Most Livable:

• A nationally recognized private research company ranked Minnesota the "Most Livable State" for the fourth year in a row, and Saint Paul consistently receives national recognition as one of the most desirable cities in which to live. The award was based on 43 factors, including home ownership rates, job growth, percent of population graduated from high school, electricity prices and per capita personal income.
  
• Minnesota features four seasons. The average temperature in the Twin Cities during January is 13°, and 73° during July. The annual average precipitation in the Twin Cities is 28 inches, and annual snowfall averages 42 inches.
  
• Minnesota reduced the rate of violent crime from 310 to 274 offenses per 100,000 population in 2001.

   Good Schools:

• Minnesota's educational system is a national model. The state's public school open enrollment program allows students to enroll in schools outside their district and the post-secondary enrollment options program encourages high school students to attend colleges tuition-free.
  
• Minnesota students have greater access to computers than do students in 45 other states.
  
• In addition to the University of Minnesota, one of the nation's top 20 public universities, Minnesota has 7 state universities, 26 private liberal arts colleges, 17 private graduate schools and 29 community and technical colleges.

   Talented:

• Minnesotans renowned for bringing new ideas, discoveries and talent to the world include F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sinclair Lewis, the Artist (FKA) Prince, Charles M. Schulz, Bob Dylan, Charles Lindbergh, Eric Sevareid, Hubert H. Humphrey, Walter Mondale, Garrison Keillor, James J. Hill, The Mayo Brothers, Laura Ingalls Wilder. And more…

   Healthy:

• Minnesota was the 3rd healthiest state in the country in 2000.
  
• MinesotaCare, the state health care reform law enacted in 1992, guarantees basic affordable health care for all, and emphasizes preventive health care for children.
  
• Working Mother Magazine named Minnesota one of the best states for child care.
  
• Minnesota ranked first in the nation in 2001 with its support for public health care. It has the lowest incidence of heart disease and lowest premature death.

   Outdoorsy:

• Minnesota has 66 state parks and 57 state forests.
• They cover more than 3.4 million acres of land and have more than 5,000 campsites.
• Annually, 8.4 million visitors enjoy Minnesota's state parks.

   Top-tier Sport, Entertainment
   and Shopping fans:

• The Twin Cities is home to four professional teams -- (basketball) the Minnesota Timberwolves, (baseball) Minnesota Twins, (football) Minnesota Vikings, and (hockey) Minnesota Wild. The Cities also offer a wide variety of other family entertainment including the Minnesota Zoological Gardens, Como Zoo and Conservatory, the Children's Museum, and the Science Museum of Minnesota.
  
• The Mall of America features over 400 stores and more than 2.5 million square feet of shopping. It also offers entertainment through the Mall's indoor amusement park, nightclubs, a comedy club and 14 movie screens.