2023 Best Cities to Live in America

• City in Missouri

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  Rating 3.85 out of 5  477 reviews

Current Resident: CoMo is a vibrant mid-west college town with a lot to offer! An extensive trail system interconnects different parts of the city while downtown is a hub for students and residents to enjoy the many film, art, music and cultural festivals year round. With a major land-grant research I university, several private colleges, large employers in healthcare and insurance, and a well-educated and diverse population, Columbia has its own unique vibe.... Read 477 reviews

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• Population 124,342

• City in Texas

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  Rating 3.94 out of 5  736 reviews

Current Resident: College Station is unique because it is the home of one of the biggest universities. What I would like to see improve is the connection between the community, the school district, and the university.... Read 736 reviews

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• Population 116,276

• City in California

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  Rating 4.41 out of 5  374 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived here my whole life, so I may be a bit biased in my review. I love it here, and I think it's an amazing community filled with amazing people, cute restaurants, shops, etc. My reasoning for removing a star is because of the inability to live here if you aren't rich. My parents bought our house almost 20 years ago, so the market was much better. Over the past couple years, many neighborhoods have been gentrified, as well as the small cute village. Low-income families are being bought out of their houses, where developers are building as many condos as they can fit onto a small space of land. No yards, no cuteness, just plain cramped housing. The city gets most of it's revenue from tourism, so I understand why they've been making these developments, but its just heartbreaking to watch my hometown get turned into an urbanized tourist town.... Read 374 reviews

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• Population 114,858

• City in Florida

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  1,344 reviews

Current Resident: I love Tampa! However, the traffic from the influx of new people from other states has become quite troublesome. It makes it a lot harder to get to work (you must leave SUPER early) and anywhere else for that matter. Other than the traffic, the city is wonderful! I love the nightlife, abundance of stores and things to do.... Read 1,344 reviews

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• Population 380,476

• City in Alabama

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  Rating 3.92 out of 5  769 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived here for particularly all my life. Huntsville has changed in many ways, all these changes have defininlety been for the better hints its one of the number 1 cites as of late. I wish Huntsville would expand more on there downtown and attraction aspect there should be more to do in this city. And on top of that friendly people and a community to keep you company you can always find yourself reaching out to others and so will they. I would recommend people Huntsville for sure it's a nice city that is still growing and who knows what will happen.... Read 769 reviews

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• Population 210,081

• City in Massachusetts

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  818 reviews

Current Resident: I love Boston because i feel safety, I feel very happy in here, is a beautiful city, and I love the activities the do sometimes… I just love it!... Read 818 reviews

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• Population 672,814

• City in Minnesota

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  Rating 4.19 out of 5  696 reviews

Current Resident: I just recently moved here and I do like it. The city is quite loud meaning that there's people walking, cars driving and stuck in traffic. Nightlife, is quite loud when college student are going out for a concert or party. Many business opportunity here therefore plenty of jobs to find. However, if not being very careful, a lot of criminal activity could potentially happened and have to be safe and secure. The downside of being safe and secure would perhaps be the extra charged fee such as parking garage and paying it monthly. Some places is quite high and as a graduate student, it could be hard to apply for that. Meaning that the risk of parking in the streets is high and so as criminal activity if not safe and secure. Overall, the city is great!... Read 696 reviews

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• grade B minus

• Population 425,091

• City in District of Columbia

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  767 reviews

Current Resident: I love living in the capital city of my the United States. DC is a great place for sightseeing and learning as visitors have access to free museums, great food options, and accessible transportation. The city is beautiful with both suburban and urban areas and good for young children, older folks, and everyone in between! There are many National Parks and spots to have picnics or enjoy the usually temperate weather. The winters do get cold, but snow is not too heavy and beautiful to experience. DC is fairly diverse and a nice place to meet people that are passionate about their views and opinions, so you will have good conversations.... Read 767 reviews

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• Population 683,154

• City in Texas

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  Rating 4.3 out of 5  420 reviews

Current Resident: Round Rock is a great place to live because it offers a lot of options for residence. There are lots of food options, entertainment, live music, outdoor activities, and other fun things to do with your family, friend, neighbors, or others.... Read 420 reviews

