The 15 Best Places To Live In The US

The United States is the 4th largest country in the world by area (3rd by population) which means there are virtually endless options when choosing where to live.

Of course, for 99.99% of the world’s population, choosing the best place to live isn’t a matter of just writing up a list of attributes like weather, location, and cost of living. But taking a step back, that’s how these annual lists of the best places to live in America get put together.

The 2023-24 rankings of the best places to live in America was just published by US News & World Report.

The survey conducted in March 2023 determined the weightings for each index based on public opinion. The Quality of Life Index, accounting for 36%, considered crime rates, quality of education, well-being, commuter time, health care availability, air quality, and FEMA’s National Risk Index.

The Value Index, representing 23%, assessed housing affordability and regional price parity. The Desirability Index, comprising 22%, included a desirability survey and net migration data, along with weather temperateness and establishments-to-population ratio. Lastly, the Job Market Index, accounting for 19%, evaluated unemployment rates and average salaries to gauge employment opportunities and earning potential.

Florida, North Carolina, and Colorado each have two cities in the top 10. My hometown, where I was raised and where I moved back decades later, is actually in the top 5.

15 Best Places To Live In America Right Now

Here is how the top 15 shakes out, according to the latest analysis of America’s 150 most population metro areas.

1. Green Bay, Wisconsin – Quality of Life (7.3), Value (8.0), Overall Score (6.9)
— Green Bay has a population of 107,015 (2021) and a Cost of Living that is 10% below the national average.

2. Huntsville, Alabama – Quality of Life (7.0), Value (8.2), Overall Score (6.9)
— Hunstville, Alabama has a population of 216,963. It sits just below the Tennessee border and has a cost of living that is 8% below the national average.

3. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina – Quality of Life (7.2), Value (7.0), Overall Score (6.9)
— Raleigh-Durham has a population of 112,784 and a Cost of Living that is 1% higher than the national average.

4. Boulder, Colorado – Quality of Life (7.5), Value (5.3), Overall Score (6.8)
— Boulder, Colorado is in the top 20% of most expensive cities to live in in the United States but with proximity to Denver and the Rocky Mountains is is a highly desirable living location.

5. Sarasota, Florida – Quality of Life (7.0), Value (6.1), Overall Score (6.8)
— Sarasota, Florida was historically a small arts community and fishing village that has seen rapid population expansion. Sarasota and its barrier islands (Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, and Casey Key) remain exposed to beach erosion but the white sand beaches bring in millions of tourists from all across the globe.

6. Naples, Florida – Quality of Life (7.1), Value (5.5), Overall Score (6.8)
— Naples, Florida has a modest population of 19,372 (2021) and a cost of living that is higher than the national average but the white sand beaches are highly desirable.

7. Portland, Maine – Quality of Life (7.4), Value (6.2), Overall Score (6.7)
— Portland, Maine is home to some of the greatest Summers of any city in the US. You can find a fresh lobster roll on every corner and it is an incredibly dog-friendly town for any family with a fur baby. It also has a thriving beer scene.

8. Charlotte, NC – Quality of Life (6.4), Value (7.0), Overall Score (6.7)
— Charlotte, NC has long been hailed as one of the fastest-growing cities in the US. Charlotte is home to multiple professional sports franchises and offers an array of activities.

9. Colorado Springs, CO – Quality of Life (6.5), Value (5.8), Overall Score (6.7)
— Colorado Springs is not cheap but it consistently ranks amongst the highest ‘quality of life’ scores in the country, year after year.

10. Fayetteville, Arkansas – Quality of Life (6.9), Value (7.8), Overall Score (6.7)

11. Madison, WI – Quality of Life (7.4), Value (6.7), Overall Score (6.7)

12. Boise, Idaho – Quality of Life (7.2), Value (7.0), Overall Score (6.7)

13. San Jose, California – Quality of Life (7.4), Value (4.6), Overall Score (6.7)

14. Ann Arbor, Michigan – Quality of Life (6.8), Value (6.6), Overall Score (6.6)

15. Melbourne, Florida – Quality of Life (6.6), Value (6.8), Overall Score (6.6)

The ‘Overall Score’ obviously differs from the other scores listed. There is additional information on the US News & World Report rankings.

For instance, #1 ranked Green Bay is the 7th overall city for Quality of Life, 8th Cheapest Place to Live, and #18 Safest Places to Live in America. #5 ranked Sarasota, Florida is the #11 place to retire, #1 best place to live in Florida, #2 fastest-growing places in America, and #7 safest place to live in the US.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been stuck in a ‘the grass is always greener’ mindset for a handful of years when thinking about the best places to live in America. I love my hometown but it has rapidly changed in the past few years and is unrecognizable to the city/town it was 10 and 20 years ago.

I’ve also grown tired of the heat, it’s 90+ out every day already… Anyone looking to swap spots with me in Boulder, CO, hit me up (just joking, kind of).