The good news for Michigan keeps rolling in like waves from rapids.

The U.S. News and World Report just published their annual Best Places to Live rankings and a city in Michigan was in their top 25.

First let’s look at their methodology.  The metro areas included in their Best Place to Live rankings were evaluated using data from the United States Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor and U.S. News' own internal resources.  That data was then categorized into five indexes those indexes are as follows:

  1. Job Market Index(20 percent): The Job Market Index measures the strength of each metro area's job market.
  2. Value Index(25 percent): The Value Index measures how comfortably the average resident of each metro area can afford to live within his or her means.
  3. Quality of Life Index(30 percent): The Quality of Life Index measures how satisfied residents are with their daily lives in each ranked metro area.
  4. Desirability Index(15 percent): The Desirability Index measures whether or not people want to live in a given metro area.
  5. Net Migration(10 percent): Net Migration measures whether people are moving to or away from each of the metro areas.

Using the above criteria the City of Grand Rapids ranked 19th out of the top 100 Best Places to Live.

Congrats Grand Rapids, is there an opening for a radio talk show host in your area?

Along with the low cost of living, low crime, short commutes and a high rate of college readiness among their high school students, the following is what The U.S. News and World Report annual Best Places to Live rankings said about Grand Rapids:

Grand Rapids has an affinity for public art, and a craft brewery scene that is one of the best in the nation. A scenic spot perched on the Grand River – Michigan's longest waterway – Grand Rapids has evolved from its 19th-century roots as a hub of furniture production to the modern-day metro area that is attracting college students and young families with its healthy job market, affordable housing and outdoor recreational activities.

From the doctors and nurses working in the region's booming health care industry, to the strong LGBT community who hosts the much-feted annual Grand Rapids Pride event, to the numerous artists and musicians, the region is home to people from all walks of life. Grand Rapids' neighborhood associations are incredibly active, bringing the metro area's population together for community events such as the Eastown Street Fair, which draws people to the artsy neighborhood for food, music and more.

Midwest friendliness is no exaggeration in Grand Rapids, which, despite being the second largest metro area in Michigan, exudes small-town warmth. Walk down almost any residential street in Grand Rapids, and you'll often be met with a wave and a "hello" from people caring for their lawns or hanging out on porches.

Unfortunately Grand Rapids slipped in the ranking from 13th last year to 19th this year, well that gives them something to work at, right?

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