Austin, TX
#1 in Best Places to Live
People are drawn to the Texas capital’s music, outdoor spaces and cultural institutions. Austin was established along the Colorado … more
- 7.6 Overall Score
- 7.3 Quality of Life
- 6.7 Value
Denver, CO
#2 in Best Places to Live
Founded in the mid-1800s as a mining hub during the gold rush, Denver has come a long way since its Wild West days. Over time, its … more
- 7.4 Overall Score
- 7.0 Quality of Life
- 6.7 Value
Colorado Springs, CO
#3 in Best Places to Live
Colorado Springs might not jump off the map as an economic or cultural hub the way larger metro areas like Denver do. But in a quie… more
- 7.4 Overall Score
- 7.0 Quality of Life
- 6.6 Value
Fayetteville, AR
#4 in Best Places to Live
Located in a region that’s experiencing drastic growth, Fayetteville – together with Bentonville, Rogers and Springdale – has trans… more
- 7.3 Overall Score
- 7.5 Quality of Life
- 8.2 Value
Des Moines, IA
#5 in Best Places to Live
The capital of this so-called flyover state may not top your to-visit list, but Des Moines is a great place to live and raise a fam… more
- 7.3 Overall Score
- 7.0 Quality of Life
- 8.4 Value
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
#6 in Best Places to Live
Minneapolis and St. Paul not only have big-city amenities like museums and sports stadiums, but also have an approachable Midwester… more
- 7.3 Overall Score
- 7.1 Quality of Life
- 7.7 Value
San Francisco, CA
#7 in Best Places to Live
A beautiful region filled with iconic landmarks, independently owned businesses and trendsetting residents, San Francisco has long … more
- 7.3 Overall Score
- 6.8 Quality of Life
- 4.9 Value
Portland, OR
#8 in Best Places to Live
Portland’s population toes the line between an innocent playfulness and a shameless wild side. Naked bicycle rides, a fully costume… more
- 7.2 Overall Score
- 6.7 Quality of Life
- 6.0 Value
Seattle, WA
#9 in Best Places to Live
To answer the question on many people’s mind: “No, it doesn’t rain all the time.” Seattle gets less rain annually than Boston, New … more
- 7.2 Overall Score
- 6.6 Quality of Life
- 5.9 Value
Raleigh & Durham, NC
#10 in Best Places to Live
Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill are known for their research/technology roots and collegiate rivalries. This tri-city region (known… more
- 7.2 Overall Score
- 6.9 Quality of Life
- 7.7 Value
Huntsville, AL
#11 in Best Places to Live
Once a sleepy farming town, Huntsville gained national recognition during the Space Race of the 1960s and is now the fastest-growin… more
- 7.1 Overall Score
- 6.6 Quality of Life
- 8.8 Value
Madison, WI
#12 in Best Places to Live
Against a backdrop of high-tech businesses and acclaimed academic institutions, Madison, Wisconsin, exudes the casual, down-to-eart… more
- 7.1 Overall Score
- 7.5 Quality of Life
- 6.9 Value
Grand Rapids, MI
#13 in Best Places to Live
Grand Rapids has an affinity for public art, and its craft brewery scene is one of the best in the nation. A scenic spot perched on… more
- 7.1 Overall Score
- 7.6 Quality of Life
- 8.1 Value
San Jose, CA
#14 in Best Places to Live
Nicknamed the capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose is a diverse area with an innovative spirit. While it has a distinct downtown, Sa… more
- 7.1 Overall Score
- 7.6 Quality of Life
- 5.4 Value
Nashville, TN
#15 in Best Places to Live
Nashville is famous for the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, aka the Mother Church of Country Music, and twangy honky-tonks, b… more
- 7.1 Overall Score
- 6.1 Quality of Life
- 7.1 Value
Asheville, NC
#16 in Best Places to Live
Hailed as “The Land of the Sky,” Asheville, North Carolina, is often considered by outsiders to be a delightfully strange place. At… more
- 7.1 Overall Score
- 7.5 Quality of Life
- 6.4 Value
Sarasota, FL
#18 in Best Places to Live
Warm temperatures year-round, award-winning beaches and a thriving arts and cultural scene have made Sarasota a go-to place for ret… more
- 7.0 Overall Score
- 7.4 Quality of Life
- 5.7 Value
Washington, DC
#19 in Best Places to Live
To the rest of the country, Washington, D.C., is the nation’s capital – and that’s it. It’s where lawmakers sit high and mighty, an… more
- 7.0 Overall Score
- 6.6 Quality of Life
- 6.5 Value
Charlotte, NC
#20 in Best Places to Live
Charlotte is a region that’s equal parts old-fashioned southern charm and high-energy cosmopolitan bustle. You’ll still hear “y’all… more
- 7.0 Overall Score
- 6.5 Quality of Life
- 7.5 Value
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
#21 in Best Places to Live
Offering both big-city excitement and quiet, suburban living, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area offers an interesting mix of Texas p… more
- 7.0 Overall Score
- 6.7 Quality of Life
- 7.1 Value
Greenville, SC
#22 in Best Places to Live
Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville has transformed from a blip on the national map to a bustling met… more
- 7.0 Overall Score
- 6.8 Quality of Life
- 7.7 Value
Portland, ME
#23 in Best Places to Live
For the people of Maine, there is only one Portland. Maine’s largest metro area and economic hub features cobblestone streets and s… more
- 7.0 Overall Score
- 7.6 Quality of Life
- 6.4 Value
Salt Lake City, UT
#24 in Best Places to Live
While remnants of its Mormon heritage – including the striking Salt Lake Temple – are still prominent downtown, Salt Lake City is n… more
- 6.9 Overall Score
- 6.9 Quality of Life
- 7.4 Value
Melbourne, FL
#25 in Best Places to Live
Troves of urbanites, families, professionals and retirees enjoy Melbourne, Florida, one of the Space Coast’s most populated metro a… more
- 6.9 Overall Score
- 7.4 Quality of Life
- 6.1 Valu