Money Magazine has announced its list of America's top 100 "best small towns." The top ten are:
1) Louisville, Colorado
2) Chanhassen, Minnesota
3) Papillion, Nebraska
4) Middleton, Wisconsin
5) Milton, Massachusetts
6) Warren, New Jersey
7) Keller, Texas
8) Peachtree City, Georgia
9) Lake St. Louis, Missouri
10) Mukilteo, Washington
Can't say I've heard of very many of these, or many of the other, "small towns" that made the list (available here). No doubt, though, some are located within a reasonable commute of a law school (e.g., Louisville appears to be relatively close to Denver; Chanhassen to the Twin Cities; Papillion to Omaha; Middleton to Madison; etc.). So entry-level faculty candidates, or readers considering a lateral move, may find the information worth bookmarking for later review.
Hmm, Idaho must not have been up on their "dues" to Money Magazine- no towns in the top 100 at all. Richland Washington, one of the few places listed that I've been to, is not only close to the Hanford Nuclear reactor site, but is (or at least was when I was growing up) part of the "tri-cities" (with Kennewick and Pasco), the soft-ball tournament capital of the Pacific Northwest. I can't say that the 3 or 4 times I went there for my father's softball tournaments made me think it would be a great place to live, but I suppose the "51st best small town" in the US can only be so good!
Ahem, it's Louisville not Littleton, and Louisville is the next town over from Boulder, home to the University of Colorado Law School. Superior, Colorado, which also borders Boulder, is #13. So, yes, please take note, entry-level and lateral candidates! 🙂
Paul, thanks for the confirmation on distance. Could you also commute from Louisville to teach at the University of Denver?
And I've corrected the typo, too. I always find that it's easier to detect another's typo than one's own — and you proved me right! (Probably a mental mistake with me, knowing of Littleton CO but associating Louisville with KY.)
Mukilteo Washington is within commuting distance of Seattle, Washington, which has several law schools.
But if you're traveling with the rush hour, it could take 50 minutes by car. Otherwise less.
Both Mukilteo and the U of Wash are on the water, so you could theoretically commute by boat.
Tim, thanks for posting this great list. It's a good reminder how many truly nice places there are to live, and how near many of them are to a law school. Of course, rankings are always a dodgy proposition. I lived in or around Minneapolis for 9 years and have to say it is a really, really lovely place. I'd wholeheartedly recommend the Twin Cities and environs to anyone. But Chanhassan? Wow…
Ahem, it's Louisville not Littleton, and Louisville is the next town over from Boulder, home to the University of Colorado Law School. Superior, Colorado, which also borders Boulder, is #13. So, yes, please take note, entry-level and lateral candidates! 🙂
I think there are places that are not being taken into account and in some cases much better