American Dreamtowns

Many Americans are tired of the rat race, the long expensive commutes, the diminishing quality of life, and general malaise now being experienced in cities, suburbs, and exurbs. Researchers regularly come out with lists of places that are better in every way and manner. Recently, Bizjournals has come out with their list of the 140 best dreamtowns to live in across the nation. Torrington, CT, is rated best. This small city of less than 200,000 is about halfway between Hartford and the New York border about 75 miles north of New York City. The list contains primarily towns east of the Mississippi River, as only a handful of towns in the Mountain states and Pacific time zone are included. Three of the top six are in Montana. The cities listed from the West:
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02. Bozeman
05. Helena
06. Kalispell
08. Oak Harbor, WA
19. Truckee-Grass Valley, CA
37. Port Angeles, WA
41. Hilo, HI
42. Kahului-Wailuku, HI
52. Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ
56. Eureka-Arcata-Fortuna, CA
57. Grand Island, NE
59. Stillwater, OK
62. Grants Pass, OR
64. Ukiah, CA
68. Twin Falls, ID
80. Centralia, WA
86. Albany-Lebanon, OR
93. Klamath Falls, OR
96. Pendleton-Hermiston, OR
97. Lufkin, TX
99. Roseburg, OR
111. Coos Bay, OR
115. Shawnee, OK
120. Moses Lake, WA
123. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ
125. Aberdeen, WA
128. Athens, TX
130. Clearlake, CA
131. Gallup, NM [!?!]
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A few of these places are on my list for possible relocations, and I am glad to see some of my higher listed choices did not make this list and gain any further publicity.
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http://www.bizjournals.com/edit_special/68.html
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http://www.bizjournals.com/specials/slideshow/48.html
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http://www.bizjournals.com/specials/pages/181.html
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