Cheyenne is ranked second in “Best Cities for Relocating Families” in the small cities category in a study by Worldwide ERC® (Employment Relocation Council) and Primacy Relocation (www.primacy.com). Cheyenne’s rank is up from No. 8 in the same survey in 2004.
The purpose of the study was to rate cities based on factors-both short-term and long-term-that determine the likelihood of a successful relocation.
Traditional factors such as tax rates, average home costs and home appreciation are combined with families’ relocation concerns, such as the ability to qualify for in-state tuition, service levels of local utilities, volunteerism and auto/vehicle taxes.
“The Best Cities for Relocating Families” survey weighs the factors that gauge the ease of moving to a city-valuable information for anyone involved in the business of employee relocation. It took into consideration quality-of-life issues that most “best cities” surveys weigh, but paid special attention to criteria that families deal with during their first year in a new location.
The survey took into account the following factors: Economic impacts such as property crime; income/property taxes-city, county, and state marginal tax rates for $50,000 income and property taxes: cost of living-including food, shelter, transportation and entertainment; home price and appreciation over the last year; education factors such as pupil-teacher ratios and requirements for in-state tuition at universities, deemed an indication of how local institutions treat newcomers.
Other factors rated were average commute time; neighborhood mix of homes, jobs and services; accessibility of the street network; utility customer-service ratings; vehicle taxes; weather; social influences that aid in entertainment and making new friends, such as strength of activity centers and downtown areas; and, rate of volunteerism.
The results give a solid ranking of cities based on their attractiveness for relocation.
Best Cities in Small Markets (metro areas with populations between 50,000 and 250,000)
1. Athens, Ga.
2. Cheyenne, Wy.
3. Fargo-Moorhead, N.D.-Minn.
4. Davis, Ca.
5. Enid, Ok.
6. Grand Forks, N.D.
7. Hagerstown, Md
8. Pocatello, Idaho
9. Dover, Del.
10. Casper, Wy.
To view the entire findings and Press Release, visit Primacy Relocation Press Release