas and Indiana to Nebraska, many states were in contention for the top honor, but when it came down to the wire, Iowa as the best central state was the clear winner. With a good economy, strong job market and some of the nation’s best schools, Iowa can accurately be named one of the best places to live in the United States.

Best City to Live in Iowa

Ames, Iowa is a community of approximately 60,000 people, and its residents contend that it is one of the best cities to live in Iowa. Located 30 miles from Des Moines, Ames is the home to the Iowa State University of Science and Technology, a major employer within the community. Perhaps this is the reason that the unemployment rate in Ames is only 4.3%, less than half of the national average. Median family income is upwards of $77,000 and the median home price is $175,000. Job growth is up nearly 16% since 2000 and school test scores in Ames are an average of 22.5% higher than state scores. Nearly 16% of the city’s residents bike or walk to work, which may account for the city’s 99% air quality rating. Ames has 36 parks and plenty of recreational activities, making this an amazing place to raise a family.

Cheapest Place to Live in Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa was named on Kiplinger’s “50 Smart Places to Live”, coming in at number 10. The sixth largest city in the state, Iowa City has a population of nearly 67,000 while still maintaining a small-town feel. Home to the University of Iowa, median family income here is $57,568. Home prices start in the low $100,000 range, making ownership easily affordable. Utilities in Iowa City are 20% less than the national average, while costs for groceries, housing and healthcare also fall below national expenditures. The unemployment rate here is 3.6%, nearly two-thirds less than the national percentage, and job growth stands at 1.06% and climbing.

Best Place to Retire in Iowa

When searching for the best places to retire, Ankeny, Iowa pops up time and time again. Over the past five years, the 55 and older population in this city has soared with an 87.3% increase in the amount of seniors living in the area. Median household income for those 55 or older is $58,000, while the median home price in the area is $164,500. Ankeny has an approximate population of 38,000 with senior citizens accounting for nearly 15% of that number. Its close proximity to Des Moines means that the arts, culture and entertainment of Iowa’s biggest city are only minutes away. Ankeny offers the quiet life many retirees desire while still remaining close to the convenience of a large city.

Iowa boasts a growing job market, low unemployment rate and relatively inexpensive cost of living across the board, making it the best place to live in the central United States. Whether you are looking for a new city to raise a family, a haven in which to retire or an inexpensive location to start a new business venture, Iowa has a place for you.

America's Cheapest Real Estate

The Cheapest Real Estate in America

Editors note: I just read this interesting article on the website 'Home Goes Strong' and thought I would pass it along. There's some food for thought in here when it comes to either staying put and refinancing or pulling up your roots and moving to a cheaper place.

houston downtown, a photo by BIJI KURIAN on Flickr.

Leah Ingram writes:

Do you live in America's Cheapest City?

We're ready to refinance the mortgage on our home, again! We actually just went through refinancing about a year ago, when mortgage rates had first dropped. But now that the typical 30 year mortgage rate has dropped even further - it's down below 4% - we thought we would be crazy not to at least look into whether another refinancing was worth the trouble, even though we had just refinanced less than a year ago.

First, we asked our current bank, the one that holds our mortgage, to consider changing our interest rate to bring it more inline with current rates being offerred at other banks, of course they agreed to do so but only if we agreed to pay an astronomical change fee. When we worked it out we discovered it would take two years at the new lower mortgage rate to make back the difference from the service charge. I knew there had to be a better deal out there and sure enough I found a bank that was more than willing to eat the closing costs and give us a new mortgage at a rate even lower than the reduced rate our bank had offerred on the refinance deal. And the best part of it all is that it will only take a bit more than one mortgage payment to make up for the upfront costs we will likely incur - we will probably need an updated home appraisal.

You see even though we had just had a home appraisal a year ago from our previous refinance, like most places in the United States, homes where we live (suburban Philadelphia) just haven't increased in value. Many have held their value though and some more so than in other American cities where real estate is still depressed. But all of that said the bank that is offerring our new mortgage just wants to make sure our home still holds enough value to cover the new mortgage.

If you're looking to buy a new home in you want to explore the best cities for singles, families and the  best cities for jobs. Bottom line - it's a good idea to buy where the real estate holds its value. However, if you're on a tight budget it's best to know where the cheapest places to live are too.

According to an infographic I read recently from Credit Sesame, here are the top 5 cheapest cities (based on cost per square foot) for real estate in America:

1. Houston @$54 per square foot
2. Phoenix @ $79
3. Atlanta @ $132
4. Chicago @ $158
5. Miami @ $182

One Day in Houston

Editors note: What I find most interesting about these places is that many American's would say these are some of the best places to live in America too. Cheap and a nice place to live? It doesn't get much better!

Source: America's Cheapest Real Estate:

The Best Place To Live In The US

America is the land of opportunity and throngs of people come each year to visit. These people would appreciate a list of the best places to live in the US. Americans would agree the most desired place to live in America is based on the number of jobs available, low crime, great schools and in general a nice place to raise one’s family.

Top 10 Best Places To Live in the US

Some of the areas to live in America include Eden Prairie -MN, Columbia in Maryland, Newton-MA, Bellevue-WA, McKinney-TX, Fort Collins – CO, Overland Park-KS, Fishers-IN, Ames-IA, Rogers-AR. The number one place to live which is in Eden Prairie is family oriented and has a robust economy as well. It has a comfortable 5.1% unemployment rate which is lower than the nation’s rate. There are more than fifty thousand jobs available in this town. Big Fortune 500 companies have established their firms in this town and include the Minnesota Vikings, C.H Robinson and others. Eden Prairie residents should be pleased to know that Moody’s has given their city an AAA bond rating. The city has natural features like the seventeen lakes that residents and visitors swim in and ice skate in the winter. Residents here can keep fit with the 125 mile stretch park that may be used for aerobic exercises.

Best Cities To Live In

Omaha, Nebraska is not only the home of billionaire Warren Buffet; it is a warm climate region with a low cost of living. The city has numerous Fortune 500 companies thanks to the efforts of the pearl of Omaha. The city has improved its downtown areas and created space for entrepreneurs and online companies such as PayPal. Housing, movie tickets and concerts make Omaha the place to live in 2011.

The Best Places to Live in America

The best places to live in America change each year and some of them are in the mid-western part of the country. Setting up of online companies in the Midwest is a big reason for cities in those states to be admired.

Editors Note: Be sure to check out our updated series (Nov 2011) on the Best States to Live in for an in depth look at America's Best from North to South and East to West.