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2019 Best Cities to Live in AmericaAbout this List

Explore the best cities to live in the U.S. based on crime, public schools, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities. Ranking based on city data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 25 of 231
Best Places to Live
231 results

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  1. Arlington

    • City in Virginia
    • 152 reviews
    #1 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Arlington is a great place to live! While it is very expensive, it also has a lot to offer. We are very close to the capital, and can get there very fast with all of the different types of public transportation: Metro, Metro Bus, and Art Bus. In addition to public transportation there are many different bike shares, and motorized scooters that individuals can use to get new places. The schools in Arlington are also very good. I am very lucky to have been able to obtain the education that I did, because of the schools in Arlington.
    Read 152 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 229,534 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  2. Ann Arbor

    • City in Michigan
    • 428 reviews
    #2 Best Cities to Live in America

    Nearby Resident: I love Ann Arbor because it has the small town feel, while also having the city and nigh life atmosphere. The heart of this city is located on the campus of The University of Michigan, but it is also surrounded by many tight knit neighborhoods and high schools. There are unlimited restaurants located in downtown Ann Arbor. I have lived here for 16 years and still have not visited 75% of them. If you love family, food, sports, activities, adventure, great school systems, and a caring community then Ann Arbor is the perfect place!
    Read 428 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 119,303 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  3. Berkeley

    • City in California
    • 132 reviews
    #3 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Berkeley is a wonderful city full of an interesting, open-minded and intelligent group of people. The city is very culturally diverse and open to accepting anyone from anywhere. The food scene is to die for and if organically grown is what you live by, look no further than Berkeley grocery stores, farmers markets and more. One small down side would be the lack of club life (for the younger folks), there are however many perfectly adequate bars as well a little college student scene on Telegraph Avenue. Overall, I highly recommend living here or going to school here if accepted!
    Read 132 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 120,179 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  4. The Woodlands

    • City in Texas
    • 342 reviews
    #4 Best Cities to Live in America

    Visitor: The Golf in and around the Woodlands is one of the best in Texas if not the country. Compliment that with both first class hotels, restaurants and music venues such as Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and it's a great getaway destination from most anywhere! The people we have met in the area are very inviting and hospitable and we are envious that they live in such a beautiful and harmonic location.
    Read 342 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 109,608 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  5. Plano

    • City in Texas
    • 731 reviews
    #5 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Plano is an absolutely wonderful city! As a suburb of of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, it is both integrated and secluded in the hustle and bustle of city politics, economy and social culture. In 2012, it was ranked the third safest city in the United States, and has been similarly ranked since then.
    Perhaps the most appealing element of the city is its truly suburban personality. Plano offers tons of family-oriented activities, such as shopping villages, cinemas, several parks and outdoor areas, and more. The education system is also top-notch, with the public schools ranked within the top 100 in the nation.
    The greatest drawback of the city is its affordability, which is extremely low despite the high real estate. However, the benefits of the city significantly outweigh its negative aspects and it is definitely among my top recommended cities.
    Read 731 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 281,566 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  6. Naperville

    • City in Illinois
    • 546 reviews
    #6 Best Cities to Live in America

    Nearby Resident: Downtown area a great place to shop and eat. Parking is available very nice, Family friendly, Great place to take kids for kids. Children have plenty of sporting events. Baseball, Football, Soccer Mecca. People somewhat not friendly often downright Rude! Private College on beautiful campus downtown Great homes, Excellent Schools, Great doctors, not much diversity, Tons of places for fitness. Plenty of Yoga studios and health and wellness work out facilities.
    Read 546 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 146,431 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  9. Overland Park

    • City in Kansas
    • 364 reviews
    #7 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Overland Park is a great suburb of Kansas City. It has a terrific family atmosphere. There are plenty of places to eat and shop. OP also has great sports facilities including a world class youth soccer complex as well as several top notch sports academies. Sitting just 15 minutes outside of Kansas City, Overland Park also has access to world-class performing arts, KC Royals, KC Chiefs, the College Basketball Experience including the entertainment district Power & Light, Country Club Plaza, Crown Center (Hallmark), and much more. Of course being the BBQ capital of the nation we also are close to KC Joe's, Hayward's, Jack Stack, Gates and more!
    Read 364 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 186,147 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  10. Columbia

    • City in Maryland
    • 322 reviews
    #8 Best Cities to Live in America

    Nearby Resident: The city is absolutely gorgeous. There is many options of places to dine at, activities to kids and parks/ paths to walk around. It is situated in the Howard County Public School System, which is the best public schools in the entire states, therefore your children will receive an excellent education. The only issue is that it is quite pricey to live her as housing prices are more expensive in this area so expect to pay more rent here. This city gives you the vibes of a city life without being overcrowded and dirty as it has a cozier feel and more plants that surround the city. Overall, Columbia is the best city to consider moving to!
    Read 322 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 103,170 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  11. Cambridge

