Newton Named Best City to Live in U.S.

Newton residents live in the best city in the country, according to a new survey.

24/7 Wall St., a news service, ranked the 50 best cities based on crime rates, employment growth, education, and housing affordability, among other factors.

Newton was commended for its “excellent” schools and low unemployment rate. 24/7 Wall St., which released its survey Wednesday, reported the following statistics for Newton:

• Median household income: $125,642
• Unemployment rate, 2013: 4.80%
• Median home value: $689,900
• Violent crime per 100,000 residents: 87.6
• Average commuter travel time: 26.4 minutes

And here’s what 24/7 Wall St. had to say about Newton:

“Crime rates were just a fraction of national figures in 2012. And while total employment rose only 0.5% between 2011 and 2013, the city’s unemployment rate remained below 5% during the same period.

Students have access to excellent schools. While nearly half of all school-age residents attended private schools, test scores in Newton’s public schools were far better than public schools across the state. Additionally, more than three-quarters of residents 25 and over had a bachelor’s degree, the second-highest rate in the country. Residents of Middlesex County, where Newton is located, can take advantage of 49 golf courses, nearly 3,000 restaurants, 24 museums and three ski resorts in their free time.”

Quincy was the only other Massachusetts city to make the list, coming in at No. 33.

Read the full survey by 24/7 Wall St.