We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. Learn more.
Sunset at Columbia's Lake Kittamaqundi - Ackerman+Gruber
Sunset at Columbia's Lake KittamaqundiAckerman+Gruber
why we love it A planned community that prizes economic and social diversity.
Population
102,221
Median Home Price
$310,000
Property Tax
$4,442
Unemployment rate
3.5%
Commute time
29 minutes
You know the phrase “50 is the new 30?” Apparently, that applies to cities and towns, too.
Columbia, Md., turns 50 next year, and it’s never looked better. One of the most successful planned communities in the country, Columbia is a magnet in the Baltimore–Washington corridor, attracting families in search of good schools and businesses hungry for educated employees.
A planned community—where covenants limit everything from new construction to the color you can paint your home—isn’t for everyone (though there are three of them in our Best Places top 10).
But Columbia is clearly thriving. It ranks in the top 5% of the 823 places on this year’s list for job growth and economic opportunity. The schools are among the state’s best. And in this pricey corner of the country, Columbia’s median home price is just over $300,000, 11% less than in Gaithersburg, one county over. “I sometimes tell people this is a little bit like the Land of Oz,” says Gary Ahrens, a retired high school teacher and counselor who sells real estate for Keller Williams.
The prices may be right, but Columbia also owes its success to an idea—or maybe it’s an ideal. Founded in the late ’60s, the town made the concept of community building part of the master plan. Each of the 10 bucolically named villages (Wilde Lake, Oakland Mills) includes a mix of residences— apartments, townhomes, and single-family houses—to promote socioeconomic diversity. Individual homes don’t have mailboxes; they’re collected in groups on each cul-de-sac or block to encourage neighborly mixing. Some people worship at a church or synagogue, but others prefer an “interfaith center,” where the faiths rotate through a communal space.
Hoover, Alabama. The Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, which hosts the Southeastern Conference baseball tournament, was the one-time stomping ground to Michael Jordan, who briefly played for the Birmingham Barons. Courtesy of the Town of HooverAnchorage, Alaska. The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a staple in the Anchorage community, hosting events like the Indigenous World Film Festival and Iditarod Day, which celebrates the state's famous dog sled race. Michael DeYoung—Getty ImagesScottsdale, Arizona. Before you move here, be sure you love golf, spas, and a hot, sunny desert climate. These days, high-end restaurants, bars, galleries and shops are also plentiful around town. Getty ImagesRogers, Arkansas. The steel-truss War Eagle bridge, built in 1907, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Wesley Hitt—Getty ImagesEastvale, California. Tucked in a desert valley about 45 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, Eastvale feels like a shiny new toy: Built on land formerly owned by dairy farmers, it was incorporated only six years ago and is one of the most racially diverse places on our list. Courtesy of the Town of EastvaleHighlands Ranch, Colorado. Residents refer to the town 15 miles south of Denver as “the bubble” because crime is low, the schools are top-notch, and jobs are plentiful. Courtesy of Town of Highlands RanchWest Hartford, Connecticut. With two public golf courses, a skating rink, multiple pools, and America’s oldest public rose garden, there’s something for everyone here. Courtesy of the Town of West HartfordWilmington, Delaware. At the confluence of the Christina and Brandywine rivers, Wilmington has been undergoing a waterfront revival. Denis Tangney Jr —Getty ImagesWeston, Florida. Sitting between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Everglades to the west, Weston has no shortage of green space, including a dozen sports fields, nearly 50 miles of lined bike lanes, and the 100-acre Weston Regional Park. John William Seberg—Courtesy of The Town of WestonEast Cobb, Georgia. The unincorporated area administered by the Cobb County Government was once dominated by chain restaurants, but it's now embracing mom-and-pops that will give your taste buds a pleasant surprise—and make the most of the small-town Dixie hospitality. Courtesy of Andrea Taylor StudioKoolaupoko, Hawaii. This southeastern district off the windward coast of Oahu has the lush valleys, gorgeous beaches, and barrier reefs that the 50th state is famous for, along with a rich history and a 3.6% unemployment rate. Greg Ward—Getty ImagesBoise, Idaho. Boise's outdoor splendors stretch as wide as the horizon, but there are plenty of cultural standouts as well, including the 75-year-old Boise Art Museum, the annual Shakespeare festival, and a vibrant Basque community, which dates to the early 1900s. Getty ImagesNaperville, Illinois. There's plenty to do in downtown Naperville, with more than 100 shops, 40 restaurants, and the rejuvenated, art-lined Riverwalk. Courtesy of the Town of Napervil—nagle