Seven of the cities ranked in are in Colorado, , which has been among the top 10 since the list started in 2014.
Livability.com, a website that assesses what makes small and medium cities great places to live, ranked more than 2,000 cities with populations between 20,000 and 350,000 based on more than 40 data points.
Boulder gets props for its cultural amenities, including a robust farm-to-table food community. Note: Boulder has dropped from No. 2, that first year, and No. 4 last year.
, cited for access to good jobs and good outdoor amenities, as well as a deep bench of microbreweries, moved up from No. 24 last year. , selected in part for its affordability and impressive public art program.
Metro Denver suburb , cited for its walkability and robust selection of community events, including Western Welcome Week, which dates to the 1920s. , was called out for a deep employment base as well as a growing assortment of shops and restaurants — and the stunning Front Range views. Lakewood was ranked at No. 34 last year.
, ranked in part because of its residents’ access to quality health care, strong economy and fine arts community.
Finally, , with acknowledgment of its convenient location for commuters, varied housing options and politically and socially active community.
Westminster, ranked No. 75 last year, is absent from the current rankings.
The rankings were based on data from EMSI with help from urbanist Richard Florida and Steven Pedigo, a professor at New York University School of Professional Studies’ Initiative for Creativity and Innovation in Cities.