    • City in Massachusetts
    • 74 reviews
    #9 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Everything about Cambridge is great! It's a very pretty city with remarkable history. It has one of the best colleges in the world; Harvard, which helped the city to be highly educated, even if they weren't Harvard students. There’s a significant number of highly intellectual people all around. Also, the city is rich in museums & galleries that encompasses a significant number historical artifacts & valuable knowledge. I also love how clean and environment friendly the city is. Plastic bags are prohibited & paper ones are charged to minimize waste. Recycling is really emphasized. Restaurants & cafes are endless! There are many highly reviewed places that are worth traveling to. Shopping is great at Cambridge! There are unlimited shopping options and there are many vintage and hand-made gift stores all around. People are nice and super friendly. The MBTA works well in Cambridge and connect it to the greater city of Boston, which makes commuting much easier.
    Read 74 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 110,893 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  12. Bellevue

    • City in Washington
    • 101 reviews
    #10 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I love Bellevue because of all it has to offer. You have the city life, a 30 min drive from incredible hiking, or if you travel the opposite way you're at the beach. The neighborhoods are safe, well kept up, and a great amount of diverse restaurants to try. The schools are wonderful and the people are even better. With so many different fields of work from medical to tech and everything in between there is plenty of job opportunity. Bellevue will be my forever home!
    Read 101 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 139,014 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  13. Irvine

    • City in California
    • 353 reviews
    #11 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Irvine, ranked one of the safest cities in America, is also a master-planned community, which allows all residents easy access to parks, hiking trails, and shopping centers. Furthermore, Irvine has seen an increase in new developments in the past decade, so most houses that are being sold are recent constructions. It also boasts an education system that prides itself on rigor and quality. Living in Irvine means everything is nearby, usually within walking distance, which promotes developing a healthy lifestyle and attending all the exciting community events that Irvine has to offer.
    Read 353 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 256,877 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  14. Richardson

    • City in Texas
    • 244 reviews
    #12 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Overall Richardson is a great place to live! many things are changing and being improved around the city. There are only a few things that have changed my perspective of Richardson. I have attended some of the city council meetings and learned that the leaders of this great city are fantastic but do not take into consideration minor details that come with the change, for example they are improving one of the high schools in the districts and did not consider the parking problems that would come with that.
    Read 244 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 111,055 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Raleigh

    • City in North Carolina
    • 1,006 reviews
    #13 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Amazing place to raise a family. With the population growing, Raleigh is booming with new start-ups, great restaurants, more housing, and so much more! Living in North Carolina allows you to have instate tuition to amazing public schools such as UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Greensboro, North Carolina State University and many more. Raleigh is becoming more innovated as companies and families roll in. I am very fortunate to have been raised in a city with so many opportunities!
    Read 1,006 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 449,477 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Seattle

    • City in Washington
    • 681 reviews
    #14 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Seattle is a small town big city. Chances are you will know everyone (at least through someone/common connections). We have amazing food, awesome coffee, and great universities. We have professional sports teams of all variety, and soon even a hockey team! We have one of the best public transit systems in the states including busses, trains, trolleys, and even a monorail! Seattle is a booming tech capital and has some of the biggest companies in the world. Capitol Hill is super fun for bar hopping. There are some fun family activities, parks all over, and many fantastic sites to see. There is always something new to do in here. Once you visit most don't want to leave!
    Read 681 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 688,245 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  17. San Francisco

    • City in California
    • 631 reviews
    #15 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I was born and raised in San Francisco, so for as long as I can remember, I have been playing in the parks, reading at the libraries, and attending the wonderful schools. Reading was such a huge part of mine and my brother's childhood, so every afternoon after school, and most weekends, were spent at the Western Addition library with our heads buried inside books. During the summer, if we were lucky enough to have a couple warm days, my family would pack some sandwiches and snacks and bring some towels to Crissy Field to enjoy the sunshine and freezing cold ocean. Overall, growing up in SF was a childhood I am so grateful for!
    Read 631 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • 864,263 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  18. Madison

    • City in Wisconsin
    • 607 reviews
    #16 Best Cities to Live in America

    Former Resident: The city of Madison has a lot for everyone to do, from the LGBTQ community to the outdoor sports enthusiast. It is an island of culture and experiences hidden in an otherwise no frills agricultural state. Due to this, it has relatively low crime and is safer than most places. There are regular events, such as festivals, art fairs, and indoor/outdoor music experiences. Many of these are free! It is a good city for people with active social lives, and with its parks and gorgeous libraries, it is great for introverts as well. The only downsides are chaotic driving during the winter and the cost of buying a home. Renting can be done reasonably cheap, however.
    Read 607 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 248,856 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  19. Sunnyvale

    • City in California
    • 203 reviews
    #17 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I moved to Sunnyvale from Asia four years ago, my first impression on the city is friendly and clean. Comparing to most of the neighborhoods that I have visited in the US, Sunnyvale is very safe and its infrastructure is among the best. However, as part of Silicon Valley, Sunnyvale's housing prize is much higher than the national average. If I have to point out one thing that I hope Sunnyvale could improve in the future, it would definitely be its affordability of houses.
    Read 203 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 151,565 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  22. Boulder