photographyFishers, Indiana. Within city limits, the Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, the Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve, and the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater provide history buffs, outdoors lovers, and theater-goers a wealth of diversions. Getty ImagesWest Des Moines, Iowa Raccoon Regional Park is the prime outdoor spot in West Des Moines, with a 232-acre lake, nature lodge, dog park, and more. Ryan DonnellOverland Park, Kansas. The second largest city in Kansas has a weekly farmers' market, themed gardens in the 300-Acre Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, and the striking Museum at Prairiefire (above). Derek Slagle—Getty ImagesLexington, Kentucky. The Horse Capital of the World is in the center of the inner Bluegrass Region. And have we mentioned you will never have to worry about finding good bourbon again? Richard Cummins—Getty ImagesBossier City, Louisiana. Along the east bank of the Red River, Bossier City is home to Barksdale Air Force Base and four riverboat casinos/hotels. Richard T. Nowitz—Getty ImagesPortland, Maine. The "other" Portland has become a foodie outpost in its own right—and a darn good drinking city, too. To showcase its vibrant beer scene, the first week of November is Portland Beer Week. Kenneth Wiedemann—Getty ImagesColumbia, Maryland Swan rides are only one of the kid-friendly past-times on Columbia's Lake Kittamaqundi. There are also free outdoor movies and concerts, plenty of restaurants, and the annual 4th of July fireworks extravaganza. Ackerman + GruberNewton, Massachusetts. Comprised of 13 small villages each with its own quaint downtown area, Newton is a city rich in racial diversity, cultural activities, and plenty of good jobs, thanks in part to its two largest employers: Boston College and Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Courtesy of the Town of NewtonNovi, Michigan. Among the metro-Detroit suburbs and towns, Novi stands out for its affordable housing, high median income, and remarkably international population. Courtesy of the Town of NoviEden Prairie, Minnesota. All the homes in the Eden Gardens neighborhood are built from reclaimed materials and feature solar panels, high-efficiency heating and cooling, and no-mow or low-mow yards. Ackerman + GruberGulfport, Mississippi. Among its attractions are a 250-acre Gulfport Sportsplex and Gulf Islands Water Park, the largest water park on the coast. DenisTangneyJr—Getty ImagesLee’s Summit, Missouri. The 692-acre Legacy Park includes an amphitheater, a lake, and enough open space for residents to enjoy a free concert or spend some time practicing outdoor yoga. Courtesy of Lee's SummitBillings, Montana. How's this for the great outdoors? Billings (a.k.a. Montana's Trailhead) hosts the state's only walkable brewery district. Richard Cummins—Getty ImagesLincoln, Nebraska. This city of some 272,000 people is also a college town, home to the University of Nebraska. John Elk—Getty ImagesEnterprise, Nevada. Though it’s located in the shadow of Las Vegas, Enterprise is more of a shopping destination than a gambler’s paradise. Its Town Square Mall is an upscale retail center with more than 120 stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue. Courtesy of Clark CountyNashua, New Hampshire. Nashua was actually the first winner of Money's Best Places to Live, in 1987. Today, the waterfront downtown is enjoying a renaissance. DenisTangneyJr—Getty ImagesParsippany, New Jersey. Parsippany may be only 35 miles from the Big Apple, but it feels like small-town America and is proud of its connection to the outdoors. (For instance, these cheerleaders are celebrating Arbor Day.) Courtesy of the Town of ParsippanySante Fe, New Mexico. Living in Santa Fe, which was built by Spanish colonists in 1610, is a bit like living in a museum, thanks to the pueblo-style architecture and Museum Hill, home to the city's substantial art collections. Kylie McLaughlin—Getty Images/Lonely Planet ImageClarkstown, New York. Its nine villages are all within a 35-mile drive of New York City, but Clarkstown’s $360,000 median home price is a bargain in this expensive corner of the country. Cary, North Carolina. A suburb of Raleigh, Cary offers a solid school system, safe streets, healthy job opportunities—plus 39 greenway trails and a massive nature preserve. Courtesy of The Town of CaryGrand Forks, North Dakota. Grand Forks is home to University of North Dakota, the Grand Forks Air Force Base, and a slice of the Red River, which is itself occasionally host to some very talented yoga practitioners. Courtesy of the Town of Grand ForksWest Chester, Ohio. Speaker of the House John Boehner liked this area so much he decided to retire here. Summer weekends in the township mean outdoor movies in the park on Friday nights and a farmers’ market every Saturday on the Square. Courtesy of the Town of West ChesterEdmond, Oklahoma. There are 62 golf courses within 30 miles of Edmond, but it's OK if the links aren't your thing. If you prefer the water, Arcadia Lake is a terrific spot for fishing bluegill, channel and blue