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2018 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. Ann Arbor

    • City in Michigan
    • 378
    1 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I love Ann Arbor! It's a lively city with a small-town feel. Having the University of Michigan down the street creates endless opportunities for concerts, events, and night life. The philanthropic scene is booming and small businesses are everywhere! Everyone here is happy and excited about life, passionate about this city and very environmentally-conscious and involved in the community. It is a truly wonderful place.
    Read 378 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 118,087 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  2. Naperville

    • City in Illinois
    • 497
    2 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Naperville is an excellent, family friendly city. The schools are top notch with everything in the community is geared towards creating a warm, welcoming environment for new Naperville families as well as Naperville veterans. It is always very safe and I have never felt uncomfortable or out of place even being a young female. There are always community events happening like the Naperville 5K, Ribfest, The Last Fling, or The Chocolate Walk to name a few. There is something for everyone in a community as vast as Naperville. With that, it can be more expensive to live here as the communities are a bit more upscale but there is plenty of affordable housing available. I would not have wanted to grow up anywhere else!
    Read 497 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 145,789 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  3. Berkeley

    • City in California
    • 105
    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 105 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 118,585 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  5. Plano

    • City in Texas
    • 664
    4 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I moved to Plano about 6 months ago and have had nothing but great experiences. My area is very diverse with pretty friendly people. The grocery stores seem to have better and fresher food, many more choices for dining out, clean neighborhoods and businesses. I enjoy living here and have heard great things about the surrounding schools for my children for when they enroll soon. I don’t see myself moving anytime soon. If I could change anything it would be to have the valet trash available daily in my apartments. They only have two off days so I’m okay with that. I just don’t have anything negative to say right now. Thanks for this opportunity!
    Read 664 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 279,088 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  6. Arlington

    • City in Virginia
    • 114
    5 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Arlington is a mixing bowl of job opportunities, people, and fun! There is incredible cuisine from many countries, authentic and delicious! Downtown has many options such as Ballston, Clarendon, Court House, Rosslyn, and more for exquisite restaurants, shopping, and night life. There are lots of trees despite the urban atmosphere. The school system is top in the state. The communities are diverse and offer a short commute into Washington, D.C.!
    Read 114 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 226,092 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  7. Cambridge

    • City in Massachusetts
    • 51
    6 Best Cities to Live in America

    Nearby Resident: Cambridge Massachusetts is a wonderfully vibrant and exciting city. I have lived in the text town over my whole life and I have gone to school and worked there for many years. Cambridge is the home of many colleges, which bring such a wide variety of people to the city which make it incredibly diverse. I really enjoy how many different areas there are in the city, there is something for everyone. Everywhere you turn there are amazing restaurants and shops to explore. Having worked in the school systems in Cambridge they are wonderful, which isn't much of a surprise seeing as though the city is known for their world-class education. I also love how many health-focused stores and restaurants there are as well having areas for outdoor exercise and encouraging bike riding over driving. The only downside to Cambridge is that all of these wonderful qualities make it a rather expensive place to live. However, I love this city and consider it be my home!
    Read 51 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 108,757 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  10. The Woodlands

    • City in Texas
    • 307
    7 Best Cities to Live in America

    Works Here: Living in the Woodlands and working here was a great experience. Everything is pretty close together, a short drive away. The real estate is getting more expensive, but there are a lot of restaurants and shopping opportunities in the Woodlands and surrounding areas. It's also only 40 minutes from downtown via i45! If coming to live here, a gated community is definitely available, but not needed. Many police are out and about in the Woodlands, and it is a generally very safe community. Public schools are generally very safe, clean, and well-taught as well. Keep in mind the area can be a little pricey. Average cost of a dinner for two is about 25-35$.
    Read 307 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 108,373 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  11. Overland Park

    • City in Kansas
    • 333
    8 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I've lived in the Overland Park, Kansas area for about 4 years now. Overall it's a great area that has a lot to offer. It's close proximity to Kansas City, Missouri allows you easy access to bigger nightlife and large concerts, events, museums, theater, ballet, and more. Overland Park itself is family friendly with great schools. While we do have some diversity, it isn't nearly as diverse as other areas. However, you can still find some great cultural restaurants that reflect the diversity we do have, such as Indian, Ethiopian, Thai, Korean, and even from El Salvador! Cost of living is on the higher end for the KC Metro area and the housing market is very much a seller's one right now as many homes are being sold for over asking price or without stipulations such as inspections, etc. The public parks, libraries, and community centers are all great and well maintained. They all individually have quite a lot to offer.
    Read 333 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 183,775 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  12. Richardson

