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The nominated towns then are put through an editorial process conducted by HomeRoute. Each nominated city is compared against each other in crime rates, employment statistics, housing & economic data for the past year as well as a non-scientific study of what makes the community a great place to live according to its nomination ballots and the total number of consumer inquiries for the area as well. After all is reviewed, the Top 100 cities are selected to make the list. From the Top 100, the Top 10 communities are ranked based on the total number of nominations.

Sorry, but this is stupid; and if you've ever been to Spencer, Iowa, you'd understand exactly how stupid. Nothing against that charming Paris of Clay County, but these ranking criteria means any burg can do well as long as the local booster club is mobilized to crow about its exciting new Hardees.

Want an objective measure of a town's quality of life? Look at the local one-way price of a U-Haul trailer. Cheaper U-Haul = surplus of trailers = people want to move there and don't want to leave.