FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Midwest small cities, including Winona, dominate a new ranking of the -best American small towns to live. In fact, Winona ranked Number 2 nationwide. First was Cedar Falls in Iowa. The ranking was compiled by the consumer lender Pheabs. The company drew on census data and applied these criteria:
>Economic health: The percentage of residents who are unemployed, the percentage of families and people under the poverty line, and median household income.
> Quality of life: Average hours worked, average commute, and how many residents walk to work.
> Affordability: Median value of owner-occupied housing units, median monthly homeowner cost, and median rent price.
Verbatim
Pheabs: “Set along the Mississippi River, Winona is a picturesque city with breathtaking scenery and landscapes. With the lowest median rent in the whole study of $516, and short workweeks of 32.5 hours on average, it’s not surprising that Winona is second on the list. The city boasts a short average commute to work of less than 14 minutes and a low cost of living. Residents or visitors can also check out the historic sites, attend festivals or marvel at Winona’s stunning architecture and lovely green parks.”
Details
Evaluated ny Florida-based Pheabs were all 1,200 U.S. cities of less than 80,000 population.
Judging Winona
Median household income: $42,018
Residents poverty: 9.2%
Average work commute: 13.4 minutes
Residents who walk to work: 9.4%
Mean hours worked: 32.7 a week
Median rent: $567.60 a month
Median Home value: $153,010
Median homeowner costs: $1,174 a month
Leading small cities’s scores
> Cedar Falls, Iowa: 77.9
> Winona, Minnesota: 76.3
> Marion, Indiana: 75.8
>Wooster, Ohio: 75.7
> Mankato, Minnesota: 75.5
> Stevens Point, Wisconsin: 75.1
> Mar1uette, Michigan: 75.0
> Terre Haute, Indiana: 75.0
> Helena, Montana: 74.9