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The list ranks the largest 100 metropolitan areas in the country based on a number of factors, including affordability and quality of life.

Two of the top-ranking cities are in Colorado: Denver, which takes the prize at No. 1, and Colorado Springs, which came in fifth.

Two more cities in the top 10 are in California: San Francisco and San Jose.

The list is based on a survey of thousands of people on the desirability of cities, as well as U.S. Census Bureau statistics and Bureau of Labor statistics.

The three largest cities in the country, in terms of population, ranked near the bottom of the list — New York at No. 96, Los Angeles at No. 83 and Chicago at No. 90.

Those three cities had relatively low "value" ratings, which play a big role in a city's ranking. That means average incomes might not have been keeping up with cost of living in those areas.

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Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge is one of several protected areas in the Florida Everglades.
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