Friday — May 28, 2004

Ah, the sweet life!

Blaine ranked 43rd best county to live in

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

There is little doubt Blaine County has been discovered as an attractive place to live. But for those who did not already know that, the secret is now out.

A report released nationwide this week by American City Business Journals, a North Carolina-based publishing group, ranks Blaine County as one of the 50 best counties to live in throughout the United States.

In its study, the ACBJ ranked all 3,141 counties in the nation, using 20 statistical indicators to rate living conditions.

Blaine County was ranked 43rd best in the country. It was the only Idaho county ranked in the top 50.

Ada County was rated by the ACBJ as the 98th best county for quality of life.

Topping the list was Los Alamos County, N.M., located approximately 30 miles northwest of Santa Fe.

Pitkin County, Colo., in which the city of Aspen is located, was ranked third overall, behind Olmsted County, Minn. All told, Colorado counties earned nine of the top 50 slots.

The 20 factors weighed in the ACBJ study included house affordability, homeowner rates, home values, income, unemployment rates, transit availability, racial diversity and the level of education among residents.

Custer County, Idaho, was ranked 807 in the nation by the ACBJ study. Twin Falls County was ranked 1,412.

Bronx County, N.Y., part of New York City, was ranked 3,141, last among the nation’s counties.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.