To compile our annual list of great cities this year, we started with metro areas with populations of 1 million or less.
We filtered that list to include only places with good jobs, reasonably priced homes, decent schools and great health care. Then we whittled the list to 10 cities and sent Kiplinger's staff members to each one to find the ingredients that make them special.
(We are featuring the top cities in separate installments. To read all the city descriptions, go to
tulsaworld.com/kipgreatcities).
Burlington, Vt., our No. 2 pick, is on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain and boasts a cozy feel and stunning beauty plus a vibrant and varied economy. The city is home to the University of Vermont and regional health care provider Fletcher Allen.
IBM is nearby, and other tech companies are growing, too. Champlain College's programs in digital technology have led to startups, and Dealer.com, which provides software for auto dealers, plans to add 200 jobs annually for the next three years.
Result? Unemployment is just 3.5 percent.
Green is important in the Green Mountain State: Burlington claims the first utility in the country to focus on energy efficiency in the community. Eco-friendly product maker Seventh Generation, solar companies Draker and AllEarth Renewables, and wind supplier NRG Systems round out the area's green offerings. Mayor Miro Weinberger plans to power the city fully with renewable energy.
The city has a knack for creative problem-solving. In the 1970s, as downtowns across the nation were dying, Burlington created the Church Street Marketplace. One of the country's most successful pedestrian malls, its mix of boutiques and eateries keeps locals coming downtown.
Ten years ago, two inner-city schools were failing. The city turned both into magnet schools,and now they are highly sought-after.
Tucked between the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains, Burlington boasts stellar vistas year-round. Residents enjoy hiking and biking - an eight-mile bike path runs along the lake.
Jessica Anderson 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.
Original Print Headline: Vermont town is best-city No. 2 pick
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