100 best places to live and launch

Population: 74,400
Pros: Great for families, low unemployment
Con: Downtown lacks residential housing

While many of the residential communities near Oklahoma City are family-friendly, Edmond, located 15 minutes outside of the hub, is attractive to business, too. The city is "growing rapidly on both the commercial and residential sides," says Michael Ogan, director of business development at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. Retail is big, but so are education, healthcare, and financial services. Ogan also points to the educated workforce - more than half of Edmond's population has a college degree.

Local business owners can network on the city's superlative golf courses, and relax at nearby Arcadia Lake (great for boating and camping) or at one of the weekly farmers markets. Their families enjoy excellent healthcare and schools - test scores rank well above the national average. -Mina Kimes

Interactive map: Edmond, Okla.
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