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Fort Collins eighth-best place to live according to new book

May 11, 2007

Fort Collins has been ranked the eighth-best place to live in the United States, according to the recently released edition of Cities Ranked & Rated.

Cities Ranked & Rated offers insights into more than 400 metropolitan areas in the United States and Canada (Paperback: 864 pages; Publisher: Wiley; 2nd expanded revised edition; May 7, 2007).

The guide rates cities in 10 categories: Arts & Culture; Climate; Cost of Living; Crime; Economy & Jobs; Education;  Health & Healthcare; Leisure; Quality of Life; Transportation.

Interesting data about Fort Collins:

- The median age is 30.8 (U.S. median is 37.6)

- 22.68 percent of people are married, with children

- Cost of living score is 105.90 (U.S. average of 100)

- Renters make up 39.69 percent of the Fort Collins population

- On average, there are 237 sunny days per year

- Climate comfort index is 62 (U.S. average is 44 - higher is more comfortable)

- Median household income is $52,192

- There are 203 physicians per capita in Fort Collins (U.S. average is 170)

- Water quality is 100 on a scale to 100 (higher is better)

- Violent crime is 5 on a scale from 1 (low crime) to 10 (U.S. average is 3)

- Average one-way commute takes 21 minutes

- 76 percent of commuters drive their own car alone

Gainesville, Fla., is ranked No. 1, apparently benefiting from a robust population of both young people and active retirees.  Large cities with lower scores in commute times, cost of living and high crime, suffered most in the new rankings. More weight was given to affordable housing in the new 2007 rankings.

Visit Cities Ranked & Rated information on Fort Collins online at http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Fort_Collins_CO-0827425000.aspx.

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Read the recent story in The Fort Collins Coloradoan at http://coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070509/NEWS01/705090339/1002.


Contact: Jayleen Heft
Email: Jayleen.Heft@colostate.edu
Phone Number: (970) 491-2655

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