There was a recent article about a list of the top ten nearby star systems to look for life.
Tau Ceti [solstation.com], 11.9 light years
Alpha Centauri B [sunrise.ch], 4.35 light years
Epsilon Eridani [solstation.com], 10.5 light-years
Epsilon Indi A [solstation.com], 11.8 light-years
Omicron 2 Eridani, http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/stars/keid.html [glyphweb.com], 16 light years
Beta Canum Venaticorum [astronexus.com] - 27.31 light years
HD 10307 [solstation.com], 41.2 light years
HD 211415, 44.4 light years [alcyone.de]
18 Scorpii [solstation.com], 45.7 light years
51 Pegasus [uoregon.edu], 40 light years
There is also a top 50 list [astronexus.com]
Thanks to Slashdotter mikael for this list with the links. I personally think that 51 Peg is a silly choice.