By OANow Staff
Money Magazine named Auburn among the top 100 places to live in its list of the best small cities in the U.S.
“We’re proud of this recognition of Auburn as a great place to live. We’re passionate about our home here in Auburn, and we’ll continue to work hard to make sure that Auburn continues to be one of the best places to live in the U.S.,” Auburn Mayor Bill Ham Jr. said in a news release.
Auburn was ranked 89th on America’s Best Places to Live 2012 list. Carmel, Ind., topped the list, and Ann Arbor, Mich., came in at No. 100. Auburn was the only Alabama city to make the list, according to the city. The list was published online at CNNMoney.com, the website for the magazine, and is in the September print issue.
“These terrific small cities offer what American families care about most — strong job opportunities, great schools, low crime, quality health care, and plenty to do. And they’re true communities too,” according to CNNMoney.com.
The magazine described Auburn as a serious college football town with a vibrant downtown with a “surprising amount of variety.”
Compared to the average of cities on the list, Auburn boasts lower taxes, a shorter median work commute (14th overall among the 100) and a greater percentage of residents with some college education. But Auburn fell below the list’s average for math and reading scores in education and showed a higher rate of property crime though a slightly lower rate in personal crime.