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• Population 117,735

• City in Kentucky

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  Rating 3.9 out of 5  869 reviews

Current Resident: I love my city! Lexington Kentucky is ever-growing, artistic, industrial, and community-minded. There are amazing community events, many local businesses, fantastic residents, and wonderful children. Horses and horse racing are a huge part of Lexington as it is home to Keeneland and the Red Mile. Lexington has great Derby parties as well. There are wonderful hotels, fine dining, and chic nightlife. Overall, I would never want to live anywhere other than here. No other city that I know has an amazing landscape full of country residential homes, great neighborhoods, horse farms, and amazing downtown condos and apartments. Lexington is home to the University of Kentucky, whose basketball teams are champions on and off the court. UK also has a world-renowned hospital as well as football, baseball, and women's sports teams.... Read 869 reviews

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• Population 321,354

• City in North Carolina

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  Rating 4.24 out of 5  1,205 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Charlotte since 2008 and I have loved this city! I was a part of the CMS school system from the third grade until I graduated from high school in 2018 and I can say that there are some good schools to choose from. I am just tapping into the nightlife here, as I am a recent college graduate. But I will be exploring that side very soon. The real estate here is very good and affordable, as you will not find quality homes with such amazing prices anywhere else. Charlotte overall is a safe place, but like anywhere, you should be careful and stay away from areas that can be a threat to your safety. There are so many options to help someone maintain a healthy lifestyle and numerous places to shop for meals that support a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. As far as diversity, it is overall an easy environment for people of color to adapt to. I identify as a Black woman and have had no problem finding those who look like me. Overall, I absolutely love the Queen City!... Read 1,205 reviews

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• Population 864,871

• City in Florida

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  Rating 3.88 out of 5  1,037 reviews

Current Resident: Gainesville is a great town balanced with many unique different types of people. On one side you'll find people who have lived there their whole lives, they live a simple life, maybe they've been passed down a family farm or a super secret family recipe that the neighbors, who have also lived there for forever, really want to figure out. They tend to frequent all of the classics Gainesville has to offer. On the other side, you'll find people who love to party in the city, get Krispy Kreme at 3am after a crazy night at the local bar. They tend to frequent all the new trendy places that open up here. There's also the introverts who just like to lounge around at home or read a book under a vine covered laurel oak tree, or in a cafe- maybe they enjoy drinking boba from Teastori while they read. There are two things that the entirety of the town enjoys greatly though. Anybody that I know would absolutely love to come together for a pie at Satchels and/or go out for a game day. Go Gators!... Read 1,037 reviews

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• Population 138,741

• City in Georgia

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  Rating 4.26 out of 5  1,196 reviews

Current Resident: The community of Atlanta is pretty tight-knit; everyone knows everyone. If you're not in the scene then you're missing out quite frankly. From fashion to different culinary gurus, Atlanta has it all. Personally, I love the arts and underground scene. Anything after dark- I'm there. In the past few years, through networking and just being out-and-about on the town have made many friends, connections and, most importantly, many memories. Being located in the south, the city comes with a warm and welcoming community. People speak to you and enjoy connecting with others- visitors and residents alike. Whether you're into daytime life or something more low-key, Atlanta will provide an experience for all.... Read 1,196 reviews

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• Population 492,204

• City in Nebraska

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  Rating 3.86 out of 5  1,266 reviews

Nearby Resident: Honestly, I love Omaha. Coming from Columbus, Ohio, it’s definitely a great and safe place to raise a family or buy a house. The city looks to be expanding and building a lot more homes and apartments. There’s a park on every corner and plenty of amazing places to eat, including multiple vegan options and a variety of different cuisines. The schools are good I’ve heard, I haven’t been to one firsthand, though. Everyone is walking their dogs and bringing their kids along with them, which gives a family friendly feel. Obviously, this isn’t the most diverse city in the country, but you do meet all kinds of amazing people if you look! The Universities here are also really great, with large, medium and smaller schools to fit everyone’s needs, along with amazing culinary schools. I’m excited to see how much Omaha really grows and would definitely recommend young families to look into moving to Omaha if the opportunity arises!... Read 1,266 reviews

