Jenks didn’t make the list of ‘Best Places to Live’ because of population
(MCT) — After placing 43rd last year, the city of Jenks didn’t make the Money magazine list of Best Places to Live this year — but it wasn’t because the city has less to offer.
Instead, this year the magazine is profiling cities with populations larger than 50,000. Jenks has about 15,000 residents.
Carolyn Bigda, a reporter for Money magazine, said every year the magazine “changes it up, alternating between medium and small cities.”
“This year, we did medium-sized cities, so Jenks didn’t qualify,” Bigda said. “Next year, we’ll probably go back to smaller cities.”
The only two Oklahoma cities on this year’s list that made it were Norman and Edmond.
The survey, published in the magazine’s August issue, ranks cities based on job, income and cost-of-living data; housing affordability; school quality; arts and leisure opportunities; ease of living; health care access; and racial diversity.
The top spot in the 2008 rankings was Plymouth, Minn., a city with a population of 70,100. This is what its profile said:
“Topnotch schools, good jobs, affordable housing, low crime, an active outdoor culture — yep, they’re pretty much all here. Plymouth could have become just another Twin Cities suburb, but more than 50,000 jobs keep residents working there.
“Home prices are within reason: The typical three-bedroom, two-bath house goes for $350,000. The city’s main school district is ranked among the top three in the state, and for culture, Plymouth’s open-air amphitheater, the Hilde Performance Center, hosts numerous summer concerts. Residents are a quick drive from the Mall of America, the nation’s biggest mall.
“And did we mention the outdoors? Plymouth boasts more than half a dozen sizable bodies of water. Of course, this being Minnesota, winter can be brutal: January’s average low temperature is about 13°F. But when the mercury plummets, the locals get busy. In February the city hosts a Fire & Ice Festival that includes mini-golf, bowling and basketball — all right on the ice.”
Norman, meanwhile, was recognized for its ability to keep those who attend the University of Oklahoma.
“People flock to Norman from around the world to study and teach — and then to stay and raise a family.
“The university not only helps draw educated workers here but also serves as a major source of entertainment. When the OU Sooners play football against longtime rival, the University of Texas, Norman schools are almost always closed on Friday (you read that right) and the town packs the stadium.”
Norman’s profile in the magazine said that those who aren’t into football get by because of the campus’ world-class art museum. home to works by Degas, Monet and Renoir. The city’s starter homes for about $135,000 also make it attractive.
The magazine did complete profiles for 18 other Oklahoma cities, but not one for Jenks. Those profiled include Altus, Ardmore, Bartlesville, Bethany, Broken Arrow, Del City, Duncan, Enid, Lawton, Midwest City, Moore, Oklahoma City, Owasso, Ponca City, Sapulpa, Stillwater, Tulsa and Yukon.
Owasso had a larger job growth percentage (27 percent) than all of the top 10 cities except for two.
Broken Arrow, Owasso, Bartlesville, Sapulpa and Stillwater all had higher sales taxes (8.52 percent in Broken Arrow to 9.5 percent in Sapulpa) than any of the top 10 cities. The highest sales tax in the top 10 was 8.25 percent in Round Rock, Texas.
See the rankings and what was said about each city that made the list: tulsaworld.com/bestcities
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