Over the weekend I had the good fortune of being interviewed by WMUR’s Adam Sexton about the excellent news that the Manchester/Nashua region was named first on the list of “America’s 100 Cheapest Places to Live.”

“Among the U.S. cities with the most affordable housing and lowest cost of living, the Queen City offers the best combination of safety, employment opportunity and general quality of life,” Forbes magazine wrote.

Here’s the write-up that appeared on www.wmur.com:

Forbes Magazine has named the Manchester-Nashua area the cheapest place to live in America based on the area’s affordable housing, low cost of living and high quality of life.

Sometimes a list is just a list, but state economic development officials said this No. 1 ranking represents a promotional goldmine, WMUR News 9’s Adam Sexton reported.

“Obviously, this is great news not only for Manchester and Nashua, but for the state of New Hampshire,” said Steve Boucher, the state Division Of Economic Development’s communications and legislative director.

Boucher said Forbes Magazine is validating what many locals already know.

“It just speaks to the high quality of life and — even in challenging economic times these days — it just proves that New Hampshire is still ahead of the curve in terms of the economy,” Boucher said.

Forbes wrote, “Among the U.S. cities with the most affordable housing and the lowest cost of living, the Queen City offers the best combination of safety, employment opportunity and general quality of life.”

The article continued, calling the Manchester-Nashua area “a haven for those repelled by the high price of living and doing business in other New England states.”

“I think it’s a great place to live,” said Joanne Novak, of Manchester.

Novak and Darlene Ramsey said they think the ranking could prompt more people to move to the area.

“The more the merrier,” Ramsey said.

Aaron Daigneault said the difference is clear when he travels.

“Compared to New York City and other cities I’ve been to, it’s very cheap,” Daigneault said.

“I know my parents always talk about how it’s affordable and it’s close to other locations, and here, you have the White (Mountains) real close, Boston’s close,” said Peter Scheuermann, of Pittsburgh, Pa., which ranked 10th on the Forbes list.

Boucher is going to make sure the word gets out to businesses, investors and people across the country.

“I know we’re going to be promoting this for a good long time now. This is excellent news,” Boucher said.

With this list, cheaper doesn’t always mean better. Modesto, Calif., just squeaked in at No. 92, but it made a different Forbes list earlier this year, ranking as the fifth most miserable city in America.

To view the televised segment, visit http://www.wmur.com/money/20101927/detail.html.

– Steve Boucher, Communications & Legislative Director