catfish, and largemouth bass. Courtesy of The Town of EdmondBeaverton, Oregon. One in five Beaverton residents was born outside the U.S., and nearly 100 languages are spoken in the public schools—which, incidentally, rank among the best in the state. Courtesy of the Town of BeavertonLevittown, Pennsylvania. This Philadelphia suburb is relatively new compared to its neighbors. Yet what Levittown lacks in history it makes up for with affordable homes, outdoor spaces, good schools, and humane commutes. Courtesy of Bucks CountyCranston, Rhode Island. This city south of Providence shares the Narragansett Bay and is home to Pawtuxet Village, an emerging foodie destination. Courtesy of the Town of CranstonCharleston, South Carolina. One of the prettiest cities in the country, Charleston is kissed on all sides by water, from the Cooper and Ashley rivers to the harbor leading to the Atlantic. Robert Loe—Getty ImagesSioux Falls, South Dakota. The Falls get top billing, but events like the monthly “First Friday,” where businesses and restaurants stay open late and organize live music, also draw bring crowds to this city on the Big Sioux river. Chaithanya Krishna Photography—Getty ImagesBartlett, Tennesse. Back in the 1800s, Bartlett was a stop on the stagecoach route. In fact, it was formed from two towns: one called Union Depot and the other, apparently alluding to the lush surroundings, called Green Bottom. Courtesy of the Town of BartlettPlano, Texas. The Plano Balloon Festival has become a signature annual event every fall. The rest of the year, Plano is known for making good on its motto—"A great place to do business," which has helped draw companies including J.C. Penney, Frito-Lay, and Bank of America to town. Courtesy of the Town of PlanoLayton, Utah. Among the most popular events in family-friendly Layton is the annual Taste of the Town festival in the Layton Commons Park. Courtesy of the Town of LaytonAshburn, Virginia. At Ashburn’s epicenter is One Loudoun, a community that blends offices, shops, restaurants, entertainment, condominiums, and hotels where people gather for outdoor concerts, farmer’s markets, 5K races, and the December tree lighting ceremony. Courtesy One LoudounSammamish, Washington. Sammamish Commons, which hosts farmer’s markets, outdoor concerts, and Shakespeare theater, is a community hub. Residents can walk to the library, city hall, and brand new, 60,000-square-foot aquatic and community center that hosts youth camps, community events, and fitness classes for people of all ages. Courtesy of the town of SammamishCharleston, West Virginia. Fall looks good on Charleston from across the North Plaza of the West Virginia State Capitol building in autumn. Thorney Lieberman—Getty ImagesAppleton, Wisconsin. In addition to its natural, Midwestern charm, Appleton draws new residents to its strong stock of affordable housing. The median home price is about $120.000. Patty Antonczyk/Courtesy of the Town of AppletonCheyenne, Wyoming. Cheyenne is home to the world's largest outdoor rodeo, so it’s probably not surprising that the state capitol building (above) is home to a 3,000-pound bison—stuffed and mounted, of course. Getty Images
The master plan guides economic development as well. Offices and retail centers are sprinkled strategically around the villages. Mid-rise office buildings are clustered downtown between the Columbia Mall and Lake Kittamaqundi, which is surrounded by an exercise path, restaurants, and the town’s celebratory symbol of inclusiveness: the 35-foot-high metal sculpture The People Tree.
Downtown is going through its own midlife growth spurt. The Howard Hughes Corp. is overseeing the creation of 4.3 million square feet of office space, 1.2 million square feet of retail, and 5,500 residential units. The hope is to create a more walkable (and bikeable) core, stretching from the mall to the lake and including the area around the celebrated Merriweather Post Pavilion amphitheater. “The quality of life here is already amazing,” says Greg Fitchitt, VP for development at Howard Hughes. “We’re trying to create a 21st-century urban village.”
One knock on planned communities is the fees levied to maintain their vision, and Columbia has two of them. The Columbia Association annual fee runs about $1,000 a year on a median-priced home and helps maintain the town’s vast communal greeneries and other amenities. (The master plan sets aside 36% of the town’s land for open space.) There is also an optional fee for the pools and recreational facilities that starts at $67 a month for a family membership.
At almost 50, Columbia is welcoming its third generation, and the sense of community is flourishing in the most human of ways. The population is 55% white, 25% black, 12% Asian, and 8% Latino. Growing up as one of the few African-Americans in nearby Catonsville, Calvin Ball watched Columbia with envy. When he got married, Ball, now a college administrator, told his wife, Shani, there was only one place he would raise their children. “He was so happy when he talked about Columbia,” says Shani. “That’s because diversity is not only tolerated here. It’s celebrated.”