    • City in Colorado
    • 274 reviews
    #18 Best Cities to Live in America

    Nearby Resident: Boulder is a beautiful city at the foot of the Flatirons. With plenty of nearby opportunities, for hiking, biking, skiing, and rock climbing it is perfect for those who love the outdoors. Boulder is one of the best cities for liberals, as its population strongly supports environmental programs, farm-to-table restaurants, and political events held by the University of Colorado. The only aspect of Boulder, Colorado I would change is its affordability. Living here is unbelievably expensive, and this, in part, causes there to be very little diversity.
    Read 274 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 106,271 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  23. Round Rock

    • City in Texas
    • 308 reviews
    #19 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I loved growing up in Round Rock. My parents chose to live here because the schools are good, it has a low crime rate and the cost of living is reasonable. Outdoor recreation is abundant such as boating, biking, running, fishing, hiking, swimming, outdoor theater and many, many others. There are lots of historic sites. The Chisholm Trail runs right through the center of town. The Sam Bass cemetery contains graves of people born before the American Revolution. Round Rock has the feel of a small town with easy access to larger cities. Round Rock is about 23 miles north of Austin proper. The food here is the best! Everyone knows about Texas barbecue; no food anywhere can even compare. The weather is fantastic, with Round Rock boasting about 300 days of sunshine per year. The people are friendly and there is a strong sense of community. All in all, Round Rock is a great place to live.
    Read 308 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 116,369 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  24. Austin

    • City in Texas
    • 1,895 reviews
    #20 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Austin is a great city! Compared to places like Los Angles, Austin really has character and even the surrounding Austin cities (Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, etc.) have something to offer. Both main school districts (RRISD & AISD) are pretty good, downtown is packed with stuff to do and really Austin has plenty of places and people that make it special. I will say that as Austin grows and becomes much more metropolitan it loses some of what makes it "weird", but if you can find those key places that retain charm, it's a fantastic place to live.
    Read 1,895 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 916,906 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  25. Carlsbad

    • City in California
    • 303 reviews
    #21 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Very close-knit town. Peaceful and right by the beach! For the most part, everyone is respectful and easy going. However, there exists some loud, entitled people who tend to get on people's nerves. Great town, although if you are a city cat, you might want to take a drive to San Diego for more experiences.
    Read 303 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 113,147 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Rochester

    • City in Minnesota
    • 205 reviews
    #22 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I love Rochester! Personally, I am a big fan of the weather changes and all of the seasons, so I love living in an area where I get to see the leaves change and the snow fall. The downtown area is very pretty and there are resources to many different kinds of people available everywhere. If there was one thing I could change, it would be the amount of activities available to younger people. Adults have the ability to go to bars and restaurants downtown, but students and kids don't have many activities to do. I would like to see more parks, trails, and sport-designated areas around in order to get kids outside and active. Other than that, I love it here!
    Read 205 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 112,683 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  27. Sandy Springs

    • City in Georgia
    • 172 reviews
    #23 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I've been living in Sandy Springs for ten years now and I absolutely love it! Everywhere I need to go is highly accessible and not far away at all. I go walking to the Riverside Park all the time and having the Sandy Springs library near is so convenient. You will never get bored here, as there is always something fun to do around the corner. If you've never visited this city, I highly recommend you do, and bring your family while you're at it!
    Read 172 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • 103,703 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  28. Minneapolis

    • City in Minnesota
    • 485 reviews
    #24 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: It’s a beautifully diverse place to live, which I much perfer. There’s just about any housing one requires, from: Apartments, to Condominiums, to private housing, to Lower income housing, to Senior Citizens we have it all! Beautiful parks, Nature reserves, an abundance of lakes & more. We have crime like anywhere else in this country, but even living in the inner City is safe if you utilize common sense & safety as your guidelines, as in anywhere you live. Employment is abundant and opportunities are open to all here, if your willing to work for it. Shopping, entertainment, and most anything one desires is also abundant in most locations, even in our suburbs. Minneapolis is a great place for Families, Singles, Children of all ages,& Senior Citizens alike. I personally love that we live as Americans were intended to live...ALL PEOPLE of all races, creeds, genders, religions live, work, & play together in harmony here, at least most of us do.
    Read 485 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B-
      Public Schools
    • 411,452 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  29. Alexandria

    • City in Virginia
    • 262 reviews
    #25 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I love Alexandria because it is so close to the city of D.C. We can easily be in the city for many events and not pay the high price of living in the city. Living in Alexandria gives you the feel of suburban living with the convenience of a short commute. There is not a suggestion for change as I love living there! Alexandria has walking trails for families and dogs. It also boasts great schools and thriving community businesses. There is also a nightlife scene, many grocery stores to choose from, doctors, and lovely homes. The city of Alexandria contains all that is needed to live a happy and healthy life.
    Read 262 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • 154,710 Population
    View Nearby Homes
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