5 Exciting Reasons Why Rochester is the "Best Place to Live"

This article originally appeared on the Springs "You're Home Blog - Minnesota."

The rest of the country has now been let in on the secret we've known for a while: Rochester is a wonderful place to live. Livability.com is a website that ranks small- to medium-sized cities based on factors such as transportation, education and amenities. After two years in the top ten, Rochester emerged as the #1 choice on Livability's recently released "Top 100 Best Places to Live" for 2016.

Rochester's high ranking is due to the well-rounded quality of life it offers to residents. Here are some of the features that Livability found so appealing. We completely agree!

Mayo Clinic

This world-class medical facility brings more to the community than superior health care. Not only does the Clinic directly employ 30,000 people, it has a ripple effect on the city's economy thanks to the 2 million people who visit each year from around the world. Over the next 20 years, the Destination Medical Center initiative is expected to add another 40,000 jobs.

A Thriving Arts and Culture Scene

Rochester has a number of cultural attractions that would be the envy of many larger cities.

• Mayo Civic Center is host to a wide variety of events ranging from concerts to roller derby matches.
• The Rochester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale has been staging high-quality performances since it was founded in 1919. 
• Enjoy live dramas, comedies and musicals at Rochester Civic Theatre, Rochester Repertory Theatre Company, and Words Players Theatre.
• Both live performances and education opportunities can be found at Rochester Dance Company and Children's Dance Theatre.
• The stunning contemporary art exhibits at Rochester Art Center are supported in large part by ARTBASH, the Center's annual fundraiser that is also a highlight of Rochester's social calendar.

Educational Opportunities

In addition to an excellent K-12 school system, Rochester is home to a number of fine post-secondary institutions, including:

• University of Minnesota Rochester
• Rochester Community and Technical College
• Mayo Medical School
• Minnesota School of Business
• Crossroads College
• St. Mary's University of Minnesota

A Center for Technology

IBM has been a major presence in Rochester for more than 50 years. The company's Executive Briefing Center receives visits from thousands of clients a year looking for innovative solutions to maximizing their companies' IT resources.

Easy Accessibility

Another benefit founded by the Mayo brothers is Rochester International Airport, which has daily flights to the hubs of Minneapolis, Chicago and Atlanta, where passengers can connect to anywhere in the world. The city is also accessible by a number of major routes including I-90 and state highways 52, 63 and 14.

And when Springs at South Broadway opens in early 2017, there’ll be one more item on the list of things that make Rochester a great place to live.

What do you love best about living in Rochester? Share your favorite features in the comments!