The City of Redmond has been voted the fifth best place to live in the country, according to Money Magazine.

This ranking comes as part of Money’s list of America’s best small cities for 2012. Cities that made the list of 100 had populations between 50,000 and 300,000.

When compiling the list, Money staff looked for places with the optimal combination of economic strength, quality health care, low crime, great schools and lots to do.

According to Money, some qualities that put Redmond in the top five are the city’s “historic buildings, quirky shops, eateries and brewpubs” that mingle with “colorful condo and retail developments with public art and giant evergreens.”

Redmond’s proximity to Seattle the Cascade Mountains and 90-plus wineries to the north make Microsoft’s hometown “an ideal base camp for exploring the Northwest,” the magazine states, as well as the city’s “picturesque neighborhoods, low crime rate, and stellar schools are a major part of the city’s attraction.”

The top four cities in front of Redmond on this year’s list were Newton, Mass. in fourth, Eden Prairie, Minn. in third, McKinney, Texas in second and Carmel, Ind. topping the list at number one.

For more information, visit www.Money.com/BestPlaces and http://tinyurl.com/8m5tmor.

The complete list of 100 best places to live can be found in the upcoming issue of Money Magazine, which goes on sale on Friday.