O'Fallon, Missouri has been listed on Money Magazine's 2006 annual poll of the "Best Places to Live" in America. Western neighboring municipalities of Lee's Summitt, MO, and Columbia, MO, also made the list, however, O'Fallon is the top ranking municipality in the State.
In searching for cities for this year's list, according to Money, criteria was to look for "small, livable cities that had the best possible blend of good jobs, low crime, good quality schools, plenty of open space, rational home prices and lots to do." The annual poll includes many cities that are removed from the traditional coastal towns. According to economic historian Joel Kotkin (as quoted in Money), "these places are the new suburbia ... they offer a quality of life that is hard to find on the coasts anymore: affordable single-family homes, short commutes and good jobs. For many people, these are very good choices for living."
O'Fallon City Administrator, Bob Lowery, says that the qualities as noted by Mr. Kotkin have always been the foundation of the O'Fallon community, and will continue to be.
"Our goal has always been to provide the highest quality of life here, the ideal combination of housing, work opportunities and recreation, for all income levels," Lowery said. "To be selected as a finalist in this poll shows that we are on the right track."
The poll's criteria included such measures as ease of living, health, education, crime, park space, and arts and leisure. For the full story on Money's "Best Places to Live" poll, visit http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/index.html.
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