2022 Best Cities to Live in America

• City in Texas

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  469 reviews

Current Resident: A vibrant and thriving town, both very friendly for family and fun. It's got great schools, walking areas and parks, and massive healthcare infrastructure. I really enjoy that it creates a great blend for expats and travellers, you can meet people from all backgrounds. Houston is 40 minutes away, but you really do not need to go there - you've got everything in The Woodlands. There are a lot of great places for dining and leisure - from huge Pavillion for music concerts, to top-notch restaurants, very elegant Waterway for strolls and music. I would argue the town has got some European vibe, relaxed and classy, which is a bit different from the rest of Texas.... Read 469 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 114,532

• City in Massachusetts

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  Rating 4.35 out of 5  121 reviews

Current Resident: Cambridge is small town, but has excellent resources and opportunities for middle school all the way through high school and college. Cambridge is very a diverse place. It's a small place where everyone know everyone and people know their families.... Read 121 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 117,822

• City in Illinois

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  657 reviews

Former Resident: Grew up in Naperville and while growing up in lower socioeconomic class than many peers was challenging, education received was top notch. I would hire anyone from Naperville before I'd hire someone from college alma mater as Naperville work ethic is unmatched. Overall was a really safe place to be a kid and cannot be more grateful for the education I received.... Read 657 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 147,734

• City in Virginia

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  Rating 4.51 out of 5  247 reviews

Current Resident: Arlington is great for college students! Lots of restaurants and places to shop. It is so close to Washington D.C. that it is easy to find internships, jobs, and other opportunities. You can take the metro from Arlington right into Washington and get to see all the museums, galleries, food places, and the monuments. Housing can be a little expensive so it is best to find roommates to split the cost. Everything is so close that you do not really need a car unless you want to travel out further than the metro or a bike can take you. Plenty of coffee shops and study places, and the mall is a nice place to grab food and do work. The local shops and businesses really like to employee college age kids and they pay good for a part time job. They make applications easy and will let you know quickly. There are several options for grocery stores that are pretty cheap depending on where you go. With it being a city, you can also have groceries delivered to your apartment which is awesome!... Read 247 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 236,434

• City in Kansas

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  445 reviews

Current Resident: Overland Park is a nice, warming, growing city, with lots of fun hidden things to do. For example, there are many fun hiking trails, exhibits, and neat restaurants to eat. Overland Park is apart of Kansas City, which is known for their barbecue. Because Overland Park is centralized, it is near downtown KC and other downtown areas. With lots of new land open for building, you can be apart of either a new or older neighborhood. Its a growing city with lots of opportunities to have fun, relax, and get out!... Read 445 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 193,412

• City in Michigan

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  Rating 4.28 out of 5  537 reviews

Former Resident: Truly a magical place! A2 exists in its own world and operates drastically different from anywhere outside the city line. As the most educated city in America, A2 is full of sharp and highly intelligent people. These people tend to be very eccentric, youthful, and sometimes prickly or rude, regardless of age. It's a city of the forever young! Very walkable and dense in the urban center and stunningly beautiful everywhere you go. World-class dining, an incredibly diverse population, and a strong sense of community and optimism. Most of the population is incredibly wealthy which in turn makes living costs incredibly expensive for everyone else. However, living here is worth the price tag for the experience. Pro tip living here: take little trips into the real world (outside city lines) to give yourself a mental break sometimes. A2 is such a highly academic environment (even if you're not in school) it can sometimes be draining and feel like you're trapped in a bubble.... Read 537 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 121,093

• City in Maryland

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  390 reviews

Current Resident: Best place in the greater Baltimore Washington area to live. Much better prices than DC area and lovely diverse neighborhoods. Great school system (Howard County, MD). Lots of parks and recreation. Great restaurants and shopping. Extremely low crime rate. We looked at houses all over the MD suburbs of DC and the prices were just totally ridiculous. Bought a much better house in a much better neighborhood backing to a 1,000 nature preserve in Columbia for a much lower price. If you have school age kids this is the place to be. Also great services for senior citizens. Big Mall with lots of stores.Great hospital and good doctors and health care facilities. Local community college is a very good school.... Read 390 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 105,412

• City in California

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  191 reviews

Current Resident: Living in Berkeley has been an extremely eye-opening experience. I am currently attending the University of California Berkeley so I have been able to experience the city first hand. The public transportation is excellent and punctual. The city is dense. but not so much that it feels congested. This makes it easy to get around with or without a car, which is important for young students. The northside seems like a great place to raise a family, while the southside provides a range of shops and nightlife to engage in. It is truly a city that has something for everyone.... Read 191 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 123,065

• City in Texas

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  Rating 4.1 out of 5  894 reviews

