The 50 Best Places to Live in the US Right Now

U.S. News & World Report bases its Best Places to Live in the U.S. on a host of factors: the local job market, housing affordability, quality of life, the desirability of living in that area for non-residents, and the area's appeal in actually attracting new residents. Looking for a new city to call home, or wondering if your city made the list? Read on to count down through their top 50 picks.

Just outside Washington, D.C., this very affluent city is extremely walkable with great dining and subway access to Washington. Home prices are high (in the $900k range), but so is quality of life with a notable local theater, the Round House Theatre and a top-tier restaurant scene.

Just west of Hartford, West Hartford features a very walkable town-center with restaurants, shops, cafes and community events and distinctive local architecture with beautiful Tudors, Colonials and other homes on tree-lined streets. The Elizabeth Park Rose Garden, located in West Hartford, is one of the most famous rose gardens in the United States and features over 15,000 rose bushes.

Laredo is directly on the U.S. and Mexico border, across from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Because of that proximity there is a rich Mexican-Texan cultural heritage and a genuine community feel. Access to Mexico means easy travel and passport crossing and makes Laredo a major hub for international trade.

Close to both downtown Detroit and bucolic Ann Arbor, Livonia has great schools, affordability, amenities and an excellent rec center and community programming. Median household income is above the national median.

Incorporated as a village, with about 75,000 residents, Arlington Heights is a northwest suburb of Chicago. It has top schools, a wide variety of dining, shopping and recreation opportunities and a high quality of life with beautiful tree-lined streets in well-maintained neighborhoods. Arlington Heights also features Mitsuwa Marketplace a large Japanese grocery and food court that draws visitors from all over Chicagoland.

Home to the University of Oklahoma, Moore has a below average cost of living and strong marks in jobs, housing, amenities and education. Home ownership is high in this suburban-feeling community with ready access to Oklahoma City.

Without traffic (and in the Atlanta metro area, traffic determines a lot) Roswell is about 30-45 minutes from Midtown Atlanta. Thankfully many Roswell residents can enjoy amenities close to home in a charming, walkable downtown Canton Street, with restaurants, shops and activities for kids. The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area offers hiking, biking, fishing and kayaking and the Chattahoochee Nature Center is an immersive nature experience great for families and lovers of nature.

A short drive from downtown Fort Worth, North Richland Hills is known for its safe, well-maintained neighborhoods, low crime and good schools. Close to Forth Worth museums, theaters and sporting events, North Richland Hills boasts a wonderful amenity of its own: over 800 acres of parks and walking trails.

Well regarded schools, low crime and proximity to the coast and Mobile Bay, Daphne ranks highly for jobs, housing, amenities and education. Daphne is nicknamed "Jubilee City" for the natural phenomenon in which crab, fish and shrimp wash up ashore en masse where they are scooped up by locals.

About half an hour from Baltimore and 40 miles from Washington, D.C., Ellicott City has a dense suburban feel with lots of restaurants, shops and parks. Historic Main Street is known for art galleries, craft breweries and live music and a large Korean community means a strong Asian food and grocery scene.

In the greater Des Moines metro area, West Des Moines is safe, has a low cost of living and plentiful education and employment opportunities. With enviable average commute times of under 17 minutes, West Des Moines has an urban-suburban vibe centered on a vast array of restaurants, bars and parks.

A short commute to Bentonville, Arkansas, Walmart's headquarters Rogers is as affordable as that American retailer. Rogers is home to the Highway 102 Flea Market, the largest flea market and antique mall in Arkansas and offers a low cost of living, low unemployment and access to Beaver Lake where mountain biking, hiking and golf are all available.

Close to Houston, Katy has a number of master-planned communities such as Cinco Ranch, Firethorne, Elyson and Cane Island and a relaxed pace. The great schools draw families to the area and fun local attractions like a monthly outdoor market featuring food trucks and live music and Kary Asian Town with multicultural food options keep things diverse and interesting.

Close to both Detroit and Ann Arbor, Novi has a highly-ranked school district and great access to work and entertainment with its proximity to the interstate junction of I-96, I-696 and I-275. The city has unusual activities and attractions including the Villa Barr Art Park featuring four acres of sculptures by artist David Barr and the Detroit Selfie Museum and Backyard Axe Throwing League.

A short drive to Charlotte, North Carolina, Huntersville has excellent schools, is one of the safest cities in North Carolina and has strong employment. The Latta Plantation Nature Center and Preserve has 1,460 acres of land for kayaking, fishing and hiking.

Only 18 miles from Austin, residents of this quiet town have ready access to great music and food. The cost of living and housing is lower than much of the Austin area and residents of Pflugerville have access to fishing and other activities at Lake Pflugerville. Known as the "Trail Capital of Texas," Pflugerville has more than 56 miles of trails including designated hiking and biking trails.

