CNNMoney.com came out with a list of the ‘Top 100 Best Places to Live’ based on job market, schools, safety and other qualities people look for in their ideal place of residence.

1. Eden Prairie, Minn.

Eden Prairie took the cake when it came to top small cities. Not only is it a great environment to raise a family, its economy is faring better than most. The unemployment rate is more than four points below the national average thanks to employers such as Starkey Labs, the Minnesota Vikings and Fortune 500 trucking company C.H. Robinson.

Overall, if you enjoy beautiful scenery and peaceful living Eden Prairie is the town for you.

2. Columbia/Ellicott City, Md.

Although Columbia’s unemployment rate is not as low as Eden Prairie’s, it is still impressive enough to earn the No. 2 spot on CnnMoney’s Top 100 list. Between its great housing options, parks and a great music venue Columbia offers shelter, beauty and entertainment.

3. Newton, Mass.

Newton’s close proximity to downtown Boston makes it an ideal location in the Massachusetts area. It seems like the main attraction to Newton is the impressive variety of top-ranked schools.

“Working as a software engineer, it’s nice that most of tech jobs are a 5 to 40 minute drive away. The most important factor in our decision to move to Newton though, was the impressive school system,” said Lena Rasamat, Newton resident of four and a half years. “There are summer farmers markets, and every now and then the neighborhood kids come knock on the door to play with our children. It is just a great environment.”

4. Bellevue, Wash.

Bellevue is a beautiful mix of nature and architecture: Water and trees surround the small downtown area. A home in Bellevue has a pretty steep price tag, but the town has had a recent increase in employment opportunities thanks to Microsoft, T-mobile, Verizon and Expedia.

5. McKinney, Texas

The affordable housing market in Texas has made McKinney one of the standout towns on this list. Packed with trees, trails and ponds, McKinney is a lovely place to take a stroll through, and the low crime is an added bonus. One big plus of living in McKinney is all the employment opportunities, which cut out the hour-long commute to Dallas.

6. Fort Collins, Colo.

Fort Collins took the No.1 spot in 2006 and is still in the top 10 for being a center of economic activity. Being home to Colorado State University definitely helps the town’s economy along with the city’s second-largest employer, Hewlett-Packard.

For those who need to unwind after work, the 29 miles of bike trails are a great way to take in all the scenery Fort Collins has to offer.

7. Overland Park, Kan.

Overland Park may not have much economic competition but it has been hailed as home to the best schools in Kansas.

Erynn Hesler, born and raised in the Kansas City suburb recalled her school days: “In order to find trouble, you really need to look for it. The majority of my graduating class went to and graduated from a university or college. The school districts pride themselves on their graduation rates and AP test scores. There’s not much diversity though, no racial diversity, religious diversity, or income-level diversity. Not the town you’ll find much “fun” in. What is nice is that Kansas City is only 20 to 30 minutes away. Power & Light District, the Plaza and Westport are all great places for those who are old enough to be bored of Overland Park and young enough to either get a babysitter or not have kids. But if you don’t have kids, there is no reason to move to ‘OP.’”

8. Fishers, Ind.

This up-and-coming Indiana town offers low-cost living, a quick commute into the city and strong schools. The population has nearly doubled since the 2000 census to 69,000 in 2010. With large business such as Sallie Mae and Roche Diagnostics offering employment, Fishers can accommodate the increasing population.

9. Ames, Iowa

Another town that calls itself home to a major university, Iowa State, Ames has an impressively low unemployment rate at 4.3%. The university employs 9,000 but if you are looking for another line of work there are plenty of biotech and agriculture jobs nearby.

Many of the high school teams take home state championships, making athletics a main focus in many households.

10. Rogers, Ark.

Arkansas may not be known for many things, but the small city of Rogers is holding its own. Next door to the city where Wal-Mart is headquartered, Rogers offers a selection of strong schools and fun outdoor activities. Thanks to Wal-Mart many high-powered executives have moved to this small town, giving it a big-city feel.

To see a list of the other 90 contenders visit CNNMoney.com.