WINSTON-SALEM – BusinessWeek Magazine named Winston-Salem seventh in the nation in a list of best places to start over.

Among other things, the magazine looked at job prospects.

"It's based on the number of employers who say they're going to be adding to their workforce this year," said Gayle Anderson, the president of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce. "That was 22 percent of the employers who were surveyed, which is very good news."

While some traditional employers like tobacco have seen a decline, and there's a question about the future of Wachovia Bank, the report said the city's also a hub for high-tech business.

"Nanotechnology, biomedicine, design and advanced manufacturing are things we're trying to develop and push," said Anderson, adding the report helps get the word out on a national basis.

People in downtown Winston-Salem Wednesday agreed, also mentioning quality of life.

"It's the climate, the trees and the beautiful people," said Rico Greenberg, a street vendor who moved to the Twin City 25 years ago from New York City. "It was a good place to relocate to."

Some folks think the city's location is a factor in quality-of-life issues.

"We're a couple of hours from the mountains, a few hours from the beach," said Winston-Salem native Nathan Kreeger. "It's just a prime location in the state.

Amateur photographer Tom Powell moved to the city from south Florida a few years ago.

"I have mixed feelings," he joked. "I certainly agree with that. This is a wonderful place to live, don't want it to get too crowded, though."

Anchorage, Alaska, topped the list. It also included Waco, Tex.; Fargo, N.D.; and the Washington, D.C., area.