As seen in the August 2008 issue of Money magazine and on the web at CNNMoney.com.
Midlothian, VA
Top 100 rank: 99
Population: 54,500
Founded as a coal-mining village centuries ago in the Virginia Colony, Midlothian has emerged as an in-demand suburb connected to greater Richmond.
The heritage is still visible, though, in the historic homes, taverns and railroad beds in town. The building of a major highway in 2004 spurred rapid growth in the village, including the ongoing construction of the Watkins Centre, a massive office complex and retail center two miles west of the village
But local residents have joined together to preserve the village’s historic buildings, and members of the Midlothian Garden Club have been known to grace the stone entryway into the village with flowers.