Alpharetta is 30 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and also conveniently located to access the North Georgia mountains. Top-rated schools and a robust tech-centered job market make for a great day-to-day and notable special events like the annual Taste of Alpharetta, Georgia's largest food festival are the icing on the cake. Downtown Alpharetta is a bustling destination with chef-driven restaurants, galleries and farmers markets, making staying close to home rather than traveling to Atlanta for entertainment and food, an appealing alternative.

Notable for its diversity, Carrollton has easy access to Dallas-Fort Worth, Plano and Addison, Texas. Because of its cultural diversity, Carrollton has a great food scene and features a historic downtown featuring boutiques and restaurants set around a town square.

The best of both worlds, this Chicago suburb has a quiet lifestyle but access to the endless food, entertainment and top-notch cultural amenities in Chicago. One of the safest cities in the country, Naperville has a Naperville Riverwalk featuring scenic paths along the DuPage River and a charming downtown with longstanding bookstores and vintage record shops.

Just west of Minneapolis, Plymouth has a strong economy, great schools and excellent parks and recreation opportunities. Housing costs and rent tends to be on the higher side but the great quality of life, beautiful parks and concert series at the Hilde Performance Center make for a very attractive community.

Depending upon traffic, O'Fallon is 30-40 minutes from downtown St. Louis. It also has plenty of amenities of its own including parks and greenspaces, an affordable cost of living and lots of new housing stock. Each Christmas the community hosts the Celebration of Lights, a massive holiday drive-through light show and an Old-Fashioned Holiday Stroll which draws thousands of attendees during the season.

Part of the greater St. Louis metro area, St. Peters is a family-friendly community with a rec center, pools and parks and highly rated public schools. With a strong job market but still affordable, St. Peters is also conveniently located to big city culture, restaurants and entertainment.

This master-planned community is 30 miles north of Houston and has a strong job market thanks to the presence of major corporations like ExxonMobile, Anadarko and Huntsman. Because of all that success, the housing market is competitive and the cost of living is high but amenities like the Woodlands Waterway with a canal-side path ornamented with public art and live music make this a very unique community.

The Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle near McAllen, Texas illustrates the vibrant mix and young bicultural community that calls this small southern Texas city home. McAllen is home to the International Museum of Art & Science and is located in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, an area rich with native plants and trees, such as wild olives, desert yaupons, and Jerusalem thorns, all on view at Quinta Mazatlan, a nature center in McAllen.

Located on the south side of Indianapolis, Greenwood is the fourth-largest suburb in the city. Housing is affordable and there is a strong job market in Greenwood, all economic good news. There are also plenty of entertainment and outdoor options including parks, golf courses, restaurants and a craft brewery scene.

Close to both Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas, Mansfield has a small-town feel but access to big city amenities. Add on great schools, safety and a high household income alongside quirky traditions like an annual pickle-themed St. Patrick's Day parade, the Pickle Parade & Palooza, and you have a charming, fun-loving community.

Part of Texas Hill Country and the metro Austin area, Cedar Park is a welcoming, family-friendly community with over 1,000 acres of parkland and 30 miles of trails. A booming craft beverage scene and a host of local coffee shops add to the charm of this Austin suburb.

About 20 miles from downtown Dallas, Allen is considered a safe community with strong schools, a high household income and lots of parks and running trails. The Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts for arts and culture and The Village for shops and restaurants are some of the plentiful offerings when it comes to leisure time in Allen.

Safe, defined by great public schools and a cost of living below the national average, Edmond has much to recommend it. Many residents commute into Oklahoma City which can mean some traffic. Edmond is also an arts hub with many touring ballets and other performances and cultural offerings on offer.

About equal distance from Seattle, Kirkland and Bellevue, Sammamish is a mid-size city with low crime, high household income (and a higher cost of living too) and all of the beautiful outdoor recreation of the Pacific Northwest with the Lake Sammamish State Park, Pine Lake Park, Beaver Lake Park and a Summer Farmers Market in operation from May through October.

Part of the Raleigh suburbs and the Research Triangle area—all within an easy commute—Apex has a very strong economy, income above the national average and low unemployment, which makes it feel like a booming area. Top universities are also nearby, which means plenty of the cultural activities and events you would expect in a college town. There are amenities galore including popular water recreation areas like Jordan Lake State Park, an 160-acre Apex Community Park and a historic downtown with shopping and restaurants.

With is low cost of living and affordable housing, Broken Arrow has a small town feel but is well within reach of nearby Tulsa. This suburb of Tulsa is especially beloved by retirees for its safety and within-reach home prices, true of the entire state of Oklahoma, one of the cheapest places to live in the country.

