Personal finance site Kiplinger has released their annual list of the best cities in the United States to live and work. The key this year: It's all about where you can find—and keep—a good job.


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Go ahead and click on the numbers above for a look at each city on the map. If you don't care where they are, here's the quick list:

No. 1: Huntsville, Alabama

No. 2: Albuquerque, New Mexico

No. 3: Washington D.C.

No. 4: Charlottesville, Virginia

No. 5: Athens, Georgia

No. 6: Olympia, Washington

No. 7: Madison, Wisconsin

No. 8: Austin, Texas

No. 9: Flagstaff, Arizona

No. 10: Raleigh, North Carolina

When our numbers guru, Kevin Stolarick, evaluated U.S. cities for their growth potential, he looked not just at the overall number of jobs, but also at the quality of those positions and the ability of cities to hold on to them when the economy softens.


Hit up the Kiplinger link for the full run-down, including stat sheets on each of the cities that made the top 10. If you've spent any time in the cities that made the short list, let's hear more about them—whether or not you think they belong on this list—in the comments. Meanwhile, if this year's list didn't excite you, a quick look at last year's list may provide some solid alternatives.

Best Cities: It's All About Jobs [Kiplinger]