2018 Best Places to Live in AmericaAbout this List

Carmel

• Town in Indiana
• 220

Current Resident: Carmel is an excellent town for those looking to raise a family or anyone looking to enjoy apartment life with friends (affording it on your own is difficult). There are so many healthy food options for the health-conscious and almost everything is within walking distance, saving you tons of money on gas! There is a lot of culture to be found as well, along with local boutiques and amazing cafes!
Read 220 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 88,595 Population

Chesterbrook

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 45

Current Resident: I moved here and love it here. There is a huge park where my dog and I can Jog which has a pond and an outdoor amphitheater ,easy access to 202,etc...and so many nice people and dogs. The new townhouses are elevating the values of the older townhomes, and it's overall an amazingly safe, serene enclave. My dog has vast areas to play and see his "buddies" and there's an amazing dog walking company here(dogewalk.com) that gives my boy 2 walks a day at a great price! Great schools,huge park,dog fun...what else is there!
Read 45 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 4,675 Population

Clarendon Hills

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 20

Current Resident: Clarendon Hills is a very cute town and has lots to offer! Very safe, great schools, cute downtown, very family-friendly. Does lack diversity and nightlife, however.
Read 20 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 8,680 Population

Richmond Heights

• Suburb of St. Louis, MO
• 18

Former Resident: One of the best st louis has to offer with it's safe neighborhoods, location and amenities. Lived here for a year and felt safe/comfortable and close to forest park, stores, other neighborhoods and the business districts. The little shops were nice and lots of foot traffic was not weirdos like other areas in the city. community center nearby and overall an excellent place to live. Only issue was with living in an apartment near residential area was making friends. people were more reserved here and I think homeownership is important to fit in.. I would recommend this area to anyone with a family and a well/okay paying job.
Read 18 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 8,466 Population

Okemos

• Town in Michigan
• 72

Current Resident: I love everything about Okemos! I grew up here and hope to raise my family here as well. The public schools are by far the best in Mid-Michigan. I felt extremely prepared to go into college and was well above many other students. The math classes I took in college were even easier than the ones I took at Okemos. In addition, it is very safe and clean. There are some good restaurants, my favorite being Dusty's, but this is an area I think they can improve in.
Read 72 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 22,989 Population

Buffalo Grove

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 122

Current Resident: As a teenager growing up in Buffalo Grove, the majority of my plans with friends involve eating out with friends at one of the numerous restaurants around the area. There are so many amazing options for food in and around Buffalo Grove that include cuisine from almost anything you could think of. In the summer, I bike ride constantly around the area, and I never feel worried about my safety in Buffalo Grove. In order to explore some activities beyond food and dessert, you may need to venture into nearby suburbs. However, you don't need to travel far to experience pedal boating at Independence Grove, indoor skydiving and outlet malls at Rosemont, and other awesome options to do with friends or family. I've been lucky to attend Stevenson High School, which has given me the ability to meet so many people in a diverse atmosphere. Through my AP classes and the rigor of the school, I know I will be prepare to take on college and beyond. Happy to grow up here!
Read 122 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 41,551 Population

Clayton

• Suburb of St. Louis, MO
• 13

Nearby Resident: Beautiful suburb of St. Louis! Has a business district with shopping and restaurants, as well as very nice residential areas. Good place to live for students, young professionals, or families.
Read 13 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 16,214 Population

Brentwood

• Suburb of St. Louis, MO
• 21

Current Resident: Brentwood is the St. Louis area’s best kept secret. It’s a wonderful, walkable, very friendly neighborly, and accessible with top-notch schools with high scores and small class sizes. Real estate is hot for all stages of life - young families, professionals, retirees. And you can get to the best St. Louis has to offer in 10-15 minutes. Our family is so happy here.
Read 21 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 8,025 Population

Birmingham

• Suburb of Detroit, MI
• 58

Current Resident: I love Birmingham! Downtown Birmingham is great; the city is not too big or too small, and it is very close to many places such as Detroit. I have lived here my whole life and I have never wished to live in another city and I would love to live here again after college and raise my family here.
Read 58 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 20,836 Population

Dublin

• Suburb of Columbus, OH
• 108

Current Resident: I love living in Dublin, it’s an extremely nice suburb! The neighborhood I am in is extremely friendly and you get to know all your neighbors. Historic Dublin is really nice and has a lot of food places to eat! The night life ends a little early but that’s because it’s so family oriented. The schools are very highly rated. Dublin is only about 20 minutes from downtown Columbus and Easton Town Center which are two common areas people like to go. There are many good restaurants and they just opened a new area that has bars and other things to do, apartments are there as well so it is literally it’s own community.
Read 108 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 44,442 Population

Ann Arbor

• City in Michigan
• 385

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 385 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 119,303 Population

Presidio of San Francisco

• Neighborhood in San Francisco, CA
• 2

Current Resident: Been here a year, still feel we won the big lottery! The hiking trails, the beaches, the views - all dreamy! A+ maintenance team = 100% hassle free living! My neighborhood is racially and age diverse mixed w hipsters and millennial and dog :-)
Read 2 Reviews

