(MONEY Magazine) – When it comes to picking a place to live, you laid down the law: Safety is your top concern in 1996, catapulting over last year's first and second priorities: clean water and clean air. This spring, we asked a statistically valid sample of MONEY subscribers to rate 41 factors on a 1-to-10 scale. Job anxiety caused volcanic movement in our ranking. In fact, recent job growth vaulted the most from a year ago, from your 23rd highest concern to the 15th, while future job growth climbed four spots to No. 12. Housing appreciation, good schools and a racially diverse population all edged up at least three slots as well. Carrying less weight this year: clean air, a strong state government and living near colleges, forests and parks.

Readers' concerns varied markedly by gender and type of household. Crime, jobs, health and environmental issues, arts and culture and short commutes mattered more to women than to men. By contrast, men care more about the availability of pro and minor league sports--natch. Finally, parents with kids under 18 named good public schools as their top priority. --L.M.

Characteristic Mean score

Low crime rate 8.9 Clean water 8.8 Clean air 8.4 Plentiful doctors 8.3 Many hospitals 8.2 Housing appreciation 7.8 Good schools 7.8 Low property taxes 7.7 Low income taxes 7.7 Strong state government 7.7 Recession resistance 7.5 Future job growth 7.4 Low sales taxes 7.4 Inexpensive living 7.3 Recent job growth 7.2 Low risk of state tax rise 7.2 Low risk of natural disasters 7.1 Affordable medical care 7.1 Low unemployment rate 7.1 Close to relatives 7.0 High marks from ecologists 6.9 Short commutes 6.9 Near lakes or ocean 6.9 High civic involvement 6.6 Affordable car insurance 6.6 Low house prices 6.5 Racially diverse population 6.4 Close to colleges 6.4 Sunny weather 6.4 Near places of worship 6.3 Near national forests or parks 6.2 Close to a big airport 5.9 Near a big city 5.8 Good public transportation 5.5 Museums nearby 5.4 Local symphony orchestras 4.9 Zoos or aquariums 4.9 Major league sports 4.8 Near amusement parks 4.7 Close to skiing 4.3 Minor league sports 4.0

Source: Roper/Starch Worldwide