Alexandria’s downtown recognized as America’s best

City Hall in Alexandria, Va., is pictured. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
In this file photo, City Hall in Alexandria, Va., is pictured. The city’s Old Town was rated as the best downtown of any small to mid-sized city in America by Livability.com. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
snow in Alexandria
In this file photo, snow coats Old Town Alexandria early Feb. 15, 2016. (Twitter/@Edcash1)
Irish step dancers perform at the Ballyshaners Annual Old Town Alexandria Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2016. (Photo Shannon Finney/Shannon Finney Photography)
In this file photo, Irish step dancers perform at the Ballyshaners Annual Old Town Alexandria Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2016. (Photo Shannon Finney/Shannon Finney Photography)
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City Hall in Alexandria, Va., is pictured. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
snow in Alexandria
Irish step dancers perform at the Ballyshaners Annual Old Town Alexandria Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2016. (Photo Shannon Finney/Shannon Finney Photography)

WASHINGTON — Alexandria, Virginia, has the best downtown of any small to mid-sized city in the country, according to Livability.com’s 2016 list of Top 10 Downtowns.

It’s the fourth time the website has recognized Old Town as one of America’s best.

To put together its list, the site looks at more than 2,000 small to medium-sized cities, and considers city life aspects like arts and night life, low vacancy rates and new development, as well as affordability and walkability.

Livability.com loves the way Old Town buzzes with activity day and night, is sophisticated yet comforting, and has restaurants “worth flying across the country to try.”

Alexandria edged out Santa Monica, California, which is the site ranked No. 2.

Greenville, South Carolina, was named third best. Bellevue, Washington, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, round out this year’s top five.

Read the full list here.

Michelle Basch

Michelle Basch is a reporter turned morning anchor at WTOP News.

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