Judges said it was a “supremely practical choice for families”, thanks to its convenient central location, rapidly improving town centre and excellent schools.
But Magherafelt residents don't need a team of judges to tell them what they’ve known for years.
Here are 17 things only Magherafelt people know - or should know - about the town: anecdotes and memories that make up a shared community.
9. The restless spirit of Margaret
Just about everyone connected to Magherafelt has heard of 'Margaret's Grave'. Margaret was buried at crossroads on the road to Megargy. The story goes that Margaret took her own life - unrequited love - and was interred at the crossroads after being denied burial in sanctified ground. Some locals have reported sightings of her restless spirit down the years. Photo: National World
10. Remember the 'spit and sawdust bars'?
Were there once 15 or 16 pubs in Magherafelt? Or more? A veteran bar fly could reel off the number of pubs that were on each street down the years, and name the establishment where the best Guinness was served. The number was usually disputed, as was the best place to buy a pint of the black stuff. Most of them - memorably described in a licensing application in the local Courthouse for a more modern establishment by a prominent QC as "spit and sawdust bars" - have disappeared with the passing of the years. Pictured is McFalls pub which was located on Rainey Street, opposite the Market Yard. Photo: Contributed
11. Soda farls, sausage rolls and wee buns
You knew you could get all the best baking - from wheaten bread, soda farls, sausage rolls, to a huge range of wee buns from The Cake Shop at Broad Street run by Dean Lawrence for almost half a century. Photo: Contributed
12. The best ice cream
Which ice cream was the best - Sean Agnew's or The Savoy's? The two shops were virtually opposite each other on Queen Street attracting huge numbers of customers on sunny summer afternoons. When the brighter and warmer days arrived, Donald Walters, the owner of The Savoy, who had a pencil thin moustache and greased back hair, would have gone around the housing estates in his ice cream van, stopping to blow a tune on his golden trumpet to alert the neighbourhood of his arrival. Following the closure of Agnew's cafe, the recipe was passed on and continues to be made in the town at premises in Rainey Street. Photo: Contributed