MONEY’s best places to live in America

In a country so full of great, unique places, choosing the best is no easy task. This year, MONEY set out to find the nation’s top small cities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000. Starting with a pool of 781 cities, we used data from Onboard Informatics and other sources to comb through everything from the local economy and housing market to schools and healthcare—more than 50 factors in all. Then, we sent reporters to visit the 35 top scoring places, looking for a sense of community and other intangibles you’ll never find in a spreadsheet. We found many places to love, but in the end, only one can take the top spot.

10. Reston, Va.
9. Rochester Hills, Mich.
8. Ames, Iowa
7. Clarkstown, N.Y.
6. Columbia & Ellicott City, Md.
5. Kirkland, Wash.

4. Castle Rock, Colo.

POPULATION: 51,871
CENSUS REGION: West
MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME: $105,811
MEDIAN HOME PRICE: $305,000
AVERAGE PROPERTY TAXES: $2,214
PROJECTED JOB GROWTH: 11.5%

Castle Rock has come a long way from its quarry-town roots. The city is growing at a rapid clip, with a population that has more than tripled in the past 15 years. Diane McKinna, now 52, moved here with her husband, Scott, and daughter, Katie, back in 2009. At the time, their home was surrounded by bare lots, and they had to go closer to Denver to run many errands. No more. These days the family has plenty of neighbors, plus in-town options for everything from dog grooming to orthodontists. Now a town center is being constructed in their housing development. “I’m thrilled,” says Diane.

Perhaps the biggest recent addition is the Castle Rock Adventist Hospital, which opened a year ago, bringing specialists and nearly 500 jobs to town. This fall the city will unveil a new indoor athletic complex, taking some pressure off the lone recreation center. And there’s more to come, with plans underway for a new mixed-use development. All the building has created congestion, but residents hope that a new two-mile road and freeway on-ramp will ease traffic when it’s finished in 2016.

There are some aspects of Castle Rock that haven’t changed. The downtown remains the heart of the city, lined with locally owned restaurants and specialty stores. The area also hosts community events, including a holiday Starlighting festival, when a giant star is lit on the town’s namesake rock formation.

The school district here is one of the best in the state, and the two charter schools garner rave reviews from parents. Residents are also pleased by the home prices; a three-bedroom starts around $250,000.

Many people commute 19 miles to the Denver Tech Center, but there are businesses in town, and groups like the Castle Rock Economic Gardeners are trying to help small firms grow.

Then there’s Colorado’s big selling point: the great outdoors. Castle Rock has 5,000-plus acres of open space, and the Rockies are nearby. As Virginia transplant Debra Markert puts it, “When the sun’s out, everyone’s outside.”

3. Carmel, Ind.
2. Maple Grove, Minn.
1. McKinney, Texas

Click here to View article in it’s entirety.