Town of Herndon

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The Town of Herndon has captured the attention of editors at Forbes.com, who ranked Herndon as #12 in its listing of “America’s Friendliest Towns.”  Forbes teamed with NextDoor.com, a San Francisco, CA-based based social network for neighborhoods, to assess 500 small metro areas with populations between 5,500 and 150,000. 

Using data from the U.S. Census, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and City-Data.com, Forbes ranked towns based on four data points: percentage of owner-occupied homes; crime rate; charitable giving; and the percentage of college graduates (research has found that college-educated people typically display more civic engagement, with higher rates of voting and volunteering). Nextdoor then conducted qualitative surveys among its membership in the towns that rated the highest to help finalize the ranking of the top 15. 

Herndon was cited specifically for its low unemployment rate, its community celebrations and its nature-themed festivals and initiatives. 

The Town of Herndon has also received national recognition on Bloomberg/Business Week’s 2013 ranking of the Best Places to Raise Kids.
  
Editors at Bloomberg/Business Week chose one community in each of the 50 states to compile the list.  Herndon was recognized for its kid-friendly events and activities including “Little Nature Inspectors” classes and many performances on the Town Green that are geared toward families and children. 
  
Said Mayor Lisa Merkel, “It’s no coincidence that the Town of Herndon is getting noticed in national rankings such as these. Our community is unique in its warmth, its vibrancy and its welcoming spirit.  It is a proud day for all of us who call Herndon home..”