The No. 1 best U.S. city to live in is Cambridge, Massachusetts—see which other cities made the list (2024)

This month, Niche released its ranking of the best cities to live in America in 2023.

The list ranked 228 cities by using data from the U.S. Census, FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics and CDC in combination with millions of resident reviews.

For Niche's report, cities were defined as urbanized areas with a population of 100,000 or more. They were ranked based on the following factors:

  • affordability
  • local housing market
  • neighborhood diversity
  • area public schools
  • walkability

Top 10 best U.S. cities to live in for 2023

  1. Cambridge, Mass.
  2. Arlington, Va.
  3. The Woodlands, Texas
  4. Naperville, Ill.
  5. Columbia, Md.
  6. Berkeley, Calif.
  7. Irvine, Calif.
  8. Ann Arbor, Mich.
  9. Overland Park, Kan.
  10. Bellevue, Wash.

For the first time ever, Cambridge, Massachusetts, topped the list.

Niche data analyst Cortland Reed tells CNBC Make It that because Cambridge is home to some of the best colleges and universities in the world, including MIT and Harvard, "the city provides a boost when it comes to employment opportunities and access to university amenities."

The average home value in Cambridge is$899,567,down3.3%over the past year, according to Zillow. That explains why the city's weakest ratings were in important factors like housing, affordability and weather.

Arlington, Virginia also ranks as one of the best cities to raise a family and retire.

Grace Cary | Moment | Getty Images

Like Cambridge, the second city on the list, Arlington, Virginia, offers proximity to top-class higher education, including Georgetown and George Washington universities, both located directly across the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Arlington's strongest factors also include its public schools and diversity.

The city is also included on Niche's ratings as one of the best cities to raise a family, the best city for young professionals and the best city to retire.

The median listing home price in Arlington was $739,000, up 18.3% year-over-year. The median home sold price was $610,000, according to Realtor.com.

The Woodlands, Texas rounds out the top three. The Texas city, which is about 45 miles north of Houston, also ranked No. 2 for the best cities to raise a family.

The averagehome value in The Woodlands is$508,239,up7.1%over the past year, according to Zillow.

The Woodlands is an emerging real estate hot spot, taking the top spot on Niche's list of best cities to buy a house, Reed added.

Correction: This story was modified to clarify that Georgetown and George Washington universities are located in Washington, D.C., adjacent to Arlington, Virginia.

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The No. 1 best U.S. city to live in is Cambridge, Massachusetts—see which other cities made the list (2024)

FAQs

The No. 1 best U.S. city to live in is Cambridge, Massachusetts—see which other cities made the list? ›

Finishing behind Cambridge on the "best cities" list are Arlington, Virginia; The Woodlands, Texas; Naperville, Illinois and Columbia, Maryland.

What is the #1 city to live in the US? ›

1 best U.S. city to live in is Cambridge, Massachusetts—see which other cities made the list. Niche released its list of the best U.S. cities to live in 2023. This month, Niche released its ranking of the best cities to live in America in 2023.

What is the city of Cambridge ranked? ›

Cambridge residents live in the best city in the country, according to Niche. Review website Niche compiled their list of the best cities to live in America in 2023. Cambridge ranked as first overall.

Which US city has the best quality of life? ›

Topping the 2023-24 list: Green Bay, Wisconsin. The magazine called Green Bay "The perfect mix of big-city amenities complemented with a Midwestern, small-town feel."

Is Cambridge Massachusetts a good place to live? ›

CAMBRIDGE - There's no better American city to call home than Cambridge, according to a new list. Rankings and review website Niche has released its roundup of the best cities to live in - and Cambridge was ranked #1 for the first time.

Where is the cheapest place to live in the USA? ›

In its report, Niche also ranked the cheapest places to live in the U.S. At the top of the list this year is Brownsville, Texas. Brownsville has been steadily rising in Niche's Lowest Cost of Living ranking over the past few years, placing number six in 2021, number three in 2022 and finally, number one in 2023.

Is Cambridge cheaper than Boston? ›

The Cambridge Massachusetts cost of living index is 174, or 74% higher than the national average. Cambridge is a notoriously expensive city on par with Boston, one of the most expensive places to live in the United States.

What is the best suburb of Cambridge? ›

#1: Chelsea. With a median home sale price of $520,000, Chelsea takes the number one spot on our list of affordable suburbs of Cambridge, MA. About a 20-minute drive from downtown Cambridge, Chelsea is home to roughly 4,100 people.

What 3 towns make up Cambridge? ›

The City of Cambridge was incorporated in 1973, when the three municipalities of Galt, Preston and Hespeler along with parts of Waterloo and North Dumfries Townships were amalgamated into a single legal entity under a new name.

What is Cambridge most known for? ›

Best known for its legendary university, Cambridge is one of the most famous cities in merry England. With greenery galore and beautiful old buildings as far as the eye can see, it's a popular getaway-spot for Brits and tourists alike.

What 3 cities make up Cambridge? ›

The City of Cambridge was founded in 1973 by the amalgamation of the 3 cities Galt, Preston and Hespeler. The first city which would eventually become part of Cambridge is Galt. It began forming along the Grand River in the early 1800's.

What is the happiest town in America? ›

Cities across the United States vary greatly in their environment, income, citizens' overall well-being and community. For 2023, California dominated the list of the happiest cities in America, while Fremont, California, topped the list for the second year in a row.

What is the happiest and healthiest city in America? ›

The cities were scored based on 43 key indicators of health, including fruit and vegetable consumption and vaccination rates. The site dubbed Fremont, Calif., the happiest city nationwide, based on 30 indicators of happiness, including depression rate, income growth rate and average amount of leisure time per day.

What is the most caring city in America? ›

According to a list compiled by Wallethub, the most caring city in all of Wisconsin is Madison. Madison is also ranked as the most caring city in the entire United States.

Why is Cambridge MA so expensive? ›

Surging demand from everyone from university professors to biotech executives has combined with a shortage of homes for sale to drive Cambridge home prices to all-time highs, real estate experts say.

Is Cambridge expensive to live? ›

The living expenses can vary greatly depending on the student's lifestyle. However, the average cost of living in Cambridge can range from £1,464 to £1,356 per month.

Should I move to Cambridge? ›

Cambridge is home to one of the world's top universities, the University of Cambridge. Moving to Cambridge is an excellent decision if you want to pursue a better career and education. However, this city offers so much more, such as job opportunities, living environment, recreational activities, and entertainment.

What is the #1 best small city in America? ›

1. Reno, NV. Natural assets and growing infrastructure make 'little city' Reno a big-time destination for visitors and talent. A casino town goes all in on art, culture and innovation.

What is the first best city to live in? ›

Global Finance's World's Best Cities to Live
The World's Best Cities to Live In 2022
CityCountry/Region
1LondonUnited Kingdom
2TokyoJapan
3ShanghaiChina
7 more rows

What is the 21st best place to live in the US? ›

21. Knoxville, Tennessee. A charming Southern city with a great food scene and wonderful weather, Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee, which draws a diverse, international student body and teaching population to the city.

What is the best city in the world? ›

According to the latest survey by real estate and tourism consultancy Resonance, London has been named as the best city in the world for 2023, beating Paris, New York, Japan, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and many other popular cities across the globe.

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