U.S. News analyzed the 125 most populous metro areas to find the best places to live. To make the top of the list, a place had to have good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market and a high quality of life.
125 matches
High to Low
125 place matches
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
- 7.7 Overall Score
- 7.1 Quality of Life
- 7.1 Value
Colorado Springs, CO
#2 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
- 7.6 Overall Score
- 7.2 Quality of Life
- 7.2 Value
Denver, CO
#3 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
- 7.5 Overall Score
- 6.7 Quality of Life
- 7.2 Value
Des Moines, IA
#4 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
- 8.5 Value
Fayetteville, AR
#5 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
- 7.9 Value
Portland, OR
#6 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
- 7.3 Overall Score
- 6.5 Quality of Life
- 6.5 Value
Huntsville, AL
#7 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
- 7.2 Overall Score
- 7.0 Quality of Life
- 8.8 Value
Washington, DC
#8 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
- 7.2 Overall Score
- 6.4 Quality of Life
- 7.4 Value
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
#9 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
- 7.2 Overall Score
- 6.9 Quality of Life
- 7.9 Value
Seattle, WA
#10 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
- 6.2 Quality of Life
- 6.4 Value