Community Corner
2 Virginia Cities Among Money’s Best Places To Live
Two Virginia communities were listed among the best places to live in the U.S., according to a new ranking released this week by Money.
VIRGINIA — Two Virginia communities that share a border earned spots among the nation’s 50 Best Places to Live, Money said this week, with the release of its 2022-2023 ranking.
Arlington ranked No. 15, and Alexandria came in at No. 26 on the Money list of 50 Best Places to Live.
The 2022 ranking of 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. includes cities and counties that offer the best in what matters most to residents: economic opportunities, quality of life, and diversity, according to Money. This year, researchers also set out to feature a more diverse list of places than in past years.
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“We kept returning to the question, ‘best places to live for whom?’” researchers said on Money’s website. “(Previous cities were) often quaint, affordable — and unintentionally yet overwhelmingly white. We wanted to create a more welcoming list for a broader group of people this year, so we restructured our data gathering and ranking processes to reflect that priority.”
Listed as the 15th best place to live, Arlington was the highest ranked city or county in Virginia. With a population of 231,000 people, Arlington residents have a median household income of $128,496, while the county’s unemployment rate is 2.1 percent.
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"Arlington is particularly well-known for its green space, including 24 acres at Bon Air Park, where more than 120 types of roses grow among playgrounds and picnic tables," Money said in its description of Arlington. "Residents take full advantage of the outdoors to exercise: Arlington has a reputation as the fittest city in the U.S."
The only other Virginia city or county to make the list was Alexandria, which came in as the 26th best place to live in the country. With a population of 153,052 people, Alexandria residents have a median household income of $114,693 while the city's unemployment rate is 2.4 percent.
"Alexandria scores high on our list for amenities. Need proof? In addition to modern hotspots like Ada’s on the River (wood-fired steaks!) and King’s Ransom (highball cocktails!), it’s packed with historical landmarks," Money wrote in its description of Alexandria. "Examples include Gadsby’s Tavern, an 18th-century tavern and hotel that hosted George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and the Torpedo Factory Art Center, which used to be a munitions plant."
The ranking described Alexandria as an “economic behemoth” and highlighted two other major development projects: Inova’s state-of-the-art hospital and cancer center at the site of the former Landmark Mall and the transformation of the former coal-burning power plant to a vibrant destination in Old Town.
Stephanie Landrum, president and CEO of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, which leads the city’s business retention, recruitment, and redevelopment efforts, said her department would be happy to speak to any entrepreneur or executive who "wants to explore our city for their company growth."
"We are proud to be named one of Money's Top 50 Best Places to live in the United States," Landrum said in a statement Friday. "As this year's criteria show, ultra-high quality of life is synonymous with an amazing business climate and the presence of companies that work for and with the talented, educated, and engaged people who live and work in a community."
To determine the cities on this year’s list, Money analyzed data in nine different areas: cost of living, diversity, economic opportunity, education, fun and amenities, health and safety, the housing market, income and personal finance, and quality of life.
Data was collected from several sources including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Read more about the methodology for Money’s Best Places To Live.
The top city on this year’s list is Atlanta, Georgia.
“This is no accident,” researchers said. “At a time when people are becoming much more introspective about their role in society, our goal this year was to name a number one where anyone can feel like they belong. And for that, Atlanta is hard to beat.”
Following Atlanta is Tempe, Arizona, at No. 2, and Kirkland, Washington, at No. 3.
See the full list of Best Places To Live.
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