(February 2, 2007) --
The Progressive Farmer magazine partnered with OnBoard LLC, a real estate research firm, to identify the most desirable rural counties to live in.
The magazine considered household income and spending, home and land prices, crime rates, air quality, education, and access to health care. "We feel our rankings reflect the newfound energy and vitality of rural America and showcase places that offer the very best in quality of life and comfort for their residents and workers," says senior editor Jamie Cole.
The counties selected as the top 10 "Best Places to Live in Rural America" are:
1. Barren County, K.y. : located midway between Louisville and Nashville, Tenn.
2. Warren County, Pa. : on the south side of the New York-Pennsylvania border one hour east of Erie.
3. Randolph County, Ill. : one hour south of St. Louis, just east of the Mississippi River.
4. Gillespie County, Texas : is located in the heart of Texas' Hill Country, about one hour west of Austin.
5. Union County, S.D. : situated in the southeastern corner of South Dakota.
6. St. Lawrence County, N.Y. : across the Canadian border from Montreal and nestled in the Adirondacks.
7. Sac County, Iowa : located in the northwestern part of the state.
8. Garfield County, Okla. : about 85 miles north of Oklahoma City.
9. Amador County, Calif. : just a short drive east of Sacramento, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
10. Polk County, N.C. : 30 miles south of Asheville, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
- REALTOR® Magazine Online |
