(MONEY Magazine) – Inspired by New York, we went looking for other cities that feature a strong sense of community--as well as low crime, nice weather, low property taxes and excellent education. Here are six other great places to live, each with its own unique brand of community spirit.

PORTLAND, ORE. For years, Portland was the great frontier, so it's no wonder that citizens now gather in Forest Park, the largest wilderness park (4,800 acres) within a city's boundaries in the U.S.

PROVIDENCE Perhaps the most dramatic downtown renovation in U.S. history, Providence spent the past decade restoring its riverbanks and successfully revitalizing what used to be an urban dead zone.

MISSOULA, MONT. In an effort to save the surroundings from urban sprawl, Missoula's leaders issued bonds so the city could buy and preserve 2,703 acres of nearby land, including much of Mount Jumbo.

AUSTIN The Texas capital boasts the Energy Green Building Program, one of the largest and oldest programs in the U.S. that promotes environmentally safe building practices.

ANN ARBOR This town hosts the biggest arts festival in the country each July, drawing a crowd of half a million. Everyone keeps their cool: There are so many trees that Ann Arbor is on average four degrees cooler than its neighbors.

SARASOTA The city government spends heavily on education, with an average ratio of one computer to every three students. Plus, the school system boasts the country's only student-performing circus.

--Nick Pachetti with Amy Wilson