• A+

• A-

• 4,117 Population

Bexley

• Suburb of Columbus, OH
• 24

Current Resident: I have lived in Bexley for 4 years now and love everything about this suburb. The community is very welcoming and comfortable. There is always a new place to eat whether you are looking for something casual like pizza or even a fancier night out at the local steakhouse. The grocery shopping is convenient with a new Giant Eagle as well as a Kroger, CVS, and more just down the road. There are always new places coming about aiding in the prominent college crowd of the private institution, Capital University. Housing includes anything from apartments to beautiful old mansions. This environment is somewhere I would recommend to anyone.
Read 24 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 13,659 Population

Harbour Island

• Neighborhood in Tampa, FL
• 3

Current Resident: Harbour Island is centrally located in downtown Tampa. I love living on the water, and easy walking distances to the downtown area. Then this is a good location for me. I attend Eckerd College campus in Tampa and St. Petersburg location. My apartment complex is conveniently located to both campuses.
Read 3 Reviews

• A+

• A-

• 3,713 Population

Whitefish Bay

• Suburb of Milwaukee, WI
• 20

Current Resident: I loved growing up in Whitefish Bay! I went to Holy Family (a Catholic school in WFB) for grades K-8, and then attended Whitefish Bay High School. I had amazing experiences at both. The sense of community here is fantastic, and I also love the many beaches and parks that this suburb offers. WFB has beautiful homes and is overall a great place for families to live!
Read 20 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 14,099 Population

Naperville

• City in Illinois
• 507

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 507 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 146,431 Population

Fishers

• Suburb of Indianapolis, IN
• 304

Current Resident: Fishers is a very family oriented community with phenomenal schools. My children are able to play outside without too much concern for their safety (outside of the normal concerns of traffic, etc.) Everything we need is within close proximity, i.e. grocery, library. Traffic can often be difficult, but those problems are being remedied currently. We love Fishers!
Read 304 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 87,557 Population

Houserville

• Town in Pennsylvania
• 12

Current Resident: Very clean, quaint, charming neighborhood of State College, PA. Voted #3 in best places to live in the United States. Great public schools, very close to Penn State University. Cata bus allows for easy commute to downtown State College.
Read 12 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 2,019 Population

Morrisville

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 50

Current Resident: Morrisville is very nice for eating out, shopping, luxurious housing, as well great for walking/biking trails for everyday exercise. In the early mornings, people are seen walking and running around the neighborhoods, people are very health conscious and many new organic food places have opened up. Morrisville is increasing in diversity, also in competitiveness in local schools. Over the past couple of years, Morrisville is becoming very lively environment causing it to have really well affect on the housing market. Morrisville is also close to the RTP area, which is really convenient for working people.
Read 50 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 23,873 Population

Mount Lebanon Township

• Suburb of Pittsburgh, PA
• 70

Current Resident: I have lived in Mount Lebanon for all my seventeen years of living, so naturally, I am predisposed to liking it. Regardless, the education and emphasis on community are the outlying aspects that truly exemplify the beauty of this neighborhood. For example, Mount Lebanon's schools are recognized nationally for their excellence. In terms of community, families and friends are often found in the same, popular spots in Mount Lebanon. The downtown is known as "uptown", and it is a center for small businesses, law enforcement, and schools. People come together for public events like art festivals and light up nights. Perhaps most important to Mount Lebanon is the demeanor of the people: warm, friendly, and thankful for the safe community in which they live.
Read 70 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 32,760 Population

Beverly Hills

• Suburb of Detroit, MI
• 15

Current Resident: I really enjoy living in Beverly Hills. There is a great school district. The police station is very central and the people are really friendly!
Read 15 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 10,424 Population

Albany

• Suburb of San Francisco, CA
• 41

Current Resident: Positives: small town community feel. You know your neighbors and retail shop owners. Good community resources and activities. Great schools with parents and teachers who care. Excellent transportation options if you have to commute. Ability to walk just about everywhere. There is a generally high police presence in terms of patrol car visibility which I think helps a lot. You can walk the streets at all hours and it's generally safe.

Negatives: petty crime such as prowling and vehicle burglaries that you see in places like Berkeley and Oakland. Used to be a much bigger homeless population but most have been moved out. Housing and rental prices are ridiculously high given the size of most homes and apartments. More demand than supply.

Albany was once very conservative, but the demographics are slowly changing and the city has had its share of ups and downs with regard to race, tolerance, and diversity.
Read 41 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 19,682 Population

Los Alamos

• Town in New Mexico
• 12

Current Resident: I like Los Alamos because of the great natural beauty and the health conscious community of lifelong learners. There are an abundance of trails to explore and nearby forest to camp and hike in. Los Alamos is located in the forest and near several rivers, so there are many opportunities to connect with nature. A lot of individuals who live in the town take advantage of these opportunities and spend time outside regularly. There are also museums and resources to learn about science and the natural world.
Read 12 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 12,035 Population

Rincon Hill

• Neighborhood in San Francisco, CA

• A+

• A-

• 7,210 Population

Penn Wynne

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 13

Current Resident: I love living in Penn Wynne, Pennsylvania. I have lived here for the past 15 years and spent elementary, middle, and am currently finishing up high school living in this neighborhood. Many of my friends live here, and I have met many kind people from all over Penn Wynne. Penn Wynne has a small town feeling with all of the benefits of living minutes away from Philadelphia. I love the parks and open spaces that Penn Wynne has to offer. I am not sure where I will live when I am older, but Penn Wynne will always have a special place in my heart.
Read 13 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 5,720 Population