Fit Pregnancy magazine compiled again data for the 50 US cities with the largest population, for its 2007 “Best Cities in America to Have a Baby” survey. 47 weighted categories, selected by a panel of experts, have been analyzed, using the most recent information available from government agencies, private foundations, professional associations and public databases. The 2007 Fit Pregnancy survey ranked Boston on the top spot, followed by San Francisco and Minneapolis. The winner of the 2006 survey, Portland, moved on the fourth place.

So if you want to start a family or simply intend to have another child, take a look at the rankings below. Continue reading »

According to the UK publication Monocle, the city of Munich (Germany) has been found in 2007 as the most liveable city in the world. Munich is immediately followed, in the top of 20 cities established by the publication, by Copenhagen (Denmark) and Zurich (Switzerland).

Most top places are essentially taken by cities from western Europe. As usual, we also find few cities from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, the new destinations for immigrants. The actual surprise comes from two cities of Japan (Tokyo and Kyoto), Tokyo on a very honnorable place 4. Continue reading »

With its annual 2007 survey for Best Small US Cities to Live In, CNN/Money Magazine posted also an online poll, for big cities. At the time of this article, there have been almost 400,000 user votes and the rankings give winner the city of San Diego (California), followed by Chicago (Illinois) and Phoenix (Arizona).

It is not clear how publishers selected the 10 big cities for this poll, but the results may be relevant enough to get an idea where people think is best to live. American cities do not usually rank in the top spots in worldwide surveys mainly because of some relatively high criminal rates. However, this does not mean that life can not be great there. Continue reading »

The annual 2007 survey of Money Magazine, for the best small US cities to live in, places Middleton (Wisconsin) on the top spot, followed by Hanover (New Hampshire) and Louisville (Colorado).

The survey focuses on small American cities, with good schools and safe streets, great economic opportunities and a sense of community, affordable houses or more expensive houses good to live in. The economic boom of these small cities may lead to an increased cost of living over the years, but thing is all could be worth it. Continue reading »

The 2007 Quality of Living Survey of Mercer Human Resource Consulting also provides a Health and Sanitation Ranking, with the top 50 cities in the world. According to this survey, Calgary (Canada) ranks first, followed by Honolulu (USA) and Helsinki (Finland).

The ranking considered basically factors for healthcare and quality of living: availability of affordable hospital services and medical supplies, absence or treatement of infectious diseases, water potability, troublesome and destructive animals/insects, waste removal, sewage and air quality, pollution. Continue reading »