Wonder What Winter’s Like in Nashua?

Americans love lists that tell them which is the best of this or the worst of that. There seems to be a particular fascination with the rankings of the best places to live in the United States.

But the word that came to our mind on reading the new rankings of Money magazine was “inexplicable,” not “fascination.” We don’t say this just because California cities were in the ho-hum range even though our economy is booming and job creation seems to be a key factor in Money’s survey (along with housing costs, air quality, education and crime).

But three places in New Hampshire in the top 10, led by No. 1 Nashua? And why would Nashua rank No. 1 back in 1987 and then plummet to No. 233 just four years later, only to rise to the top again?

The top California locale is San Jose at No. 8, followed by No. 13 San Francisco, No. 22 Los Angeles-Long Beach, No. 24 Oakland, No. 27 Orange County and No. 28 San Diego.

Orange County soared from No. 60, presumably helped by its emergence from bankruptcy. But why did San Diego drop from No. 16 to No. 28?

Is Brazoria, Texas, really a better place to live than Santa Barbara, Napa Valley, San Luis Obispo or Santa Cruz? Where the heck is Brazoria?

Why did Fargo, N.D., drop from No. 14 last year to No. 186 now? More to the point, why was Fargo No. 14 in the first place?

And the folk in Davenport, Iowa, must be wondering what made them dead last at No. 300. Beats us.