Best places to live

Best Places to Live: Top 100

For this year's list we focused on smaller places that offered the best combination of economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community.

By Kate Ashford, Andrea Bartz, Jeff Cox, Asa Fitch, Stephen Gandel, Josh Hyatt, Rob Kelley, Kathleen Knight, Joe Light, Ismat Sarah Mangla, Sarah Max, Jennifer Merritt, Brad Nelson, Donna Rosato, Ingrid Tharasook
Chelmsford, Mass.
The barn at 200 Acton Road
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21. Chelmsford, Mass.
Population: 33,800
Median home price (2006): $352,002
Average property taxes (2006):$4,019

Chelmsford has a long and colorful history. Ralph Waldo Emerson founded a school there and its militia fought in some of the Revolutionary War's most famous battles. While many historical landmarks remain, Chelmsford has developed into a thriving industrial town. Nevertheless, Chelmsford has plenty to offer nature lovers, with several parks scattered throughout town. -B.N.

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Middleton
Hanover
Louisville
Lake Mary
Claremont
Papillion
Milton
Chaska
Nether Providence (Wallingford)
Suwanee
Sammamish
West Goshen
Montville
Apex
Horsham
La Palma
Olney
Sherwood
Corrales
Lisle
Chelmsford
Holly Springs
Hillsborough
Nanuet
Baldwin
Parker
Eastchester
Apple Valley
River Vale
Germantown
Winter Springs
Lake Oswego
Marlboro
La Mirada
Rocky Hill
Vadnais Heights
Plymouth Township
Coronado
Urbandale
Schertz
New Berlin
Elkridge
Jenks
Hewitt
Berkeley Heights
Westerville
Sayreville
Easton
Catonsville
Keller
Friendswood
Libertyville
Somers
Mechanicsville
Farmington
Eldersburg
Clayton
Readington
Saline
Lincoln
Woodridge
Moorpark
Camas
Peachtree City
Mooresville
Glen Allen
Liberty
Trumbull
Mukilteo
Vienna
Schererville
Crofton
Westborough
Granite Bay
Highland Heights
Martinez
El Dorado Hills
Moorestown
Pike Creek
Ridgeland
Mason
South Elgin
Mansfield
Beavercreek
Salem
North Haven
Emmaus
Lansing
Olive Branch
Franklin (Milwaukee County)
Helena
Grand Terrace
Twinsburg
Wilbraham
Bartlett
Gahanna
Grapevine
Seven Oaks
Silverdale
Cottonwood Heights
Source: OnBoard
Best places to live
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Best Places to Live: Full list
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Contact Us Closed Captioning Manage Cookies+ Site Map

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.