The Town of Huntersville is the 4th best affordable suburb in America, according to BusinessWeek.

BusinessWeek sought to identify the best affordable suburb in each state, based on towns within 25 miles of the most populated city in each state, with populations of 5,000 to 60,000, median family incomes of $51,000 to $120,000 and lower-than-average crime rates. Affordability – in terms of median household income and cost of expenditures – was the most heavily weighted factor in their calculations. Other factors included livability, education, crime and state of local economies. Places were penalized for having bad weather, lack of racial diversity, high divorce rates and few children.

These findings are based on BusinessWeek’s recent evaluation of community data across the country from OnBoard Informatics.

Though the communities selected in each state varied by size and median family income, all were identified as places that offered young families attractive locations to raise children while remaining close to employment opportunities.

Changes to the Town’s zoning over the past decade have encouraged a mix of housing types and mixed-use development. "I believe our ranking is a testament to the smart planning that Huntersville initiated over a decade ago,” said Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain.

The past few years have also seen numerous acres of land rezoned to promote corporate, commercial and light industrial uses. "We certainly have had our share of economic setbacks and challenges, but we've weathered storms pretty well,” added Swain.

Much of the town’s growth and quality of life are attributable to its position just north of Charlotte at the southeastern shores of Lake Norman.

Last year, Forbes Magazine ranked the Town of Huntersville as the second best place in America to relocate in their 25 Best Places to Move in America as they highlighted hot spots in the country for companies and their employees to relocate.

For more information about the Town of Huntersville, visit: www.huntersville.org.