Life has been dfficult these last few months.
But despite the pandemic, Cheshire has continued to provide its residents with needed services and local businesses have, for the most part, been able to adjust and rally to the “new normal” with help from local health officials and guidance from Governor Ned Lamont.
That hard work seems to have paid off.
Last month, Cheshire learned that it had been ranked as the 28th Best Place to Live in the United States, according to Money Magazine.
“The Town of Cheshire takes great pride in our community,” wrote Town Manager Sean Kimball, in a statement dated Sept. 23, “and we are pleased to be recognized as a great place to live.”
The ranking considers all towns in the U.S. with a population of 25,000 or higher, and takes into account economic factors, such as employment opportunities, as well as supply and demand for homes, cost of living, quality of schools, racial and economic diversity, and health and safety. “Money selected 50 towns and cities where the economy, job growth, and housing market remained strong despite COVID-19 disruptions,” wrote Kimball. “Priorities were shifted to pay more attention to locations that aren’t just doing well now, but that also show great promise and stability for the next five to 10 years.”
This isn’t the first time Cheshire has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Live in the U.S. by the publication. In 2013, Money Magazine listed Cheshire as 39th out of the 100 best small towns in the U.S. in which to live.
This year's rating focused directly on the COVID-19 pandemic and how places like Cheshire have fared.
Cheshire, like most towns in the U.S., is facing an uncertain economic future. Connecticut was one of the hardest hit areas of the country when the pandemic began in earnest during the spring, but for much of the summer the state was hailed for having done an excellent job of containing the virus. Recent weeks have seen the state’s COVID-related data tick up slightly, leading to some concerns about a possible resurgence, however the numbers remain good for Connecticut in comparison to most other states in the country.
The business landscape for Cheshire actually looks promising, with two new breweries aiming for 2021 openings, and a new surgical center slated to open in the foreseeable future. And the Cheshire School District received some welcome news in the last two weeks when it was announced that Norton Elementary School had been named a National Blue Ribbon School honoree.
“We are, understandably, very proud of this recognition,” said Arnett Talbot, assistant town manager. “With this and Norton Elementary School … it’s really good to have some positive things going on now.”