Forbes ranks Quincy eighth in list of best small cities to raise family

Published: 10/27/2010 | Updated: 10/30/2010
By STEVE EIGHINGER Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Quincy is ranked No. 8 among the top 15 "Best Small Cities to Raise a Family," according to Forbes magazine. Forbes compared 126 cities with a population under 100,000 and ranked them on five quality-of-life measures: short commute times, percentage of adults with a high school degree, median household income, rate of home ownership and housing affordability. "This is a great honor for Quincy, something the locals already know and appreciate," said Holly Cain, executive director of the Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Quincy ranked the highest among the top 15 cities in cost of living and commute time. Forbes ranked Quincy No. 4 in the nation in lowest cost of living and No. 7 in shortest commute time(s). Dubuque, Iowa, was ranked No. 1 overall, followed by Manitowoc, Wis., Marquette, Mich., Midland, Mich., and Marshfield, Wis., in the top five. Twelve of the top 15 cities listed are from the Midwest. "Anytime you are recognized in something like this, it means you must be doing something right," Mayor John Spring said. "This will be a big plus for the city, something that can be used as a marketing tool. I see only positive things coming from this." Quincy is the largest city within a 100-mile radius and serves as regional hub for 600,000 people in West-Central Illinois, Northeast Missouri and southeast Iowa, according to the Great River Economic Development Foundation. Francesca Levy authored the article for Forbes. "The choice of where to settle down and bring up youngsters is based on a number of complex and personal factors, many of which can't be measured in a ranked list," Levy wrote. "But things like affordability, education and jobs are often among them -- and these off-the-radar metros have a great deal to offer." --seighinger@whig.com/221-3377

Forbes' top 15 small cities to raise a family
1. Dubuque, Iowa
2. Manitowoc, Wis.
3. Marquette, Mich.
4. Midland, Mich.
5. Marshfield, Wis.
6. Stevens Point, Wis.
7. Casper, Wyo.
8. Quincy, Ill.
9. Helena, Mont.
10. Columbus, Ind.
11. Warsaw, Ind.
12. Minot, N.D.
13. Cheyenne, Wyo.
14. Fond du Lac, Wis.
15. Mankato, Minn.