Money Magazine Misses NWA

The August issue of Money magazine rates the 100 best places to live in America. Neither Northwest Arkansas, nor any other corner of “The Natural State,” made the cut.

How could yawners like Dyer, Ind., (outside Gary); Lees Summit, Mo., (Kansas City); Trussville, Ala., (Birmingham) or Crestwood, Ky., (Louisville) make it when the home of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Tyson Foods Inc. and J.B. Hunt Transport Systems Inc. missed out? We have a couple of ideas.

The magazine explains that it started with 1,321 places of 14,000-plus populations and whittled from there. Median incomes, positive population growth and real estate appreciation during the last five years were the first considerations.

But after X’ing out places more than 60 miles from a major teaching hospital, Money gave economic, education and safety factors twice the weight of arts, leisure and green space. Then more culling before these comparisons: housing affordability, taxes, commute times and job market. Downtowns were assessed on vibrancy, and then “congestion” reared its ugly head.

We figured Money’s reporters were en route to do their final round of in-person interviews when they got stuck in rush hour traffic on Arkansas Highway 102.

The good news is Money listed the riskiest housing markets in July, and we didn’t make that one either.