The City of O’Fallon, Missouri, has been named one of the country’s “Best Places to Live,” according to Money magazine’s list of America’s 100 best cities. O’Fallon ranked 24th on the 2019 list of cities with a population greater than 50,000.
Money praised O’Fallon for its rich history, proximity to local outdoor activities and its “quaint, family-friendly feel.” O’Fallon is one of two Missouri cities to be ranked in the Top 100, joining Blue Springs (#96).
O’Fallon’s ranking continues the stream of national accolades that have been bestowed on the City. In addition to Money’s previous rankings in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2017, O’Fallon was also named in 2019 as Missouri’s best city to live in by ChamberofCommerce.org, ranked number 52 on the “Top 101 Safest Cities in America” by SafeHome.org, and was included in the list of Safest Large Cities in Missouri by the National Council for Home Safety in both 2018 and 2019.
“We are humbled to be listed among America’s best places to live,” said Mayor Bill Hennessy. “Our City is a truly wonderful community in which to live, work and play. This listing is a testament to our residents, our businesses, civic organizations, schools, churches, community volunteers and our elected officials and tremendous City staff.”
To see the complete list of cities on this year’s list, please visit money.com/money/collection/best-places-to-live-2019.
Money analyzed more than 80 separate types of data in the following categories to derive the list:
• Economy — based on local unemployment rate, historical job growth, projected job growth and the level of employment opportunities available, among other factors.
• Cost of living — based on tax burden, insurance costs, commuting costs, medical spending and income adjusted for cost of living.
• Diversity — based on racial makeup, racial integration, and economic diversity within a place’s population.
• Education — based on math and reading test scores and local and county level high school graduation rates.
• Housing — based on measures indicating affordability, supply and distress, including median home sale price in 2018, properties sold in 2018, utility and home cost of living indexes, and the property foreclosure rate, among other factors.
• Health and Safety — based on the number of hospitals and clinics, the number of mental health providers, dentists, doctors and primary care physicians, property and violent crime risk and homicide and drug overdose rates.
• Amenities — based on the number of leisure activities in the town and surrounding area, including bars, restaurants, museums, sports complexes, and green spaces.
• Ease of living — based on commute times, weather, and other factors.