Among the factors contributing to our Best Places to Live rankings – including affordability, job market and population growth due to net migration – U.S. News surveys people throughout the country to determine where residents would live if given the choice. According to the Google Consumer Survey results, here are the 25 most desired places to live out of the 125 largest metro areas in the country.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 8 Metro Population: 6,011,752 Median Home Price: $368,642 Median Annual Salary: $68,000
The nation’s capital is steeped in history, job opportunities and mild winters, which leads many U.S. residents to dream of residing in the District of Columbia.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 14 Metro Population: 2,232,345 Median Home Price: $200,667 Median Annual Salary: $45,210
An hour-and-a-half drive south from Austin, Texas, San Antonio is gaining in reputation and popularity among U.S. residents. The home of the Alamo offers similar city-living options with easy access to outdoor activities along the San Antonio River.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 42 Metro Population: 398,000 Median Home Value: $320,500* Median Annual Salary: $57,770
It may be a bit of a surprise that the northernmost place of the 125 most populous metro areas in the U.S. is also one of the most desirable, but U.S. residents are intrigued by the possibility of living in Anchorage. The city has ample access to outdoor activities, and residents have the opportunity to live on more land.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 114 Metro Population: 430,201 Median Home Price: $478,521 Median Annual Salary: $47,660
South of the Bay Area and near the California coast, the Salinas metro area offers more varied weather than Southern California and attracts many people looking to live near Monterey Bay.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 80 Metro Population: 2,070,153 Median Home Price: $232,533 Median Annual Salary: $43,480
Best known for its casinos and high-profile entertainment, Las Vegas is regarded as a city dedicated to the tourism industry – but survey results reveal that many people would love to make their visit to Sin City permanent.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 74 Metro Population: 419,585 Median Home Price: $142,400* Median Annual Salary: $35,650
The fastest-growing metro area in the U.S. in 2018, Myrtle Beach is a tourism destination that makes many wish they could return on a more permanent basis.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 111 Metro Population: 1,250,247 Median Home Price: $183,775 Median Annual Salary: $43,410
The largest metro area in Louisiana is best known for its Mardi Gras celebration, and U.S. residents like the laid-back atmosphere New Orleans exudes year-round, making it the No. 19 Most Desirable Place to Live in 2018.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 101 Metro Population: 18,463,122 Median Home Price: $526,442 Median Annual Salary: $53,379
The second-largest metro area in the U.S. is certainly a highly desirable place to live, serving as a destination for tourism, the film industry and sunny, warm weather.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 38 Metro Population: 728,271 Median Home Price: $232,983 Median Annual Salary: $44,500
With a warm climate and prime location on the South Carolina coast, Charleston is a dream destination for many U.S. residents, coming in at No. 17 on the Most Desirable list.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 25 Metro Population: 4,728,844 Median Home Price: $399,458 Median Annual Salary: $64,080
Known for its role in the American Revolution, globally recognized educational institutions and innovative medical establishments, Beantown takes the No. 16 spot.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 68 Metro Population: 439,395 Median Home Price: $464,392 Median Annual Salary: $53,090
The Santa Barbara metro area is close enough to LA to make it accessible, but far enough away that residents can appreciate the more remote location, sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and Los Padres National Forest.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 24 Metro Population: 441,724 Median Home Price: $238,400* Median Annual Salary: $40,330
On the opposite side of the country, Asheville’s big draw for many would-be residents is its mountain setting, combined with a quirky small-city atmosphere, lending to Asheville’s No. 14 spot on the list.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 79 Metro Population: 446,728 Median Home Price: $179,058 Median Annual Salary: $41,120
Located along Florida's Atlantic coast, Port St. Lucie is a smaller metro area compared to neighboring Miami or Orlando, but its beach access and year-round warm weather certainly leads many Americans to wish they lived in the area.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 19 Metro Population: 4,486,153 Median Home Price: $235,333 Median Annual Salary: $47,540
