2024 the best place to live in the united states review

Price: $36.72
(as of Oct 19, 2024 01:58:16 UTC - Details)

In this unique reference, every one of America’s 379 metropolitan areas is rated by factors that are important to anyone considering a move. Divided into nine thoroughly researched main topics, this guide derives its information as much from private sources as government sources, providing a well-rounded description of all that each metro area has to offer: ambience, housing, jobs, crime, transportation, education, health care, recreation, and climate. With a personalized quiz to help determine the most important factors of an area, this ratings sourcebook provides a wealth of information for those looking to move and the armchair traveler alike.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Places Rated Books Llc; 7th edition (March 15, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 662 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0979319900
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0979319907
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.4 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 1.5 x 10.5 inches
Reviewer: Ro Ma
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Best book of its type--be sure to get the latest edition
Review: We have bought several editions of this book over the years in preparation for retirement. Coming from the northeast US we found that warm weather was our main criterion in selecting our retirement location, and this book provides a wealth of information related to weather and its seasonal variations. However, the book goes on to provide detailed information about many other criteria: health services, crime rate, cost of living, real estate, quality of life, etc., all of which are important decision-making components.My wife and I have been retired in FL for 6 years and, while the warm climate is still very important to us, we find that health services are of increasing concern. Our small community has limited and relatively low-rated health services and facilities, though we have found an internist we really like. However, the local hospitals and specialty doctors are, to put it nicely, ranked in the middle of all of the medical quality ratings. The nearest bigger cities, which have better facilities and services, are about 2 hours away, and the very best medical services and facilities are in the biggest cities, which are 3-4 hours away.We are fortunate that our health is relatively good, but if we ever have to face serious illness (heart attack, cancer), I know we will wish we were closer to top medical care.

Reviewer: Ellen
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: The best book of its kind.
Review: It's tough to read a book of someone's opinions on where to live as its really a heartfelt decision each person needs to make for themselves. But most of this book is straight statistics, such as weather and crime. The book is big and leaves enough room for each metro area so you can read the climate graphs without too much eyestrain. It's the best book on deciding where to move that I found. I took tons of notes from this book, and it actually helped me pick an entirely new place to live than the ones I had originally thought of! The only section I didn't like was the arts and culture section. I'm into the artsy scene, but the authors rated cities based on number of symphonies and orchestras and operas - who goes to these anymore??

Reviewer: Virgo_Wanderlust
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Excelent for college students!
Review: Since I was little I have always wondered about where I would move when I grew up. I posted on all kinds of forums and traveled all over the place but never felt sure of myself--and, of course, ended up going to college in Colorado and HATING IT because I didn't really know what this place was about.This book, I think, is helping to change that. I received my copy on friday and have already gone through the entire thing, making all kinds of check lists and drawings and such throughout the book. For $17, this is an invaluable resource! In fact, I would have easily paid $50 for it if I had to.

Reviewer: Robert Prince
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: The Pre-Crash publication makes this of limited value
Review: I purchased this book, and not for the first time, when my wife and I set off in January 2010 in an RV, looking for a new place to call home. The almanac's concept is a good one: It breaks down all that make one city more "livable" than another, such as climate, housing costs, transportation, crime, and so on, then determines criteria in which to evaluate the different metropolitan areas around the United States. In some areas, the statistics are fairly cut and dried, in others, there's plenty of room for interpretation.If not for the crash of December 2007, this almanac would still be very valuable. But the changes have been so great in the last few years that the almanac is rendered useless in some areas. In the areas of climate, crime, health care, education and transportation, it is still pretty accurate. But the information that may matter most to you (it does to us!) about the outlook for job prospects and housing costs, have become nearly useless. For instance, the first statistic under housing is the increase in average home values between 1st quarter 2000 and 4th quarter 2006. You can imagine how useless this information is, since in the last five years, some areas have suffered a drastic loss in home values.If you are looking to relocate, I would still purchase this guide while keeping in mind the areas in which this guide is still relevant, and which areas it isn't. And consider other resources- some magazines will do a "Best Places to Live" article from time to time.

Reviewer: J. Hess
Rating: 1.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Out of date book.
Review: I moved from ATL a few years ago. The ratings for Atlanta may have been okay for 1997 but not now, 22 years later.I like the format of the book; it just needs some serious updating. Atlanta is rated #7. It's not. Trust me.

Reviewer: Goosh
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great Resource
Review: Packed full of info.... crime, weather, education, health care, the arts, recreation and more. The book is big and will take a lot of going through, but the information is laid out good and is easily accessible. I really loved this book. I purchased other books along with this one for my husband and I as we start to plan our retirement (that is about 11 years away).... and although I know information might change, it gives us a starting point as to where we think we might want to spend our golden years.

Reviewer: Liz Ellerbe
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Better than ever
Review: Savageau has surpassed himself. The new PRA has more criteria, more detail, and more pages. I checked his new data on my city and he's got all the new info in it, which shows his thoroughness. He actually knows more about my city than I do.I'll be reading this book 'til the next one, which I did with the previous one. Everytime I open it up I find a new category. There's nothing like it! I'm addicted now to demographics.

Reviewer: John L.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great information in an easy to navigagte format
Review: This book rates 354 metropolitan areas across the United States. It is an outstanding reference for municipal managers, planners, developers, or businesses to see how a given community stacks up against others around the nation. The authors rate a variety of community factors including crime, job growth, and education. Additionally, the book (although dated) can provide a quick "order of magnitude" estimate of the comparative size of various populated areas. Since a great deal of the information is census based, I anticipate another edition coming out in the next year or so. I find this book to be very helpful at putting the size and demographics of communities in perspective with the rest of the country.