Columbia, Missouri is one of those rare cities ranked among the best places to live that is also very affordable. Attractive characteristics of the area include a highly-educated population, a strong and diverse economy, excellent health care and educational facilities, a low cost of living, and a beautiful environment covered with trees that burst into color during autumn. Since Columbia is also equidistant to St. Louis and Kansas City, it enjoys close proximity to larger cities in the state.
As mentioned earlier, education is given high priority in Columbia. With three college campuses standing inside the city, Columbia has sometimes been called the "Athens of Missouri." The number of residents who have earned bachelor and masters degrees contributes to this nickname as well. The colleges do more for Columbia that earn a city nickname though. For example, the University or Missouri is the largest employer in the area, the college sports teams provide a lot of local entertainment, and the students that come to study at Columbia come from many different backgrounds which enriches the culture in the city.
Secondary education is strong in Columbia too. This is reflected by regularly high test scores and the number of private schools and the fact that one of the cities three high schools was even recognized for ranking in the top 3% of high schools across the nation. Consequently, Columbia is a wise place to live if you want your children to acquire a good education.
For those who enjoy a peaceful atmosphere, Columbia is attractive because it is smaller than many other cities in the state and much smaller than other cities across the country like New York and San Francisco. Its smaller size makes it more inviting for a lot of residents. Parks throughout the area can provide refuge from the city atmosphere as well. Families and students alike enjoy the recreational facilities and trails that they provide.
Even though Columbia is a beautiful and enviable place to live, housing prices still remain well below the national average. For example, the national median price for a home is about $250,000 while the median price for a home in Columbia is right around $167,000. With a low cost of living added to that equation, meeting a house payment on Columbia, Missouri real estate will be a lot easier than meeting a house payment in San Diego or Chicago. You can find everything from condos and apartments, to single family homes and farms too.
Author Resource:-
One of the quickest and easiest ways to sort through Columbia, Missouri real estate is to hire a RE/MAX (http://www.remax-missouri.com) Realtor. A realtor can save you time and money because they are familiar with the area and changing market conditions. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.
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