Smart places to live.

• Position: Affordable housing locations - Brief article

If you could quit your job, sell your house and move anywhere in the country, how would you decide where to go? Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine has helped. The editors asked hundreds of people for their criteria on choosing a place to call home. This included good value in home prices, a reasonable cost of living and a great quality of life. They wanted a town that is fun, vibrant and affordable. Using various sources, the magazine came up with the following best "smart" places to live:

1 NASHVILLE, TENN.

"A phenomenal entertainment scene that goes far beyond country." (And the site of the 2006 NCSL Annual Meeting Aug. 15-18.)

2 MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MINN.

"Hip and progressive atmosphere with a Midwestern sensibility."

3 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

"Resort-town ambience, a boom-town economy and cow-town prices."

4 ATLANTA, GA.

"A vibrant city with a rich history, good health care and a great cultural scene."

5 AUSTIN, TEXAS

"A sophisticated salsa of culture, history and politics."

6 KANSAS CITY, MO.

"Stately homes to downtown lofts and worldclass museums to barbecue."

7 ASHEVILLE, N.C.

"A virtually franchise-free downtown...