For a drier, but still hot, climate, Phoenix also attracts many residents looking to skip winter altogether. Aside from those looking to live in Phoenix full time, snowbirds – people who winter down south and summer in the northern states – are common in the Arizona metro area.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 11 Metro Population: 1,794,570 Median Home Price: $236,267 Median Annual Salary: $45,780
The capital of Tennessee is also considered the place to go for a career in country music. Nashville is a dream hometown for many others, as the area has a rapidly growing population due to migration over the past five years.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 3 Metro Population: 2,752,056 Median Home Price: $362,492 Median Annual Salary: $55,910
The Mile High City is a top destination particularly for millennials, who are attracted to Denver’s flourishing job market and its proximity to the Rocky Mountains, where countless outdoor opportunities are just a short drive away.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 96 Metro Population: 20,973,061 Median Home Price: $374,814 Median Annual Salary: $61,925
The largest metro area in the U.S. takes the No. 9 spot on this year’s Most Desirable Places to Live list. A global hub for finance, fashion, entertainment and so much more, New York City is a widely recognized dream locale for many people, young and old.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 41 Metro Population: 680,970 Median Home Price: $210,133 Median Annual Salary: $40,420
Ranking No. 13 on 2017’s Most Desirable Places to Live list, Fort Myers jumps to No. 8 this year. Fort Myers is a popular retirement destination as well as an attractive beach-lined vacation spot.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 20 Metro Population: 4,577,530 Median Home Price: $790,233 Median Annual Salary: $69,110
The hilly streets and Victorian row houses in San Francisco captivate residents and tourists alike, and the city’s reputation as a place where free spirits and tech innovators thrive is another draw.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 1 Metro Population: 1,942,615 Median Home Price: $278,608 Median Annual Salary: $50,830
Many people are acting on their wish to move to Austin to enjoy its rapidly expanding job market, warm climate and unique cultural vibe. With many tech companies opening offices here or even fully relocating from Silicon Valley, Austin is yet another place to live if your focus is on job opportunities.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 10 Metro Population: 3,671,095 Median Home Price: $403,650 Median Annual Salary: $61,170
Whether you’re a fan of Amazon or you simply like the rainier Pacific Northwest climate, you’re not alone if you prefer Seattle to some of the hotter places on the list. The nearby mountains and ocean make it easy to escape for outdoor excursions.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 35 Metro Population: 986,999 Median Home Price: $581,658 Median Annual Salary: $51,080
After taking the top spot on the Most Desirable Places to Live list for two years, Honolulu has been unseated, falling to the No. 4 spot for 2018. Of course, U.S. residents still consider the Hawaii metro area an ideal place to live.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 6 Metro Population: 2,351,319 Median Home Price: $349,675 Median Annual Salary: $53,960
After having not appeared in the Most Desirable Places to Live list in 2017, U.S. residents are showing love for this Oregon metro area openly dedicated to being a bit out there. Portland is best known for its independent businesses, easy access to hiking trails and quirky food and nightlife options.
Best Places to Live 2018 Rank: 2 Metro Population: 688,643 Median Home Price: $255,233 Median Annual Salary: $49,450
After ranking No. 2 on the Most Desirable Places to Live list for two years in a row, Colorado Springs has unseated Honolulu in 2018. Colorado Springs residents have easy access to the mountains and can take advantage of both hiking in the foothills and skiing at well-known resort towns in the Rockies.
Devon Thorsby
is the Real Estate editor at U.S. News & World Report, where she writes consumer-focused articles about the homebuying and selling process, home improvement, tenant rights and the state of the housing market.
She has appeared in media interviews across the U.S. including National Public Radio, WTOP (Washington, D.C.) and KOH (Reno, Nevada) and various print publications, as well as having served on panels discussing real estate development, city planning policy and homebuilding.
Previously, she served as a researcher of commercial real estate transactions and information, and is currently a member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors. Thorsby studied Political Science at the University of Michigan, where she also served as a news reporter and editor for the student newspaper The Michigan Daily. Follow her on Twitter or write to her at dthorsby@usnews.com.