What is the quality of life in Southington?

The recent issue of Hartford Magazine says it has the best quality of life among cities and towns in Hartford County with population above 25,000. It outpaced such well-regarded rivals as Glastonbury, which finished second, third-place Windsor and fourth-place West Hartford.

In the overall ranking, which includes categories of quality of live education and civics, Southington came in third behind Glastonbury and West Hartford.

The two-year-old magazine rated the quality of life on the basis of preservation of open space, a high percentage of single-family homes as compared to multifamily dwellings, maintaining a low property tax rate and a low crime rate.

This category also measured a town’s commitment to its library and how much the median cost of its houses increased from 1994 to 2003, High median household incomes and a high percentage of collage graduates in its population were other factors that were considered.

“Many of us in town government have been cheering the fact that Southington is among the best communities, and this recent rating shows we are correct,” said Town Councilor Art Secondo, who is also the president and CEO of the Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce.

Secondo, who is known as a primary town cheerleader, was clearly elated by the No. 1 rating.

“There’s little or no doubt that the rapid growth of Southington is based on our reputation as a safe, cordial and progressive community, as opposed to many that are adjacent to our borders,” he said.

“Our town deserves to be recognized for the tradition and reputation that we have sustained for years.”