Newton Makes 'Most Livable Cities in America' List

This week, livability.com released its third-annual Top 100 Best Places to Live list, and Newton’s on it, coming in at number 42, just behind Loveland, CO, and before Manhattan, KS.

This exclusive, independent, editorial ranking features a list that is the culmination of many months of exclusive research into the factors that influence livability in America’s small- to mid-sized cities. More than 30 states are represented in the list.

Livability highlighted Newton’s collection of historic homes, unique neighborhoods and highly ranked schools as factors in making the coveted list. “A patchwork of 13 villages, each contain their own commercial centers, parks and identities,” wrote livability.com. “Newton’s top employers include Boston College, Newton-Wellesley Hospital and TechTarget. Residents and city leaders focus on making Newton one of the Best Cities for Kids. See where Newton ranked on our 2014 Best Places to Live.”

Newton is one of only two form Massachusetts that made the list. Cambridge came in at number 99.

More than 2,100 cities (with populations between 20,000 and 350,000) were evaluated in the study that analyzed more than 30 data points grouped into eight categories: economics, housing, amenities, infrastructure, demographics, social and civic capital, education and health care.

According to livability, those scores were weighted based on an exclusive survey conducted for Livability.com by Ipsos Public Affairs, a leading global market research firm. Respondents were asked about factors that make their communities better places to live, as well as the factors they would consider in selecting another city. Sources included the best public and private data available from organizations like the U.S. Census Bureau, Walk Score, GreatSchools.com and Esri.

See the full list here.