Franklin (ranked #90) take note: Middleton is where the great Middleton Hills traditional neighborhood development is located - coincidence?
Also, you'll never break the top 10 (or 50) if you continue to accept ongoing mediocrity from commercial developers (yes, that means Shoppes at Wyndham Village) and subdivision designers (that means... pretty much all of them).
Middleton profile here. Photo below is Middleton Hills.
By The Associated Press
Middleton - This small town in the shadow of Madison has its own reason to boast.Money magazine announced today that Middleton is the "Best Place to Live" in America for 2007, citing its tight-knit community and proximity to the cultural and economic benefits of Madison.
That city, the state capital and roughly 14 times larger than Middleton, was named by Money as the best place to live in 1998.
With a population just over 17,000, Middleton was praised by Money for its small-town charm, booming economy and extensive parks and bike trails.
Many of its residents commute the seven miles to Madison for work, but enjoy the amenities a smaller town brings, Money said.
"Those places tend to do well on these kind of lists," said Money executive editor Craig Matters.
Middleton is also home to Capital Brewery, which revels in Wisconsin's beer heritage and has an expansive beer garden where patrons are encouraged to pack a picnic and stay to watch movies or listen to a band.
The American Girl dollmaker is one of Middleton's largest employers.
Sarah Witter, 37, moved to Middleton from Madison four years ago. She lives in a 105-year-old house near the downtown center with her husband and two young children.
Witter said Middleton has a "comforting, happy feeling" that sets it apart from Madison.
"Everybody is extremely welcoming," Witter said. "I've never lived anywhere in Madison where I've known all my neighbors within a couple months. I always feel like I'm in this 'Leave it to Beaver' world almost."
Money's focus this year in its annual best places to live issue looked at 2,876 places with populations between 7,500 and 50,000.
Middleton was followed by Hanover, N.H., Louisville, Colo., Lake Mary, Fla., Claremont, Calif., Papillion, Neb., Milton, Mass., Chaska, Minn., Nether Providence, Pa., and Suwanee, Ga.
Three other Wisconsin towns also made the top 100: Germantown at No. 30, New Berlin at No. 41 and Franklin at No. 90.
The rankings were based on a series of factors including economic vitality, job availability, safety, residents' health, ethnic and racial diversity, cultural amenities, green space and other economic and quality of life measures.
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