Best Places to Live

Raleigh, North Carolina

When it comes to finding a great place to live, there are many factors to consider. Whether you're looking for the perfect place to raise a family or a great city to retire in, the following cities all bring different qualities to the table.

1. Louisville, Colorado

Louisville sits at the number one spot on CNN's Money Magazine list of Best Places to Live. The town boasts jobs to be found in tech, telecom, and health care, has some of the best schools in the country, and provides excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation. With a population of 18,400 Louisville offers small town living with easy access to bustling cities.

2. Raleigh, North Carolina

If you prefer the big city to small towns, Raleigh was named America's Best City by Businessweek. Here you'll find an active nightlife scene, the Carolina Hurricanes pro-hockey team, over a dozen museums, and a wide range of cultural activities. North Carolina's capital ranked well in categories ranging from education to employment.

3. Des Moines, Iowa

Sitting atop Forbes' list of Best Places to Raise a Family, Des Moines offers plenty of perks for parents and their kids. Affordable housing, low crime rates, and easy commutes are appealing to families, and education is a priority here. Over 83% of Des Moines residents have a high school or higher level of education. Plenty of recreation and outdoor activities fill out the city's profile.

4. Milton, Massachusetts

Milton has been featured in CNN Money's top ten list several times, holding the number two spot in 2011. The city's best asset is its rich history, and many buildings from the 18th century are still in use today. Sitting on the Neponset River, the scenery is filled with trees and boasts the most conserved land within 20 miles of Boston. According to the Money list, housing prices have not changed since 2005.

5. Eden Prairie, Minnesota

If you don't mind the chilly winters, Eden Prairie can be a great place to live. One of the best things about the city is its unemployment rate, which sits at only 5.1%. Yahoo! Real Estate listed this location as its number one place to live, citing not only the low rate of unemployment, but also the availability of recreational activites and low crime rate.

6. La Palma, California

Included in the CNN Money list of Best Places to Live, La Palma offers all of the great things about California living - beaches, sunshine, and glamor - without the hustle of a larger city like Los Angeles. Located in Orange County, La Palma is close enough to the action of Hollywood, but enjoys a much lower crime rate. If you can afford to live in the O.C., this is the place to be.

7. Miami, Florida

If long-term care for seniors is high on your priority list, consider the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area. Rated one of the Most Affordable Cities for Long-Term Care by U.S.News, Miami boasts the lowest home health care rate of any major city in the country. With a high population of seniors living here, there are plenty of things to do geared towards the elderly.

8. Honolulu, Hawaii

Many people dream of living in Hawaii, where the air is clean and the atmosphere is relaxed. The capital city, Honolulu, appears at number three on Business Week's America's 50 Best Cities list. In addition to the beautiful scenery and endless outdoor activities, Honolulu has low unemployment and foreclosure rates.

9. Madison, Wisconsin

Madison has continually appeared on the annual CNN Money list, and also sits in the top half of the Business Week list. A college town. Madison offers lots of green space, plenty of shopping and entertainment, as well as terrific lake scenery. Top that off with a low unemployment rate and clean air, and you've got one of the best places to live!

10. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Named the Best City to Relocate To in America by MSNBC, Pittsburgh is a vibrant city that boasts lower-than-average cost of living and home prices. Sports are a big deal here, and you can catch professional hockey, football, baseball, and soccer, as well as college teams in almost every sport imaginable. A low unemployment rate and growing arts scene are more highlights for the Pittsburgh area.