National Study Picks 'Best City In Colorado'

FREDERICK, CO – The best city to live in Colorado is apparently Frederick, according to a new report from the financial news and opinion site 24/7 Wall St. Reporters from New York used a formula to determine the "best city to live in every state."

The home town of convicted family-murderer Chris Watts has a reputation that may give it notoriety for years to come, thanks to international obsession with details of the gruesome crime.

But Frederick has specific attributes that the authors say are commonly shared and “universally desirable.” These include essentials like safe streets, a strong local economy, affordability and diverse entertainment options.

Here’s a breakdown of Frederick, according to the study:

• Population: 10,791
• 5 year population change: 32.2 percent
• Median home value:$261,500
• Median household income:$90,321

Here’s what the authors had to say:

"The town boasts a number of amenities that make it an attractive place to live, including a museum, a golf course, over 20 community parks, 25 skiing areas in driving distance, and over 300 sunny days a year."

The study says that Frederick's population is affluent and fast-growing. The median household income in Frederick, $90,321 a year, is about $27,800 more than the median income statewide. Frederick's population grew by 32.2 percent in the past five years, while the U.S. as a whole grew by "just 3.9% over the same period," the study said.

Most of the best cities to live in were relatively affluent. That includes Paradise Valley, dubbed the best place to live in Arizona, where the median home value is north of $1.3 million — more than seven times the national median. The median household in the town earns an income of $173,487.

To identify the best cities to live in, the researchers created a weighted index of more than two dozen measures in four categories: affordability, economy, quality of life and community. Some of the measures include ratio of median home value to median income, cost of living, unemployment rate, poverty rate, food insecurity rate, death rate and violent crime rate.

Several cities and towns were much more modest.

Batesville, Arkansas, was highlighted specifically because it’s so affordable and has various attractions and amenities. The median household in the city earns $42,143 a year, while the median home is worth $120,400.

“With roots as far back as 1804, Batesville is the second oldest city in Arkansas,” the authors noted. “The city, which avoided destruction in the Civil War, has a number of historic buildings and sites. There are attractions in the area for nearly every taste and preference, including antique stores, art galleries, an annual film festival, and the Batesville Motor Speedway.”

According to Realtor.com, there are currently 465 houses for sale in Frederick.

Frederick's most infamous citizen, Chris Watts, 33, was sentenced to multiple life sentences for murdering his pregnant wife Shanann Watts and his two young daughters Celeste 4, and Bella, 3 and dumping the bodies on an oil and gas property in Weld County.

The couple in 2013 bought a newly constructed five-bedroom, 4,177 sq. ft. home at 2825 Saratoga Trail for $399,000.

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

Image via Shutterstock

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