NEWTON, Mass. -- CNN's "Money Magazine" put together a list of the top 100 best places to live in the country , and Newton found itself at No. 3.

The town of 82,000 people is separated into 13 "villages" that are filled with shops, parks and playgrounds for residents to enjoy, creating the New England feel of the town. After all, Newton isn't called the "Garden City" for nothing, Ned Mahoney, an agent at ReMax First Realty, said. The town is full of gardens and parks.

Residents can feel safe, too, while they explore what the city has to offer. David Walsh, another local ReMax Agent, said that the FBI rated Newton the third safest city with a population under 100,000, also making Newton a sought-after place to live.

But you get the best of both worlds with Newton. The town's nearby location to downtown Boston, accessible by forms of public transportation within 45 minutes, makes living in Newton even more desirable.

Walsh adds that the easy travel routes available to Boston, such as the Mass. Pike, make the city more attractive to potential buyers. If commuters would rather opt for public transportation, the Green Line is also readily available for travelers.

Newton is also full of diverse living options. There are many different options for many different economic levels, said Mahoney, adding that residents can rent or buy homes in the city.

With an unemployment rate of 6 percent, big businesses such as Boston College and Newton-Wellesley Hospital helped the town survive the hurting economy by still employing thousands. The area of Greater Boston also provides many residents with jobs in fields such as education, government and health care.

The diverse city of Newton provides safety, efficient travel routes and a suburban setting close to Boston, all of which are reasons Newton found itself the third best place to live, according to Money Magazine.