Top 10 Best-Run Cities in U.S.

By Sanskrity Sinha | January 06 2012 7:54 AM

A city is best run when a number of factors are taken into consideration. However, according to analysts at 24/7 Wall St., one's access to jobs in a city is the most important factor to determine if the city is the best-run.

creative commons

An overpopulated amusement park near a pier - this is new. Wonder if I can pick up a lifeguard hoodie that says Virginia Beach on it?

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The financial news provider has released its latest list of ten best-run and worst-run cities in America after reviewing the local economies, fiscal discipline and standard of living of the 100 largest cities by population. While Virginia Beach is the best-managed city, Miami in Florida stood out as the worst-run.

Analysts concluded that encouraging businesses to prosper and create jobs is the most important function of a local government. The other determining factors for the best-governed cities include the crime rate, poverty rate and the percentage of high school graduate population.

Find out the ten best-run cities in the U.S. below:

10. Plano, Tex. Violent crime per 1,000 people: 1.81 (7th lowest) Poverty rate: 7.9% (5th lowest) Adult population graduated from high school: 93.3% (4th highest) Population: 261,697

9. Chandler, Ariz. Violent crime per 1,000 people: 2.86 (14th lowest) Poverty rate: 8.2% (6th lowest) Adult population graduated from high school: 91.5% (13th highest) Population: 236,775

8. Scottsdale, Ariz. Violent crime per 1,000 people: 1.53 (6th lowest) Poverty rate: 7.9% (4th lowest) Adult population graduated from high school: 95.9% (the highest) Population: 217,977

7. Seattle, Wash. Violent crime per 1,000 people: 5.67 (43rd lowest) Poverty rate: 14.7% (14th lowest) Adult population graduated from high school: 92.8% (7th highest) Population: 610,710

6. Chesapeake, Va. Violent crime per 1,000 people: 3.84 (19th lowest) Poverty rate: 7% (2nd lowest) Adult population graduated from high school: 90.8% (14th highest) Population: 222,986

5. Lincoln, Neb. Violent crime per 1,000 people: 4.84 (32nd lowest) Poverty rate: 17.3% (28th lowest) Adult population graduated from high school: 92.9% (6th highest) Population: 259,041

4. Fremont, Calif. Violent crime per 1,000 people: 2.37 (11th lowest) Poverty rate: 6.6% (the lowest) Adult population graduated from high school: 90.2% (15th highest) Population: 214,613

3. Madison, Wis. Violent crime per 1,000 people: 3.92 (21st lowest) Poverty rate: 18.7% (40th lowest) Adult population graduated from high school: 95.1% (3rd highest) Population: 233,777

2. Irvine, Calif. Violent crime per 1,000 people: 0.55 (5th lowest) Poverty rate: 12.3% (9th lowest) Adult population graduated from high school: 95.7% (2nd highest) Population: 212,982

1. Virginia Beach, Va. Violent crime per 1,000 people: 1.88 (8th lowest) Poverty rate: 7.5% (3rd lowest) Adult population graduated from high school: 93.1% (5th highest) Population: 439,172