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Nebraska fails to make magazine's 'Best Places' list

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Jul 17, 2008 - 12:06:26 pm CDT

Money magazine has released its Best Places to Live list, which ranks the country’s best small cities.

But don’t look for us there: No Nebraska cities made the top 100.

Several Midwest cities, with a population between 50,000 and 300,000, made the list: Plymouth, Minn., came in at No. 1, and Fort Collins, Colo.; Naperville, Ill.; Overland Park, Kan.; and Fishers, Ind., all made the top 10. Norman, Okla. - home of the Sooners - came in at No. 6.

Story Photo
Lincoln didn't make Money magazine's Top 100 listing of the country's best small cities. (File photo)

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Compare Lincoln to other cities
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Money magazine compares Lincoln to the average of its Best Places on topics ranging from tax rates to education and health. See how Lincoln rates, click on the above link.

The list focuses on towns’ job availability, schools, affordable housing and much more, with a database analyzing everything from air quality to tax rates and access to “leisure and culture.”

Other Nebraska cities do show up on some of the listings’ “Top 25” rankings on more specific topics. Omaha and Bellevue made the magazine’s list of affordable housing. Omaha’s median home sale price in 2007 of $113,000 brought it in at No. 8 on the magazine’s national ranking, and Bellevue’s $120,000 median home sale price brought it in at No. 10. Papillion came in on that list at No. 25, with a median home sale price of $169,000.

Several Nebraska towns are noted on the list of “Shortest Commutes”: Norfolk, Columbus and Kearney all made the top 10, with daily work commutes shorter than 10.5 minutes. Hastings and North Platte came in at Nos. 15 and 17 with commutes under 11 minutes.


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Well Duh wrote on July 17, 2008 12:37 pm:
" If you are not 1.) White 2.) Married 3.) Have Children 4.) Republican 5.) Christian 6.) Pro-Life 7.) Anti-Gay 8.) Country-music lovin 9.) Bush supporter and lastly 10.) a Husker; then you have no place in Nebraska even if you were born in the state. "

 Nina wrote on July 17, 2008 12:59 pm:
" Good advice for reading these lists is to remember that we cannot expect to be the best at all things. We should focus on what we already are doing well. And deciding that answer would not include the same categories to all Nebraskans. "

 HuskerGal wrote on July 17, 2008 3:09 pm:
" I live very close to Fishers, IN - for those who may not be familiar with its location - it is one of the northern suburbs of Indianapolis, IN. This small city has been exploding with growth for the past 10 years. From my point of view, other than its proximity to a major metropolitan city, there are many reasons why someone would NOT want to live there like rising taxes due to an ever expanding school district, traffic congestion, not to mention that it is a "bedroom community" which means that the homeowners bear the brunt of property taxes to support city government and city services. I was born and raised in Lincoln - still the best place to live and raise a family!! "

 Lisa wrote on July 17, 2008 3:33 pm:
" Well maybe if the Huskers would win ONE game... "

 JB wrote on July 17, 2008 4:43 pm:
" Lincoln has been in Money's Top Ten Cities in the past. It all depends on how the different factors are weighted. Look at what factors are important to you. Most of the top ten cities are suburbs of much larger cities. Comparing the top ten to Lincoln. Thses cities have ten times as many colleges. Almost eight times as many restaurants. Four times as many bars! Ten times as many golf courses. Sixteen times as many ski resorts! Their homes are more then twice as expensive. Their real estate taxes are over a thousand dollars more too! "

 Does it really matter wrote on July 17, 2008 6:58 pm:
" Get real. While lists like these may seem like something everyone should want to be on, I don't think that it really matters. Not many people look at one of these lists and say 'Gee, I think that we should move to...'

And to 'Well Duh'... 1. You can always leave. OR 2. You don't have to come here. It is a free country and many of us tend to think that Lincoln is a pretty good place to live regardless of what some study says. "

 whatever wrote on July 17, 2008 7:59 pm:
" At one time I thought individuals like "well duh" were way off the mark. But I think I was mistaken, "Does it really matter" demonstrates in volumes the mindset that has driven so many talented individuals out of this state. "

 Anne Gerhardt wrote on July 17, 2008 8:16 pm:
" You really need to face it, Nebraska is a horrible place to live. The government is not responsive to the will of its people, the taxes are over the top, and there is no future for the youth. In addition, despite what any of you think, the education in the high schools of Nebraska is second rate and falling.

You wanted it, no you all got it; PROOF, that Nebraska is a rathole.

Peace out "

 Evan wrote on July 18, 2008 4:03 am:
" Well Duh is absolutely right. The problem that I see with most Nebraskans is that they are very closed-minded when it comes to people of different cultures, lifestyles, political beliefs, etc. It's no wonder why so many people want to leave the state. It's very unfortunate. "

 I like it wrote on July 18, 2008 9:27 am:
" Well, "Duh," I'm 1. asian, 2. like techno, 3. agnostic, 4. democrat and I'll take Lincoln over where I came from, Miami (via Balitimore and my parents are from Taiwan), any day. It's a nice place to raise a family. It isn't perfect, but try living in one of those "urbane" cities for a while not just visit while you're out "finding yourself". I met my wife while on a scholarship to UNL and her family has a farm near Ainsworth. Maybe if you got out and actually TALKED to these so-called hillbillies instead of laughing at them you'd realize they're a lot more open minded and intelligent than you think. "

 Jake wrote on July 18, 2008 9:34 am:
" I was just in Plymouth, MN yesterday and it sucks. "

 How can a state like Nebraska wrote on July 18, 2008 9:52 am:
" really expect to be on a list like this? I mean seriously. This place is sooo depressing during the winter it is amazing. The summers are usually unbearably hot and humid. And to top it off there is NOTHING to do, oh I forgot Husker games! "

 if you live here you are either... wrote on July 18, 2008 9:54 am:
" old,close minded or just plain grumpy. But being grumpy is no wonder seeming the winters here are about as depressing as watching Callahan football. I know there are some nice great people but compare that too the over conservative and old people it is more than a wash. "

 JB wrote on July 18, 2008 10:57 am:
" You'd think with Grand Island getting the wonderful state fair and all, they'd be in the top ten! "

 lifelong Nebraskan wrote on July 18, 2008 4:55 pm:
" Sorry, but Well Duh totally nailed it. If the best thing you can say about Nebraska is that "it's a nice place to raise a family", it's no wonder there are no Nebraska towns on the list. BTW, don't lecture ME about "talking to the so-called hillbillies". I already talk to them. They ARE my family. "

 Is this news worthy wrote on July 19, 2008 5:24 am:
" Why would not making a list be news anyway? Shouldn't it only be news if you make the list? Maybe there is just not much else to cover in Lincoln until football starts? "

 JJ wrote on July 19, 2008 8:54 am:
" Your town is what you make it. If you sit around and wait for the city to come pick you up to take you out and have fun then you will think that your city sucks. The people that come on here and complain are part of the problem. There are some people in this town that are successful and make good money. It can be done, but not by complaining on the local newspaper's website. Make your town number one. "

 JB wrote on July 19, 2008 4:23 pm:
" Papillion was in their Top Ten last year. Each year they rate different types of cities. This year it looks like suburbs of larger cities. Take the good from the small and add to the good from being big. "

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