Moorhead named best small city by website
MOORHEAD – Fargo gets on its fair share of best-of lists, but now it’s Moorhead’s turn to bask in the limelight.
The financial services website Nerdwallet.com recently named Moorhead as the Best Small City in America in its 2015 rankings.
Narrowing its search to cities with less than 75,000 residents, Nerdwallet looked at a handful of livability factors including economic health and affordability. Moorhead came out on top.
The announcement should come as “no surprise to Moorhead residents,” said Mayor Del Rae Williams.
“For me, as mayor, the secret is well worth spreading,” she added. “We’re just going to get better, and we’re lucky to be here.”
The website specifically hails Moorhead’s low unemployment rate of 3 percent in February and affordable housing. It notes that short commute times contribute to a good work-life balance. It also cites Moorhead’s close proximity to its “big neighbor,” Fargo.
Two other Minnesota cities also made the top 10. Winona was No. 2 and Mankato rated No. 5. Helena, Mont., was No. 10.
Aberdeen, S.D., was 36th, Grand Forks 37th, St. Cloud 47th and West Fargo 69th.
Nerdwallet notes that small Midwestern cities dominate the list thanks to their diverse economies and their role as college towns. Williams said Moorhead’s secret lies in its people.
“We love our community. It’s something I learned before I ran (for mayor), and everything afterward has just confirmed it,” Williams said. “My favorite part of Moorhead is our sense of community.”