Columbia, MD #1 in 2016 Money Magazine Best Places to Live in America

Columbia, MD is #1 on Money Magazine's 2016 Best Places to Live in America list!

This is the sixth consecutive time that Columbia has been in the Top 10 of this biennial ranking, and the first time that Columbia has taken the top spot, with the publication citing good schools, a strong business climate, economic and social diversity, and relatively affordable housing for this region.

This year's rankings emphasized the economy and jobs.

Other Top 50 communities in DC-MD-NoVA were Ashburn, VA (#22) and Hunter Mill, VA (#28, incorporating parts of Reston, Herndon, Vienna, and Tysons Corner).

As you know, Emerson is on the southern boundary of Columbia and shares the same top-rated Howard County school district and library system.

This ranking comes out every other year because Money evaluates small cities (between 50,000 and 300,000) and small towns under 50,000 in alternating years.

Last year, North Laurel, MD was #23 on the best small towns in America list.

Money only lists the best big city (over 300,000) in each of six regions.

The ratings take into account such factors as the local economies, housing, schools, crime rates, amenities, and also intangibles such as a sense of community.

The rankings for the combined cities of Columbia and Ellicott City since 2006 have been as follows:

• 2016: #1
• 2014: #6
• 2012: #8
• 2010: #2
• 2008: #8
• 2006: #4

Historical Top Ten Rankings:

Rank	2006	2008	2010	2012	2014	2016
1	Fort Collins, CO	Plymouth, MN	Eden Prairie, MN	Carmel, IN	McKinney, TX	Columbia, MD
2	Naperville, IL	Fort Collins, CO	Columbia/Ellicott City, MD	McKinney, TX	Maple Grove, MN	Eden Prairie, MN
3	Sugar Land, TX	Naperville, IL	Newton, MA	Eden Prairie, MN	Carmel, IN	Plano, TX
4	Columbia/Ellicott City, MD	Irvine, CA	Bellevue, WA	Newton, MA	Castle Rock, CO	West Des Moines, IA
5	Cary, NC	Franklin Township, NJ	McKinney, TX	Redmond, WA	Kirkland, WA	Naperville, IL
6	Overland Park, KS	Norman, OK	Fort Collins, CO	Irvine, CA	Columbia/Ellicott City, MD	Parsippany, NJ
7	Scottsdale, AZ	Round Rock, TX	Overland Park, KS	Reston, VA	Clarkstown, NY	Highlands Ranch, CO
8	Boise, ID	Columbia/Ellicott City, MD	Fishers, IN	Columbia/Ellicott City, MD	Ames, IA	Clarkstown, NY
9	Fairfield, CT	Overland Park, KS	Ames, IA	Overland Park, KS	Rochester Hills, MI	Weston, FL
10	Eden Prairie, MN	Fishers, IN	Rogers, AR	Chapel Hill, NC	Reston, VA	Beaverton, OR

Links to Related External Articles:

• How America's #1 Best Place to Live Got To Be That Way (Money Magazine, 9/22/16) - Columbia, MD started with Jim Rouse's visionary plan
• Columbia Tops “Best Places To Live in America” List (WJZ-TV Baltimore, 9/19/16)
• Columbia Is Best Place to Live in America for 2016: Money Magazine (Columbia Patch, 9/19/16)
• 'Best Places to Live 2016': This Northern Virginia Region Makes the List (Vienna Patch, 9/19/16)