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Madison County Best Places to Live

6/28/08 - Based on home and land prices, crime rates, environment, education, economic factors, and access to health care to name a few..... Madison County, NY ranked #3 in the 2008 Progressive Farmer magazine survey.

Once again Madison County tops the charts as one of the best places to live in the rural northeast. Out of the top four counties in the 2008 Progressive Farmer magazine survey, three are in New York.

Number one was Columbia County in Pennsylvania, number two, three and four were Montgomery County, Madison County, and St. Lawrence County. "Madison County is a perfect example of rural America at its best," said John Becker, chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors, "We have a unique balance that blends the country's newest green energy projects: wind power and a landfill gas-to-energy project with our oldest industry, diary farming."

There is a variety of criteria used to compile the list: home and land prices, crime rates, environment, education, economic factors, and access to health care to name a few. After counties are ranked based on the criteria, magazine staff travels to selected counties and adds editorial opinion.

"We have great schools, four colleges, and an above-average percentage of college-bound students," said Becker. Madison County boasts a low crime rate, has easy-to-access hospitals, clinics, and great air quality. The average temperature in January is 17.71 degrees and in July it's 81.88 degrees. The average household income is over $57,000. In the 2005 survey, Madison County ranked fourth in the northeast and 38th in the nation.
Madison County real estate
©The Oneida Daily Dispatch 2008  For full report click here.