    • City in Texas
    • 212
    9 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 212 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 108,350 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  14. Irvine

    • City in California
    • 269
    10 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Irvine is probably one of the safest, cleanest, and greenest cities in CA (if not, in the US)! It is located in Orange County, so it's really easy to go up to LA area or drive down to San Diego. Irvine is home to a lot of high-ranking schools like the University of California Irvine (UCI), Concordia University, Irvine Valley College, the Orange County Center of the University of Southern California (USC), and campuses of California State University Fullerton (CSUF), University of La Verne, and Pepperdine University. This city is really beautiful with streets dotted with flowers and trees. It is very quiet and all neighborhoods are well-maintained. There's a lot of opportunities for outdoor activities.
    Read 269 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 246,992 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Columbia

    • City in Maryland
    • 279
    11 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Columbia is very dog-friendly! There are beautiful trails to walk your dog and lots of other dog-people around. It's easy to find an apartment that allows dogs.
    Columbia can be a hard place to get to know since there is minimal signage around and some small businesses are tucked away. Once you know the area, of course, you will appreciate the lack of ugly signs. Columbia neighborhoods have a distinctly '70s look and seek to blend in with the natural surroundings (some may like this, others may not).
    The schools are very diverse - I went to my nephew's elementary school and in 5 minutes I saw several male teachers, a black teacher, a Latinx teacher, a Muslim teacher, and a range of ages among others. The students are also diverse in both ethnicity and income-level.
    Read 279 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 103,439 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Bellevue

    • City in Washington
    • 66
    12 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 66 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 136,718 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  19. Boulder

    • City in Colorado
    • 237
    13 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Boulder is a splendid place to live. It perfectly mixes together a small town vibe and an urban metropolis. There are always things to do because of the young vibrant university atmosphere, and the multitude of outdoor activities. With the various canyons that have world renowned climbing, 100+ miles of hiking trails, fly fishing in the Boulder Creek; it is an outdoor enthusiasts paradise.

    There are tons of options for groceries, housing styles, options for schools, and any and all types of restaurants. It's a town that is small enough to bike to just about anywhere you need to go, and also a magnificent amount of bike trails and lanes throughout the city and suburbs.

    If you're looking for a forward-thinking town that is inclusive and pushing the boundaries, Boulder is just the town for you!
    Read 237 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 105,420 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  20. Madison

    • City in Wisconsin
    • 564
    14 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I love Madison! I was born and raised here and am going to Edgewood College. The things that I love most about Madison is the community. Everywhere you go you know someone or your meeting someone new. There is often children and family events to goto that are free, and in the summer there are many concerts and events to enjoy your summer. You also can enjoy yourself seeing the capital and going on state-street to enjoy local foods, and great businesses for people that look to support locals.
    Read 564 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 246,034 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  21. San Francisco

    • City in California
    • 513
    15 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: San Francisco is a wonderful place for sightseeing and food! I love atmosphere and weather. Its pretty easy to get around with public transportation and having everything close by. Some food restaurants are open late night, just in case you crave a late dinner. It’s a very tech savvy place so everything is literally one click away. I would love to see some changes with downtown San Francisco since there are a lot of homeless people on the street. The city should clean up and make more shelters for the homeless and housing for low income people. For the most part, San Francisco is clean, beautiful, and easy to get around.
    Read 513 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 850,282 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  22. Seattle

    • City in Washington
    • 537
    16 Best Cities to Live in America

    Works Here: I am living here for college. This city is awesome. There are so many diverse food options! If money isn't an issue, you'll never have to eat the same thing twice. The city gives a great sense of community and unity in support of diversity. Seattle is a very environmentally conscious and green city, and the vibrancy of the flora and fauna are stunning. It supports a healthy lifestyle with many biking trails and lanes, great paths for running, and wonderful fresh markets with lots of healthy, balanced foods. If you go to the right grocery stores, the prices are reasonable. It is like most cities- expensive- but has a high minimum wage.
    Read 537 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 668,849 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  23. Round Rock

    • City in Texas
    • 271
    17 Best Cities to Live in America

    Former Resident: Round Rock is an excellent place to raise a family! From top-tier schools to a community that is laden with caring people, Round Rock is by far one of the greatest cities in Texas! I was born in Round Rock, and lived there for 15 years. In the 15 years that I lived in Round Rock, Texas, I can honestly say that the city has everything that a person could ask for. The city is filled with delicious restaurants and various forms of entertainment, such as parks and malls. Whether you are a young single person looking for work, or a person who has a family to raise, Round Rock is by far the greatest city to live in! With that being said, the only thing that I would change about Round Rock is the inclusion of more hiking trails!
    Read 271 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 112,767 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Raleigh

