NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 16, 2003

 

MONEY MAGAZINE CALLS CARY “MOST DESIRABLE” IN AMERICA

 

CARY, NC Cary , North Carolina has been named the “hottest town” over 100,000 in the East and one of the six most desirable places to live in America by Money Magazine.   Cary is the only NC community to make the Money Magazine list, which started with the consideration of 271 US cities and was cut to the final group of 87.  Factors affecting the rankings included median income, population growth, unemployment rates, the cost of residential housing relative to local income levels, and percent of college educated working professionals.  Hot towns also had to be within 60 miles of a major city.

 

“This is wonderful news for our community and a tribute to the effort that has gone into making Cary over the last 20 years,” said Cary Mayor Ernie McAlister, who took office on December 11, 2003.  “Recognition is due our Town staff and our partners--the Cary Chamber and our neighboring municipalities--who all work together to make great things happen in our area.”  McAlister added that “Moving forward, we want to make sure we continue to do those things necessary to make us worthy of this recognition.”

 

The other Money Magazine top honorees include Sugarland Run, VA, Naperville, IL, Woodbury, MN, Plano, TX, and Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.  Rankings were made in two population groups—over and under 100,000 residents—in three geographic regions—east, central, and west United States .

 

The New York City publication’s pronouncement comes on the heels of Cary’s being named the fifth safest city in America in the 10th Annual Morgan Quitno Safest (And Most Dangerous) City Award in November.  Other Cary superlatives include the Town’s Amphitheatre at Regency Park being nominated as one of the best small venues in the country by Pollstar magazine; an announcement is expected in February.  Cary is a perennial winner of the Tree USA award and has been named the “bike friendliest community” in the Triangle.

 

With more than 6,000 businesses calling Cary home—including the world’s largest privately held software company, SAS--the Town boasts nationally accredited police, fire, and parks, recreation, and cultural resources department, and Cary leads the state in environmental protection and preservation initiatives including water conservation, water reuse/reclaimed water, and open space and historic resources preservation.

 

For more details, see the CNN/MONEY MAGAZINE story online, http://money.cnn.com/best/bplive/cities_table/.  For more information about Cary, NC, visit the Town of Cary’s Web site, www.townofcary.org. Also, find more information on Cary's celebration of being named the hottest town over 100,000 in the East.

 

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PRIMARY CONTACTS:

Ernie McAlister, Mayor, (919) 469-4011

Bill Coleman, Town Manager, (919) 469-4002

Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, (919) 460-4951