Looking for a Mid-Sized Market?

We've written here numerous times about the importance of markets, and market timing, so it is in that vain that I report to you a new survey recently released by Portfolio.com that compared 109 medium-sized markets with populations between 250,000 and 750,000 in 20 statistical categories. The markets to follow that were given the highest scores have healthy economies, moderate costs of living, light traffic, impressive housing stocks and high-powered educational systems.

Topping the Portfolio.com mid-sized market quality-of-life list was Boulder, Colo., Provo, Utah; Fort Collins, Colo.; Madison, Wis.; Ogden, Utah; Holland, Mich.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Des Moines, Iowa; and Manchester, N.H.

Tne report also noted that the top five cities with the most management and professional jobs, which tend to pay the highest salaries, are Boulder; Ann Arbor; Durham, N.C.; Gainesville, Fla.; and Madison.

Here's a key for all of you who believe that I do that “walkability” determines value: Those looking for short commuting times should consider Lubbock, Texas, which has the shortest at an average of 16.88 minutes. Right behind Lubbock is Lincoln, Neb.; Wichita, Kan.; Erie, Pa. and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.