[Vision2020] America’s 50 Best Cities to Live: 1. Meridian, Idaho

[Kenneth Marcy]

*http://tinyurl.com/qbnsmlm*

Moving within the United States from one city to another is much more 
common today. No matter the reasons for the move — buying a house, 
looking for a new job, leaving home for the first time — it remains a 
major undertaking. A host of factors play an important role in the 
decision where to move, including the quality of schools, the strength 
of the local economy and job market, safety, culture, and even climate. 
Americans facing this decision have much to consider.

To determine America’s best cities to live in, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 
data on the 550 U.S. cities with populations of 65,000 or more as 
measured by the U.S. Census Bureau. Based on a range of variables, 
including crime rates, employment growth, access to restaurants and 
attractions, educational attainment, and housing affordability, 24/7 
Wall St. identified America’s 50 Best Cities to Live.


      *1. Meridian, Idaho*

*> Population:* 87,739
*> Median home value:* $193,900
*> Poverty rate:* 10.9%
*> Pct. with at least a bachelor’s degree:* 27.7%
*> Amenities per 100,000 residents:* 169.8

Meridian, located just outside of Idaho’s capital city of Boise, is 
24//7 Wall St.’s best city to live in. The city is safe, and jobs have 
attracted growing numbers of new residents. Only 80 violent crimes were 
reported per 100,000 in Meridian last year, a fraction of the national 
violent crime rate of 366 violent crimes per 100,000 Americans.

The annual unemployment rate in the city is also quite low. At just 
4.1%, it is lower than the state’s jobless rate of 4.8% and well below 
the national jobless rate of 6.2%. Moreover, jobs are being added to the 
local economy faster than in most of the United States. The 7.4% 
increase in the number of jobs from 2012 through last year was much 
greater than the national job growth rate of 1.8% over that period. 
Prospective employment is frequently the first priority for Americans 
considering relocation. With the strong job market, Meridian’s 
population has been growing dramatically in recent years. Over the five 
years through 2014, the city’s population growth rate of 28.0% was more 
than four times the nationwide population growth of 6.5%.

More of the story at: *http://tinyurl.com/qbnsmlm*


Ken

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