Strongsville Didn't Make List of Top 100 Towns

Strongsville didn't make Money Magazine's list of America's Best Places to Live this year.

Oh, well.

"It's not something to lose sleep over," Economic Development Director Brent Painter said. "It's a very subjective survey, and we're very proud of our community."

The magazine this week came out with its list of 100 small towns that "boast great job opportunities, top notch schools, safe streets, economic strength and more."

Solon ranked No. 3 in the list. Two other Northeast Ohio communities also made the cut -- Highland Heights (30) and Twinsburg (32).

A comparison of Strongsville and the Top 100 communities shows the city's median family income is a little lower than the average of the top 100 -- it's $93,724 here, compared to $99,975 -- and auto insurance rates are quite a bit lower -- $1,177 in Ohio to $1,687 among the Top 100.

But in the job growth category, Strongsville posted a loss of 1.97 percent. The average Top 100 town showed job growth of 24.63 percent; in Solon, it was 2.9 percent.

Here's how the magazine came up with the rankings:

• Towns with populations between 8,500 and 50,000 = 3,570

• Screen out places with median family income more than double or less than 85 percent of the state average; places with poor education and crime rates; and places that are more than 95 percent white = 1,549

• Exclude retirement communities and towns with major job losses. Rank rest on job growth, home affordability, safety, school quality, health care, arts and leisure, diversity = 749

• Factor in more data on the economy, jobs, housing and schools = 100

The magazine then visited the top 35 before picking Louisville, CO its No. 1 choice.

Painter questioned the job loss figure, saying Strongsville's economic base has grown significantly in the last decade.

"I'm not sure where they got that (number)," he said. "We're doing very well and continuing to grow."

Painter also said he doesn't put much stock in rankings done nationally -- especially after he learned Strongsville was penalized in one because it did not have an outdoor basketball court, while its Ehrnfelt Recreation Center was ignored.

"Any time you have a national magazine, there's no way they can get to the heart of a community," he said.