    • City in North Carolina
    • 896
    18 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I've lived in Raleigh almost 20 years now, and I can truly call it home! It is such a wonderful place to raise a family, as it is filled with lots of green parks, hiking trails, museums, and community events. Downtown Raleigh has grown SO much with local business and artistry, and the food scene is known across the country. Not to mention the excellent school systems, both in Grade School and Universities! Overall, I would recommend Raleigh to anyone looking to settle down and live a safe, and progressive, community-driven environment. Raleigh is the city of love!
    Read 896 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 441,326 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  27. Sunnyvale

    • City in California
    • 187
    19 Best Cities to Live in America

    Former Resident: Sunnyvale is a family friendly town with a cute mom and pop downtown full of funky restaurants and stores. The newly developed addition to downtown is more modern, with Philz coffee, luxury apartments and Orangetheory Fitness. The Saturday farmer's market is wonderful with friendly vendors and great quality produce, artisan jewelry and the quaint food trucks that have been in attendance for the past 15 years and some newer ones on the foodie fad.
    Read 187 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 149,596 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  28. Rochester

    • City in Minnesota
    • 180
    20 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 180 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 111,396 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  29. Columbia

    • City in Missouri
    • 355
    21 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I have been in Columbia since the Spring of 2013. I love what this town has to offer. With big city dreams and a small town feel, Columbia, MO, is my new home. There are amazing eateries, niche shops in the downtown area, and opportunities galore! There is some pretty amazing colleges and universities in the area as well. Also, the hospitals have amazing experiences for those in the health science and business field. Did I mention the cost of living is pretty reasonable as it was rated in the top ten best places to live in America for someone starting out in their young adulthood.
    Read 355 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 117,165 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  30. Alexandria

    • City in Virginia
    • 196
    22 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Alexandria is a beautiful place to live, it has diverseness and has interest for everyone! Alexandria is about a 20 minute drive from D.C., although the traffic will make it seem longer. There are many things to do in Alexandria as well. There is Old town Alexandria and there is a variety of diverse different cultured foods in Old towne . There are big name clothing stores but little local ones too. There are beautiful little gardens and a waterfront that you can sit and enjoy your local ice cream. Alexandria is a great mixture for wanting to live close to the city but having your quiet time and being able to come back to your suburban neighborhoods.
    Read 196 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • 151,473 Population
    View Nearby Homes
  31. Review Your Area

  32. Sandy Springs

    • City in Georgia
    • 157
    23 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I absolutely love living in Sansy Springs, Georgia! I have been here for a little over ten years, and this city has afforded me many opportunities that I otherwise wouldn't have had in the small town that I am from. Sandy Springs has everything a person could need or want in close proximity. I would highly recommend Sandy Springs living to anyone that would be interested. I especially love the sense of community in Sandy Springs. Not to mention the awesome police department that keeps their citizens safe. All in all, there's nothing I can say negatively about Sandy Springs!
    Read 157 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 102,212 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  33. Austin

    • City in Texas
    • 1,670
    24 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: I moved to Austin a year ago and I absolutely love it. The culture, diversity, and healthy focus of the town is inspiring and encouraging. I am a young adult who likes good night life, but also values health and fitness. Austin has everything that I need. It is also easy to meet people here. Everyone has shown to be very friendly and open hearted. Lastly, the town is very conscious of the planet and keeping our earth clean and pollution free. This is also of value to me. Grocery stores do not even use plastic bags. I am very grateful for my time here in Austin and look forward to spending many more years here!
    Read 1,670 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 907,779 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  34. Fort Collins

    • City in Colorado
    • 713
    25 Best Cities to Live in America

    Current Resident: Fort Collins is a beautiful, high energy, and accommodating city. There is great public transportation across the entire city. More restaurants then anyone could imagine with a vast diversity in the choices. Fantastic night life in the down town area with many locally owned shops and boutiques. Hiking trails and camping get-away just fifteen minutes from the city in the gorgeous Horse-tooth Reservoir! It has been a very fun five years of living in this city. Definitely a place where I would strongly consider retiring!
    Read 713 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 157,251 Population
    View Nearby Homes
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