Money magazine

CNN Money magazine has selected Madison as one of the top 100 best places to live in 2009. The city comes in at No. 49 as the highest ranked Alabama city on the list, which was released earlier today. CNN Money picked the towns on the basis of "great schools, affordable homes, low crime" and general appeal, according to Money Magazine's description.

"Madison's economy has remained stronger than many, thanks to such large employers as Boeing and NASA," the magazine said in its description of the 38,300-population town. "Indeed, a tech boom has made this one of Alabama's fastest-growing towns." Three other Alabama cities were named in the top 100: Calera came in at No. 83, Alabaster at No. 85 and Helena at No. 90.

Money Magazine has published their 2009 Best Places To Live top 100 list and once again, small towns with populations averaging 20,000 or less top the list. In their search for the best places to live this year, MM discovered that the economy is still strong in many cities across the country. Those that made the list have great schools, affordable homes and low crime.