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• Population 488,059

• City in Virginia

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  Rating 3.99 out of 5  1,870 reviews

Current Resident: Lots of great dinning options. Local gems like Citrus that was featured on diners drive ins and dives. A diverse population. Strong military presence, visit the Wisconsin for some military history and a sense of national pride! Be aware that there will be rush hour traffic and bridge opening you should plan your traveling around. Of course the local beaches are amazing but visit when it’s not the peak of summer! Unless you want to come for something in the water, it was canceled because of the pandemic but the previous year was amazing. A lot of big name performers have concerts at Veterans United. There is a lot of outdoor fun to be had too! Rent paddle boards or kayaks for a fun day on the water. Or experience whale watching and dolphin tours, and my favorite the pirate ship tour!... Read 1,870 reviews

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• Population 457,658

• City in California

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  Rating 4.53 out of 5  282 reviews

Former Resident: Pasadena is a beautiful town with great people. There are a lot of great historical buildings to admire especially near Old Pasadena. They do a great job of preserving their culture and history! The downside to that is that some apartment buildings around town are starting to show their age quite a bit. If you can get past that though, there's so much going for Pasadena. The restaurants are all AMAZING. So diverse and so high quality. There's lots of specialized grocery stores for whatever kind of cuisine you cook. The people here are some of the friendliest I've ever met. It really has all the amenities of a big city but with small town vibes. People will smile and say hi to you on the street. People remember you around town and genuinely care about how you're doing. If the cute historic charm of Pasadena doesn't win your heart, the people there definitely will.... Read 282 reviews

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• Population 138,771

• City in Nebraska

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  Rating 3.96 out of 5  838 reviews

Current Resident: If you've never been to Lincoln NE, you probably think it sounds like the most boring place ever. The best kept secret is that is actually a wonderfully unique place to live. Lincoln is a college town that also is the capital as well as a good sized city with an awesome downtown. We have such great diversity and culture for being in Nebraska and a huge array of events for families and adults (college game day anyone?). I moved here at 18 for college thinking I would leave immediately once I graduated but I fell in love with this city for its amazing art scene and fun live music events, now I never want to leave! If you're looking for city events & convenience (everything is within 15/20 min drive) with pockets of neighborhoods and shops with small town vibes (so walkable!), this is the place for you. One star off for the winter weather though, but we can't all live in Hawaii I guess!... Read 838 reviews

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• Population 289,136

• City in South Carolina

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  673 reviews

Current Resident: While I may be biased since I was born and raised here, Charleston is the true exemplification of the low country and the southern values we pride ourselves on. I simply love it here! Every aspect from fine dining to shopping to outdoor activities have their draw however, my favorite aspect is our boating community. It produces an entirely new perspective towards Charleston and is perfect for adventurous spirits and the physically active. We also have the best oysters, attract great concerts like the Lumineers, Zac Brown Band and Elton John, have a great local baseball team at Joe Riley stadium, and usually have warm humid temperatures throughout the year.... Read 673 reviews

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• Population 147,928

• City in Florida

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  Rating 4.3 out of 5  574 reviews

Current Resident: St. Petersburg is a city located on the western coast of Florida. It is known for its beautiful beaches, sunny weather, and cultural attractions. The city has a thriving arts scene, with numerous galleries, museums, and performing arts venues. The Salvador Dali Museum, which houses the largest collection of Dali's artwork outside of Spain, is a must-visit destination for art lovers. The city also hosts the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, which supports local artists and arts organizations. It's is also known for its scenic parks and waterfronts where visitors can enjoy a mix of outdoor activities and waterfront dining. In addition to its cultural and natural attractions, St. Pete has a vibrant downtown area with a diverse array of shops, restaurants, and bars. Overall, St. Petersburg is a charming and lively city with something to offer for everyone. Its beautiful beaches, cultural attractions, and bustling downtown make it a popular destination for visitors from around the world.... Read 574 reviews

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• Population 258,245

• City in Texas

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  Rating 3.79 out of 5  733 reviews