A 30-minute drive from downtown Indianapolis, Noblesville is a very safe community with good schools and a small-town vibe. There is a bustling downtown Historic Noblesville Square with local shops, the major outdoor Ruoff Music Center and scenic green spaces like Forest Park which all create a vibrant community.

Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, McKinney has a wide range of housing options from starter homes to high-end offerings as well as good public and private schools. McKinney is frequently ranked as one of the best places to live in America. Downtown McKinney has art galleries, antique shops and boutiques and the McKinney Farmers Market is considered one of the best in Texas.

A 25 minute commute to Houston, Pearland is one of the shortest commutes to downtown Houston of the many outlying suburbs. A strong job market especially in the healthcare industry and affordable housing makes this suburb appealing along with plenty of family activities like parks, playgrounds, trails and sports facilities.

Close to both Chicago and to O'Hare International Airport, Buffalo Grove also has a train station for easy commuting into downtown Chicago. With an urban-suburban mix, good schools and high household incomes, this is an affluent community with plenty of nature trails, parks, a golf course and a city consistenly ranked as one of the best places to live in Illinois.

Located in the Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale areas, affluent Parkland, Florida has very good schools, which also means high home prices and a higher cost of living. Zoning tends to keep the area beautiful, green and "park-like" and the very low crime rate makes living in Parkland feel ideal, especially when you factor in year-round mild weather.

Situated on Clear Lake and Galveston Bay, League City is located between Houston and Galveston so residents enjoy suburban living but with quick access to larger metropolitan areas for work and play. The city has a crime rate far lower than the national average and is growing fast, which means more restaurants, activities and things to do.

A short drive from downtown Detroit, Troy, Michigan has access to a major airport, highly rated schools, a strong job market, high median household income and overall very high livability with plenty of recreational, sports, outdoor and cultural activities available.

Cary is part of the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, alongside Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill which means a thriving economy fueled by tech, biotech and health care. It also offers ready access to both beaches and mountains. Excellent schools, safety and greenway trails mean Cary is an ideal place for families, recent graduates and anyone looking for a high quality of life.

A low cost of living makes Sugar Land a natural draw, along with a diverse, family-friendly community. Located 20 miles from downtown Houston means it's easy for residents to commute to the city for work. Residents can also enjoy plenty of shopping and cultural activities close to home.

Just 30 miles north of Dallas, Frisco is a booming mid-size city that’s much more than a suburb of the Metroplex. For football fans, it’s home to The Star, the world headquarters and practice facility for the Dallas Cowboys, which opened three new restaurants in 2022. Frisco is also home to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, which is located inside Toyota Stadium, home to FC Dallas.

One of the fastest-growing cities in America, Leander draws many families to the area with its high-performing public schools. Lake Travis offers water sports, boating and swimming and the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is a 26,000 acre protected wilderness. Just 25 miles northwest of Austin, Leander has a rail line that connects the two cities.

Green space and upscale living define Rochester Hills which boasts 200 acres of bike trails and plenty of sport and recreational opportunities at Bloomer Park. A walkable shopping and dining district The Village of Rochester Hills offers big city amenities close by and the Rochester Hills Museum and Meadow Brook Hall are cultural institutions that pay tribute to the agricultural and cultural history of the area.

This Birmingham, Alabama suburb is considered one of the best cities to live with its top-ranking public schools state-wide. The location of the headquarters for Regions, AT&T Alabama and BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama in Hoover also means a robust job market.

Ranked as the #1 Best Place to Live by U.S. News & World Report in 2025-2026, this vibrant Atlanta suburb has top-ranked schools and remarkable diversity with a large percentage of its residents born abroad. With access to a number of outdoor amenities including the Chattahoochee River, Johns Creek has a quiet suburban feel for those looking for an alternative to living in the city center.

A growing suburb outside of Des Moines, Ankeny offers access to big city amenities and jobs but a smalltown feel with a vital craft brewery scene and 90 miles of interconnected walking and hiking trails. Easy access to the Des Moines International Airport also makes it convenient for business and other travel.

A peaceful environment gives Flower Mound, between Grapevine Lake and Lake Lewisville, a small-town feel. Just miles from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Flower Mound has fifty seven public parks with over 1,000 acres between them and scenic lakefront to make this an excellent location for those who enjoy time in nature.

Strong schools, a great parks system and a thriving downtown make this Indiana city another top pick for livability. Conner Prairie, an Indiana Smithsonian affiliate living history museum, a public art map and the downtown cultural trail Nickel Plate Trail round out the special appeal of this suburb northeast of Indianapolis.