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The August 2008 Money Magazine Best Places to Live list is out.  Not one Ohio city is on the Money Magazine 2008 list of top 100 cities in the country…

NO Columbus suburbs

NO Cleveland or Cinci suburbs either, no little Ohio cities…

Last year Westerville and Gahanna made this list… if I am not mistaken.

Who made the list this year?  Here are the top 10 according to Money Magazine:

1. Plymouth, MN
2. Fort Collins, CO
3. Naperville, IL
4. Irvine, CA
5. Franklin Township, NJ
6. Norman, OK
7. Round Rock, TX
8. Columbia/Ellicott City, MD
9. Overland Park, KS
10. Fishers, IN

According to  “Columbus grows while rest of Ohio shrinks” written by Sherri Williams of the Columbus Dispatch,  Columbus grew 4.49% between 2006 and 2007.  The population of Columbus is now 747,755, according to census estimates.  The Columbus Dispatch article focuses on Cleveland shrinking as much or more than it does on Columbus growing.  Cleveland’s shrinkage is only second to New Orleans natioanlly… Enough about Northeast Ohio!

The Central Ohio  communities of Powell and New Albany have grown over 90% and 60% respectively, according the Columbus Dispatch.  Inner ring Central Ohio suburbs including Grandview, Upper Arlington and Worthington have lost about 5% in population.  The Columbus Dispatch says “It’s a common phenomenon as people have moved farther away from the city’s core seeking larger lots and, at least in perception, better schools. “ Better schools huh!?!

Delaware County is one of  “America’s Best Places Raise A Family,” at least according to Forbes.com anyway.   In a late June article written by Zack O’Malley Greenburg, Delaware County is one of the ten best “places” to raise a family.   Good schools, cost of living, reasonably priced homes, and short commute times are among the criteria used to decide where the top twenty best places to raise a family. Air quality is another factor!

1. Hamilton County, Ind.
2. Ozaukee County, Wis.
3. Johnson County, Kan.
4. Geauga County, Ohio
5. Delaware County, Ohio
6. Morris County, N.J.
7. Hunterdon County, N.J.
8. Waukesha County, Wis.
9. Montgomery County, Pa.
10. Chester County, Pa.”

If you are from outside Central Ohio, Delaware County is just north of Columbus.  The Polaris area and the Columbus Zoo are in Delaware County.  Alum Creek State Park and Delaware State Park are in Delaware.

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The top twenty places are pictured on Forbes.

Thanks to Kim Woods a real estate agent in Chester County, Pennsylvannia who brought this Forbes.com article to my attention.