Looking to live somewhere where houses are cheap? Head to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa, where the average home costs $75,700, and annual property taxes for that home are about $960. Perhaps a good job market is a higher priority. In that case, pick Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; or Riverside, California, as they top the list of places projected to have the highest-percentage increase in new jobs by 2005. Most of those jobs, by the way, are expected to have above-average pay. This and other detailed information can be found in the sixth edition of Places Rated Almanac, a helpful resource for people thinking of relocating as well as those with a desire to learn about cities and towns. Metropolitan areas are rated in nine categories: costs of living, job outlook, transportation, education, health care, crime, the arts, recreation, and climate. But don't go looking for statistics on Podunk--the focus remains on 354 metro areas, metro defined as a city or urbanized population of at least 50,000, located in a county with a total population of at least 100,000.

Places Rated is laced with intelligent and, unexpectedly, witty writing. The whole concept of judging places, the author notes, may seem the utmost of brass. "Yet everyone does it, privately. Some suspect that culture in Omaha or Des Moines or Saskatoon is a contradiction. Others surmise that daily life in Miami consists of surviving drug-trade shoot-outs..." Organized intelligently, Places Rated acknowledges that "livability" and "quality of life" are moving targets. Livable for whom? The artist who wants mountain vistas? The entrepreneur who wants low taxes and no red tape? With these limitations in mind, the book ends with a chapter titled "Putting It All Together," where the reader is invited to rate cities with a customized list of priorities. Arriving at your customized list, however, requires answering 72 questions that force you to decide once and for all what you value most--a low cost of living or good school districts or mild winters or some other criterion. And should you find that climate matters most, head for Santa Barbara, California, where winters and summers are mild and natural hazards are few, and stay away from Rochester, Minnesota, unless you're willing to endure 35 days when it's 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and 165 days of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, annually. --John Russell


From Book News, Inc.
A revision of the guide to climate, crime, cost of living, jobs, arts, recreation and other amenities. It reveals that violent crime is least common in Grand Forks, ND (rating 53), most common in the Miami area (rating 1,633). Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.


Book Description
This blockbuster best-seller makes headlines coast to coast with its candid, fascinating look at all the factors that contribute to our quality of life. Sometimes controversial and always thought-provoking, Places Rated has been completely updated with the latest statistics. It's packed with timely facts and unbiased information on more than 350 metro areas in North America.Whether you're mulling over the idea of relocating, trying to decide where to start out, or just curious about how your hometown stacks up, you'll be intrigued by Places Rated Almanac. Places Rated ranks each metropolitan area on a number of essential factors, many of which are of vital interest in today's economy. They include:Job marketsCost of livingHousing costsEducational standardsQuality of public transportationHealth careRecreational facilitiesCrime ratesEnvironmental factorsClimateEasy-to-use charts help readers put this wealth of information to work to find the places that best suit their special needs and interests. Packed with unbiased, reliable and up-to-date information, this one-of-a-kind guide offers something to amuse or intrigue on every page. Newly redesigned this year with a two-color interior!


Book Info
Provides a collection of interesting, odd, and useful information about metropolitan areas and rates and ranks the metro areas on nine factors that greatly influence the quality of place: costs of living, job outlook, transportation, education, health care, crime, the arts, recreation, and climate. Softcover.


From the Back Cover
Your Source for Finding the Best Places to Live in North America! Whether you're looking for a place to set down roots, relocating a business or family, or just curious about how your hometown stacks up against the competition, Places Rated Almanac is for you. We rate and rank 354 metro areas across the United States and Canada, examining nine essential factors to help you make the right choice for your lifestyle. Places Rated Almanac tells you exactly where you'll find:The most affordable places to liveThe fastest-growing job marketsThe safest neighborhoodsThe best public schoolsThe best health careThe richest cultural lifeThe best places to enjoy the outdoorsThe most convenient transportationThe sunniest climatesOther Special Features:A personalized quiz to help you determine the factors that are most important to youContact information for each metropolitan area's Convention and Visitors Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, and daily newspapersNumerous two-color maps and chartsNew data on racial diversity, wealth, and politicsVisit us online at www.frommers.com or www.idgbooks.com


About the Author
About the Authors David Savageau has lived in Denver, South Bend, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Boston, and Washington, DC, and is contributing editor for Expansion Management. He is also the author of the best-selling Retirement Places Rated. Ralph D'Agostino is professor of mathematics and head of the Statistics Consulting Unit at Boston University. Contributors include John Crane, Heather Ferguson, Judith Kinney, Tom McCarty, Byung-Ho Nam, and Karyl Savageau. The authors welcome comments, criticisms, and recommendations for the next edition of Places Rated Almanac. Please write to: Places Rated Partnership P.O. Box 1327 Gloucester, MA 01931 or authors@placesrated.com

FROM THE PUBLISHER