The latest edition of Fortune Small Business gives high praise to Durham, ranking the city 12th on the magazine's list of the 100 best places to live and launch a business.

Magazine staff canvassed the country to find what they considered towns with the best mix of business friendliness and lifestyle appeal. Durham ranked higher on the list than Raleigh (20), Cary and Chapel Hill.

An integral part of what's good about Durham is a revitalized downtown that includes the American Tobacco historical district. The Durham Bulls Athletic Park also is downtown, and so is Rick Hendrick Chevrolet -- a dealership that makes Durham the best place in the Triangle to purchase a vehicle.

Not only does Hendrick Durham Auto Mall provide a great service for all of its customers -- earning consistently high marks in consumer satisfaction -- but it also is a key player in promoting the Durham community through its connections to and partnerships with many local non-profits.

Small Business notes in its profile of Durham that the city is "perceived as the underdog of the Triangle region." It describes the "pros" of the city as "thriving biotech and pharmaceutical industries, lots of local arts festivals and college sports."

The magazine also wrote that: "the creative class in the Triangle area (Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh) has begun to set up shop in the unconventional workspaces that are available in downtown Durham's 'American Tobacco Historical District' and in recently renovated office towers."

Other benefits of Durham are the Nasher Museum of Art and lower cost of living than Raleigh and Chapel Hill.

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