After a very (seriously) hidden ranking system, it appears that Albemarle County only made it to 13 out of the Top 20 places to live in the USA. The simple truth is that Albemarle County and Charlottesville should always be in the Top 5 places to live, no matter the type of list [insert funny list joke here].

Forbes used a bunch of variables to get to this list, including, but not limited to SAT scores, cost of living, graduation rate, standardized scores, home prices, property tax rate as a percentage of median home price, percentage of homes occupied by owner, per-capita income, crime rate and commute time. We didn’t come out on top and I’m pissed.

Here is my Top 5 List for the reasons Forbes pulled this list out of their arse (translation I am a poor sport when Charlottesville doesn’t win).

1. The ranking system is completely secret.

2. Midwestern places hold the top 5 rankings. What? Who likes corn and meth heads, anyway?

3. The ranking system has very little to do with real life family environments.

4. New Jersey made the list.

5. You can’t pronounce half the winners on the list…Ozaukee, Geauga, Waukesha…? Somebody shoot me.

The full list of Forbes’ Top 20 Best Places to Raise a Family is after the jump…

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What does spring mean?  A list….

1.  UVA ladies start tearing off the clothes!  Go to The Grounds if you don’t believe me.

2.  On April 5th, ZoCaLo will start serving brunch.  Also, brunch outdoors becomes a much more realistic endeavor.

3.  On April 5th, the City Market will be open!

4.   The Vernal Equinox - I know this sounds like some tantric position, but it just means the sun is positioned directly over the equator of the earth and signals the beginning of springtime.  It happened at 5:48 this morning.  I knew I was happy for a reason.

5.  Hiking is back in style. I’ll be heading to Crab Tree Falls one of these weekends.

6.  No more freezing your ass off after drinking.

7.   Spring fever! Yum.

8.  Virginia Festival of the Book starts March 26th.

What is your list?

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