Current Resident: My experience in Irving has been a fruitful one. I thank God for the opportunity to even be a part of such a community; it has truly been a experience of nature, love, and guidance. Even in the harshest days and bewildered times, I have turned to the Irving community for support and fellowship. We are genuine in interest and share a commonality of southern hospitality. One thing I wish we could change is our road infrastructure. The roads are rather cumbersome and over time can be detrimental to a vehicle's longevity. In spite of these aspects. We continue to thrive and find purpose in our daily mission as a community of common folk.... Read 733 reviews

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• grade A minus

• Population 254,184

• City in Minnesota

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  291 reviews

Current Resident: Overall, I enjoy living in Rochester. It's a decent place to raise our family. I laugh when people complain about the roads or traffic. There is no traffic, and the roads are well-maintained (compared to every other place I've lived). But you'll find Minnesotans love complaining about the roads, weather, and how bad the Vikings choke in the playoffs (if they make it). Housing is still fairly affordable compared to the rest of the country, but higher than places like Iowa, Kansas, etc. Rochester has a lot of family-friendly activities, but is geared towards family with younger kids. Teens would probably struggle to find things to do here. I enjoy outside activities: fishing, hiking, skiing, hunting, etc. There's a fair amount of that, but you have to travel 25+ miles for anything good. Growing up in Montana, I have high standards for that sort of thing, but the trout fishing in nearby streams is satisfactory. Overall, a nice place. I long for the mountains and scenery though!... Read 291 reviews

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• Population 119,732

• City in California

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  Rating 4.52 out of 5  1,094 reviews

Niche User: Incredibly beautiful city. SO many amazing world-class beaches, and a TON of stuff to do outdoors, whether surfing, skating, hiking, skydiving, or even snowboarding, San Diego literally has it all. People are surprisingly laid-back and friendly, too. The culture is centered around happy, relaxed, California living. The food is incredible, and there are tons of affordable, delicious eateries spread out around the county and city. Living here is expensive, though not as expensive as Los Angeles and not NEARLY as expensive as New York. Housing is expensive, whether renting or buying. A four bedroom family home in the city usually goes for around $1M, although neighboring cities in the county are generally a lot cheaper. Traffic is pretty bad. Crime is low, and there are a lot of young people in the city so it's a really nice place to raise a family. Very close to Los Angeles, and even closer to Orange County. Diverse, too! Love it here.... Read 1,094 reviews

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• Population 1,385,398

• City in North Carolina

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  Rating 3.76 out of 5  677 reviews

Current Resident: Depending on the area you live in, Durham isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. It’s pretty quiet as people say there “isn’t much to do here”.... Read 677 reviews

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• grade B minus

• Population 279,106

• City in California

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  Rating 4.15 out of 5  366 reviews

Current Resident: Not only was I born and raised in Thousand Oaks (husband as well), I’ve raised my 5 kids here! The schools are excellent, sports programs are top notch, great training facilities such as Mamba Academy, tons of community events organized Conejo Parks and Rec, a teen center, a senior center and a large city library. Surrounded by the beautiful Santa Monica mountains, there’s plenty of hiking trails that are especially beautiful in the late winter/early spring and close to the beach. The weather is nearly perfect! Not nearly as hot as the San Fernando Valley, yet you get nice cool ocean breezes in the afternoon. It was lacking diversity when I was growing up but that has changed in recent years. It’s still very safe although some LA crime is starting to creep in. Luckily we have a very proactive police department that takes crime and homelessness seriously. We absolutely love it here!... Read 366 reviews

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• Population 127,274

• City in New York

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  Rating 4.28 out of 5  1,723 reviews

Current Resident: New York City occupies a special place in the American consciousness as the tumultuous seat of our financial markets and the buzzing capital of our culture. New York is celebrated for its wealth of nationalities, ethnicities and languages. But why would anyone want to live in NYC? It's insanely expensive, there are too many crazy people, it's bundles of energy and famously, "If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere." And lots of people love the challenge! Most important, it’s the city that exemplifies American pluralism, the “melting pot” that attracts new immigrants looking for work and college graduates drawn from their hometowns by the promise of excitement and opportunity. Its appeal hangs on its image as a city where everyone can try, get, and be anything. It has been my home for more than 40 years and I love it for its social and economic freedoms. My education and computer technology background fit right in and I found great career and social successes.... Read 1,723 reviews

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• Population 8,736,047