another "best of" list...

I love "Best Of" lists. Love 'em. This time - instead of hot women - it's hot cities. Money magazine brings us: Best Places to Live: 2006.

At the top of the list:
Fort Collins, CO
Naperville, IL
Sugarland, TX

All places I've never heard of before they made the list (that's probably part of the appeal: big-town opportunity, small-town feel)...Texas has the distinction of having the most cities on the Top 10.

Seattle: not on the list.

Other interesting stuff:
Greenwich, CT has the highest median income of any city in 2006

Avondale, AZ is the hottest city, with average high temperatures in July hovering around 107 (here in beautiful, green Seattle, while the rest of the country is experiencing record high-temps, we're waiting for the thermometer to hit 70 on a Saturday in July. I love - absolutely love - heat, so to wake up on the weekends to misty low clouds and temperatures that feel like March: I start thinking Avondale, Arizona sounds pretty good. Let's melt the soles of my flip-flops right off!)

Bloomington, IN has the highest percentage of single people (they're just late to discover the true joys of ematchlovesickpuppiesinharmoniousromantictogetherness.com or similar)

Newport Beach, CA has the priciest homes, with a median sale price of $1.36 million (and I naively thought $869K for a 1941 rambler with a bedroom and a half was a bit stiff in my neck-of-the-woods...silly me, try to buy a starter-condo in Newport Beach...)

Jacksonville, NC is the youngest city this year with a median age of 22.9 years old. Meaning it would be the Most Terrible City to live in on a Friday night. The hot spots would be CRAWLING with nothing by 22.9 year-olds out on the prowl for other 22.6 year-olds and 23.2 year-olds....I may be young, but I'm an old lady on the inside, and a town completely filled with 22 year-olds...ah, guess it's a college-town thing.

Roseville, CA has the skinniest residents with an average body mass index of 24.5. California pretty much dominated the skinny list (big surprise, it's where Kate and Lindsay and Nicole live...they sort of slant the average in that direction)...Texas and Colorado made a strong showing, too.

Arlington, VA residents are the most well-educated with almost 40% wandering around sportin graduate degrees

Lake Havasu City, AZ has the cleanest air. At least until everyone flees the skinnier suburbs of California to get away from the smog and brings their Land Cruisers and H3s and Tahoes with them...