By Jenny Overman - Fort Mill Times FORT MILL -- Even during a national recession, Fort Mill retains its small-town, suburban appeal -- and it's a heck of a bargain, according to one survey.
The former mill town turned suburban hotspot is ranked 10th among the nation's most affordable suburbs, according to a list published by BusinessWeek.
The magazine considered the affordability of suburbs around the country and chose one from each state that met BusinessWeek's criteria for affordability. Suburbs located within 25 miles of a major city with populations of 5,000 to 60,000 people and median incomes of $51,000 to $120,000 were considered.
Factors such as the quality of education, crime rates, ease of commuting and the availability of green space were considered. Locales were penalized for poor weather, high divorce rates and lack of racial diversity.
Buddy Connor, a volunteer with the Fort Mill Council of the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce, said he wasn't surprised by Fort Mill's ranking, especially because the school system was among the criteria.
"I'd have to agree with that," Connor said of the ranking. "I lived in Charlotte and moved to Fort Mill in 1971. It was a small town then, not as busy as it is now, but Fort Mill has the best school system in the state. We graduate most of our students, and they do well in college."
The magazine listed the No. 1 most affordable suburb as Pewaukee, Wis., a community of about 12,000 located about 20 minutes outside Milwaukee. Another Charlotte-area suburb, Cornelius, N.C., came in at No. 7.
Other affordable suburbs included West Des Moines, Iowa; Pataskala, Ohio; and Munford, Tenn.
Buddy Connor, a volunteer with the Fort Mill Council of the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce, said he wasn't surprised by Fort Mill's ranking, especially because the school system was among the criteria.
"I'd have to agree with that," Connor said of the ranking. "I lived in Charlotte and moved to Fort Mill in 1971. It was a small town then, not as busy as it is now, but Fort Mill has the best school system in the state. We graduate most of our students, and they do well in college."
The magazine listed the No. 1 most affordable suburb as Pewaukee, Wis., a community of about 12,000 located about 20 minutes outside Milwaukee. Another Charlotte-area suburb, Cornelius, N.C., came in at No. 7.
Other affordable suburbs included West Des Moines, Iowa; Pataskala, Ohio; and Munford, Tenn.