Works Here: I moved to Plano at age 14, I would recommend this city to those with children, especially in the center of Plano (From Dallas North Tollway to Highway 75). This city truly has everything you need. If it's not walking distance away then it's no more than ten minutes away. The city is very safe, quiet, and fun!... Read 894 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 288,870

• City in California

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  Rating 4.37 out of 5  539 reviews

Nearby Resident: I love Irvine! I went to UCI for my bachelors degree and it was a beautiful area. There are many activities to do beyond campus life. My friends and I would ride our bikes in the park and then get food from the University Town center. Irvine became a second home for my friends and I. We would study all day and night in the library and then we would go to the movies in the town center. On the weekend, when we did not have much studying to do, we would go to university town center to interact with other college students. Irvine is not only a great place to raise a family, it is also one of the safest neighborhoods around the area. Additionally, because Irvine is a college town there are many job opportunities If I could, I would live in Irvine to pursue my future buying a house and raising children. To add the cost of living in Irvine is high and over the years has gone up; however, I believe that the cost of living is worth the amazing lifestyle one with achieve by living in Irvine.... Read 539 reviews

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• grade A+

• Population 272,694

• City in Washington

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  Rating 4.38 out of 5  176 reviews

Current Resident: Clean, friendly, and inviting place. Housing affordability is questionable. Commute time is decent because there are a ton of public transportation options. Family friendly areas everywhere. Safety is great. Bellevue PD is very kind and fair.... Read 176 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 146,145

• City in Texas

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  Rating 4.11 out of 5  316 reviews

Current Resident: Mid-level college town close to Dallas. Lots of restaurants, but also lots of traffic. It has pretty parks. There are a lot of stores nearby, and many events happening. It is overall very safe too. I like living here. It's a diverse place depending on where you go, some areas are very "segregated" almost. I like the suburb atmosphere and the location is amazing with being minutes away from Downtown Dallas and not too far from Fort worth/ Arlington area. The cost of living in this city is not too high, the schools are continuing to grow and the safety is increasing with awareness and funding. There is plenty of things to do, see, and eat for all ranges of families. Richardson as a city is a really good balance between suburban and urban life. There are small neighborhoods where it feels like you know everyone around you but there are also nearby metro cities that make the environment feel extremely lively.... Read 316 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 118,583

• City in Washington

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  971 reviews

Current Resident: Seattle, WA, is the most generous city in the USA that I've ever lived in. It has a reputation, outside of Seattle for it's people being a bit frosty. It's not that, it's a decent respect for other people's privacy and a genuine empathy for those suffering. People help one another. For example, one time I forgot to hold on at all time while riding the light rail, the driver hit his brakes and I went airborn. Instantly, a man on one side of me and another on the other side, rose up and each caught one arm, keeping me from serious harm. They didn't even know each other. When bad times happen, push back happens too. Oversight is put in place, Mayors change.... Read 971 reviews

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• grade A minus

• Population 741,251

• City in California

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  Rating 4.18 out of 5  933 reviews

Current Resident: Overwhelming! There are so many things to see, do, smell, and eat! So many opportunities that were never presented to me before. I spent half of my life in Hawaii and the other half in the desert of New Mexico. There's literally nothing in New Mexico so you can understand my excitement about living in San Francisco! I can't even count how many new and fresh things I can experience in this big city! The only issue that I have is that it can be a little smelly and dirty at times and the homeless people can be absolutely terrifying. But that's the balance of it, positive and the negative!... Read 933 reviews

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• grade B+

• Population 874,784

• City in Wisconsin

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  Rating 4 out of 5  732 reviews

Current Resident: Madison is a wonderful city with a lot to offer! It feels very safe, has a fairly reasonable affordability (especially compared to places on the coast), and has great amenities (extensive bike path system, metro transit). The only downside for me is that the food is not as good as everyone thinks. Coming from the east coast where seafood is actually fresh and incredible cuisine is abundant, the food scene here is a bit of a step down.... Read 732 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A minus

• Population 258,366

• City in California

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  Rating 4.1 out of 5  255 reviews

Current Resident: Located within a bustling metropolis, Sunnyvale contains opportunities of all kinds. There are many companies in the tech sector in Sunnyvale. It is a beautiful city with lots of parks and amenities as well as having a mild climate.... Read 255 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 152,569

• City in North Carolina

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  Rating 4.05 out of 5  1,260 reviews

Current Resident: Overall i’ve loved growing up in Raleigh. To me it’s kind of like you get a tiny piece of different cake every corner you go to. so many experiences and different people you can meet all within a 25 mile radius. Downtown is really the life of the party. My main connection to downtown is one that most purple who grew up around here may be able to relate to. There is a popular child-friendly museum located in the heart of the city that my school would have us go on a field trip to every year of my elementary school duration. I recently went there because the high school I currently attend was hosting a charity ball in that building. It always amazes me how full circle this city can be and you don’t really realize it as an insider. This is one of the many reasons Raleigh is a great area to visit because it can easily feel like home. Take it all in and you’ll have a ball!... Read 1,260 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 469,698

