Abington Named To Money Magazine's Best Places To Live In 2020

ABINGTON, PA — Great news for Abington area residents: the township has achieved national recognition as one of the best places to live in the country.

That's according to Money Magazine, which cites "great jobs, safe streets, and affordable homes" in its new ranking issued for 2020 this week.

Out of communities on this year’s list, Abington placed 19th overall.

To determine this year’s Best Places To Live, Money analyzed a list of 1,890 communities with a population of at least 25,000. The publication then analyzed 115 separate data points on each community’s economy, housing market, education system, employment, weather and more.

Reporters then researched each location to ensure the statistics were an accurate representation of each community.

Money pointed to Abington School District schools winning the Blue Ribbon award, as well as the proximity of major employers nearby.

"For those looking for cultural experiences, the city’s sculpture garden at Abington Art Center is a must-see, and you can visit the Briar Bush Nature Center’s museum and bird observatory for just $3," the publication notes. "Kids in the area love Alverthorpe Park — cleverly dubbed “Adventurethorpe Park” by locals — which features a wading pool, a playground and more."

Money added several additional factors this year to account for the coronavirus pandemic and recent unrest stemming from racial inequality. The publication incorporated new filters in two key areas: countywide unemployment and housing distress as a result of COVID-19 economic disruptions; and demographics, to ensure locations selected for this year’s list were racially diverse and well-integrated.

To ensure geographic diversity, the publication limited the number of communities each county and state could have on this year’s list — one community per county, and two per state.

Read more on the methodology used to determine 2020’s Best Places To Live.

Here’s a look at some of the data collected on Abington:

• Population: 56,00
• Median household income: $92,000
• Median home price: $292,000
• Unemployment rate: 11.8 percent

So, where is the best place to live in the United States? According to this year’s list, it’s Evans, Georgia. A city of 36,000 perched on the Savannah River just northwest of Augusta, Evans has been attracting new residents with plenty of good-paying jobs in health care and administration, as well as at a nearby U.S. Army base, Fort Gordon.

Here are the top 10 Best Places To Live, according to Money:

1. Evans, Georgia
2. Parker, Colorado
3. Meridian, Idaho
4. Rockwall, Texas
5. Columbia, Maryland
6. Westfield, Indiana
7. Syracuse, Utah
8. Franklin, Tennessee
9. Woodbury, Minnesota
10. Morrisville, North Carolina

See the full list of Best Places To Live.