McKinney ranks #2 on the Best Places to Live in America list issued by Money Magazine as revealed on the Today Show this morning. McKinney is the only Texas city in the top 10.

To see the ranking, click here. You can also make McKinney the fan favorite town by liking the ranking on Facebook.

Money editors and writers rank communities based on housing affordability, education, arts and culture, safety, health care, diversity and the economy, including the fiscal strength of the government. McKinney ranked #5 in 2010 and debuted on the list at #14 in 2008. In the Best Places to Live listing, Money Magazine ranks cities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000 every other year.

“The city offers plenty of housing options, from starter homes to old Victorians and ‘Texas-style’ five-bedrooms. Low taxes have lured companies with white-collar jobs in technology and energy, a new hospital opened in July, and a conference center and hotel complex is in the works.” McKinney also boasts “easy access to rolling green hills, golf courses, and leafy open spaces lacking in neighboring towns.”

Money Magazine

“Ranking among the very best places to live in the country is a distinction we greatly value, especially when you consider how rare it is for a city to consistently rank in the top 15 for several consecutive issues on the Best Places to Live list. McKinney is a great place to live, arguably the best. Our community has a consistently high quality of life for our residents, no matter how we grow and change. It’s amazing what we have in our city, and it’s just going to get better,” said McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller. “To move from #5 to #2 is an honor for our community, and we thank Money Magazine for the recognition."

Money writers visited McKinney in July to interview residents and city leaders and to assess traffic, parks, and gathering places. They also evaluated intangible qualities like community spirit. In addition to set criteria, they noted job availability and the great historic downtown full of activities for residents as attributes that set McKinney apart.