• City in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.3 out of 5  760 reviews

Former Resident: Pittsburgh has done an amazing job of reinventing itself in the last 40 years! It offers a beautiful down town triangle with many museums and amazing local eateries in the communites that surround the down town area. I think Pittsburgh's biggest hinderance has been thier democratic leadership and not allowing different political views, and their large faith community, to help influence thier vision and future.... Read 760 reviews

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• grade B

• Population 301,286

• City in Colorado

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  Rating 4.05 out of 5  328 reviews

Current Resident: Love it! I was a student at CU Boulder, and this city has the perfect college-town vibe, while still having plenty of other stuff to do. And you can't beat these views!... Read 328 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 108,777

• City in Minnesota

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  653 reviews

Current Resident: Minneapolis is a culturally diverse and vibrantly rich city. It's an intersection of many different histories, which are celebrated, and sometimes passionately debated, by its residents. Minneapolis is an underrated city, primarily due to the perception of its far north (read: cold) location, but also because the residents want to keep it to themselves. It is a poorly kept secret though, as evidenced by with the influx of young people relocating to the city. People stay in Minneapolis for many reasons, not least to experience the most magical spring/summer/fall seasons. With over 11,000 bodies of water to choose from, and at least one park in every neighborhood, it's never far to be immersed in nature. The city makes a concerted effort to make programs available to all of its residents, regardless of economic resources, with exposure to sports programs, nature experiences, empowerment and educational experiences for little to no cost. It is a wonderful place to live.... Read 653 reviews

• grade A

• grade B minus

• Population 424,536

• City in Arizona

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  Rating 4.47 out of 5  364 reviews

Current Resident: Scottsdale has been a great place to live overall. It is well maintained and has great shopping and dining choices offering a range of cuisine. It also is pretty low on crime and feels safe wherever you go. There are also lots of opportunities to be outside with parks and green belts and lots of community members made good use of them. It is nice to see so many people out walking, running, biking, etc. and does being in a sense of community which can be harder to find nowadays. Traveling through the city is also fairly convenience as the city runs more North to South which allows people to make use of the 101 freeway fairly easily. Main arteries also run along the city to make side streets a viable option when commuting. Although they can get busy during high commute times and street lights do add delay. There are some challenges though. Compared to other areas in the greater Phoenix area, Scottsdale has expensive real estate. More diversity is also needed!... Read 364 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 254,995

• City in Georgia

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  210 reviews

Current Resident: I love Sandy Springs. I moved here from downtown Atlanta and have lived here with my family for the last ten years. The nature and scenery here are beautiful, the people are nice, and its close proximity to Atlanta is the cherry on top.... Read 210 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 108,180

• City in California

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  302 reviews

Current Resident: I believe the city of Torrance is a diverse and safe city in Southern California! The Torrance unified school district is one of the best districts, and also has the best hospitals in the area. A very family friendly town with so many parks and things to do, not to mention all of the good food that comes out of this town.... Read 302 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Population 144,430

• City in California

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  Rating 3.86 out of 5  205 reviews

Current Resident: I am in love with Santa Clara, it's culturally diverse. Hospitals are close and roads are close to freeways. The stores are walking distance. Santa clara electric system is separate from PG&E, making prices cheaper. Water is included in rent. The areas to rent are pet inclusive allowing for people to be with loved ones and having understanding neighbors. There's always a good location to dine in or to even have drinks. Public school systems have pretty well maintained fields and have alot of opportunities. Real estate is expensive however for living costs. Renting is more affordable. Jobs are available and competitive.... Read 205 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 126,723

• City in Texas

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  Rating 4.19 out of 5  2,362 reviews

Current Resident: I would consider the Commute Time and Cost of Living to be the biggest downsides of Austin, TX. It's a huge and rapidly growing city, which means everything is pretty expensive and traffic is bad. However, I have lived here for the past 5 years and I love it! There is so much diversity and so much to do. There are so many different people from different backgrounds to meet, and so many experiences to have in Austin! There are a bunch of opportunities for jobs and different eats and shops downtown. I live in South Austin, which is decently far from downtown but still has a lot going on (and still has cruddy traffic ^-^). I've spent all of my high school experience in Austin. The school I go to has it's down sides, but it's pretty great. My high school in Austin has definitely been better than my middle school in Austin. It's definitely family-friendly. Especially the suburban neighborhoods. Overall, Austin is a great place to live.... Read 2,362 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 965,872