What makes a city a great place to live? By Kiplinger's definition, good jobs, reasonably priced homes, decent schools, great health care and manageable size are all part of the mix.
We started with metro areas that have a population of 1 million or less and came up with a list of cities that met those criteria. Then we whittled the list to 10 cities and sent staff members to each one to find the ingredients that make them special. (To read all the city descriptions, go to
tulsaworld.com/kipbestplaces).
Little Rock, Ark., our No. 1 pick, has something for everyone. Set between the Ouachita Mountains and the Arkansas River and known for its rolling hills and ubiquitous trees, Little Rock offers far more than a lovely setting. It is the capital of Arkansas and its largest city, as well as the state center of business, health care and culture. With a population of nearly 200,000, it has the amenities of a larger city but is small enough that you can feel part of the community.
That community includes people of all ages. Residents fill the streets of the eclectic Hillcrest neighborhood to mingle, shop and listen to street music on the first Thursday of each month. Young professionals meet with leaders of major companies as part of Create Little Rock, a networking program. Retirees stay active by volunteering, as 80-year-old Bob Gee does for the Clinton School of Public Service.
Thanks to its location, Little Rock provides plenty of opportunities for hiking, running, cycling, boating, fishing and hunting. Among the many cultural offerings: museums and fine art galleries, a repertory theater, a symphony orchestra and a performing arts center. Downtown, you can roam the 33-acre Riverfront Park or enjoy eateries ranging from food trucks to fine dining.
Little Rock employers include the state government, two major universities, Windstream Communications (a telecommunications company), Caterpillar and IT company Acxiom. At 6.6 percent, the unemployment rate is below the national average. Housing costs are below the national average as well. And residents can get first-rate medical care at several hospitals and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a world-class center for treating multiple myeloma.
Cameron Huddleston is a contributing editor at Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. Send her a question or comment at
moneypower@kiplinger.com. For more on this and similar money topics, go to
tulsaworld.com/kiplinger.
Small Cities
Original Print Headline: Little Rock tops list of best places to live
Money Power
As a group, the seven bond mutual funds in the Kiplinger 25 fared slightly better, but still suffered an average loss of 3.1 percent.
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