The January issue of Money magazine ranks the cities based on data provided by OnBoard LLC, a real estate information company. The cities picked have high median household incomes and above-average population growth. They also had to be located no more than 60 miles from a major city to ensure access to cultural activities.

Among the key factors in the rankings are population growth and the ratio of real estate prices to the average income of residents. Woodbury's residents are willing to pay more to live there, even if it makes a bigger dent in their monthly budget. Money magazine believes that's one of the best indications of the desirability of a city.

Woodbury was the top city on the list of cities under 100,000 population in the central US, followed by Eden Prairie in sixth place, Plymouth in ninth and Maple Grove at twelfth. The cities were divided into three regions and two size categories.