Why is this the best place to live in the U.S.? (2024)

The best place to live in the U.S. earned the top spot on U.S. News & World Report's list for a number of reasons. Good weather isn't one of them.

Green Bay, Wisconsin, jumped two spots to become the best city to live in for 2023, according to the publication's annualranking. With a population of roughly 107,000, Green Bay gets especially high marks for the bang people get for their buck and overall quality of life — the two most heavily weighted criteria in determining the rankings.

"In the weather category it does not perform well — it has harsh winters. But it is considered very affordable ... and its quality of life performs well," U.S. News real estate editor Devon Thorsby told CBS MoneyWatch.

The median cost of a home in Green Bay is $247,092, which might help thaw any discomfort residents feel about the city's tough winters. Temperatures in Green Bay, Wisconsin's third-largest city after Madison and Milwaukee, average 24 degrees in January, with more than a foot of snow in that month alone.

Why is this the best place to live in the U.S.? (2)

With high inflation continuing to strain household budgets, how far Americans' dollars will stretch in a given locale is increasingly important.

"The value component is one of those things people are starting to put more emphasis on when considering moving to a new part of the country," Thorsby said.

In assessing the money value cities offer, U.S. News examined factors such as housing affordability and "price parity," which reflects an area's general cost of goods.

"For the most part, Green Bay has been able to maintain a very low cost of living," she said. "Probably the fact that the weather may deter some people keeps it from being a super fast-growing metro area."

Hunstville, Alabama, ranks No. 2 on U.S. News' best places list, which ranked the nation's top 150 most populous metro areas based on their scores across the following categories: quality of life (accounting for 36% of the score), value (23%), desirability (22%), job market (19%). Factored in the quality-of-life index is data including high school students' college readiness, quality of education, proximity to quality health care, crime rates and air quality.

To gauge a city's overall desirability score, editors administered a survey asking people where they'd prefer to live, given the choice. Weather and a number of attributes such as museums, parks, restaurants and bars relative to a metro area's total population also helped determine cities' scores.

Florida cities remains popular, with both Sarasota and Naples ranking in the top 10. At No. 5 on U.S. News' list, Sarasota scores well for its vibrant arts scene, beaches, and eating and drinking establishments. With a population of just over 800,000, its median home price is $387,630.

At No. 98, New York City is not as lowly ranked as it has been in previous years. Not surprisingly, the Big Apple gets dinged in the value category.

"The biggest struggle for New York is its affordability, because it's one of those metro areas that has some of the richest people in the world but also the poorest," Thorsby said. "That juxtaposition makes things like housing and the cost of goods and service so much higher.

"But desirability and job market always perform very high," she added. "It's been lower ranked in past — 98 is pretty good."

Here is the list of the top 10 places to live in the U.S. (see the full list):

1. Green Bay, WI
2. Huntsville, AL
3. Raleigh & Durham, NC
4. Boulder, CO
5. Sarasota, FL
6. Naples, FL
7. Portland, ME
8. Charlotte, NC
9. Colorado Springs, CO
10. Fayetteville, AR

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Why is this the best place to live in the U.S.? (2024)

FAQs

Why is this the best place to live in the U.S.? ›

The best place to live in the U.S. earned the top spot on U.S. News & World Report's list for a number of reasons. Good weather isn't one of them. Green Bay, Wisconsin, jumped two spots to become the best city to live in for 2023, according to the publication's annual ranking.

Which is the best place to live USA? ›

The best place to live in the U.S. earned the top spot on U.S. News & World Report's list for a number of reasons. Good weather isn't one of them. Green Bay, Wisconsin, jumped two spots to become the best city to live in for 2023, according to the publication's annual ranking.

What makes the best place to live? ›

Things to Consider When Choosing a Place to Live
  • Climate. ...
  • Education System. ...
  • Culture. ...
  • Commute Time & Public Transportation Options. ...
  • Food Options. ...
  • Town or City Size. ...
  • Health Care Facilities. ...
  • Proximity to an Airport. If you travel a lot for business, pleasure, or both, you need easy access to a major airport.
May 25, 2023

What is the best city and state to live in? ›

Its 2022 ranking for the best places to live looked at five metrics: job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration. The best place to live in America is Huntsville, Alabama, followed by Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Is USA a better place to live? ›

The standard of living in the U.S is high. For many people, living here is like living in a dream world. However, the standard may vary from one state to another. The best US state in terms of different criteria such as health care, opportunity, and natural environment is Washington.

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

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 state has the best quality of life to live? ›

Washington state has the highest quality of life in all 50 states. The state has no income tax, a thriving job market, and great international business opportunities.

Why the places we live make us happy? ›

The key reasons, we suggest, are that places can facilitate human social connections and relationships and because people are often connected to quality places that are cultural and distinctive. City neighborhoods are an important environment that can facilitate social connections and connection with place itself.

What place has the best cost of living? ›

Green Bay, Wisconsin. Among northern U.S. metro areas that offer a low cost of living, Green Bay might be the best option for you, as it's the No. 1 Best Place to Live in the U.S. in 2023-2024. Green Bay residents spend just 19.92% of the area's median household income on housing costs.

What is the #1 best state? ›

Utah takes No. 1 in rankings that measure health care, education and economy. WASHINGTON, May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Utah is the Best State in the country, according to the 2023 Best States rankings.

What is the number 1 safest state to live in? ›

Story at a glance
State/rankViolent crime rateProperty crime rate
1. Maine109 per 100K residents1,156 per 100K residents
2. New Hampshire146 per 100K residents1,099 per 100K residents
3. New Jersey195 per 100K residents1,158 per 100K residents
4. Vermont173 per 100K residents1,217 per 100K residents
6 more rows
May 7, 2023

What state has the best weather? ›

California

Is America worth moving to? ›

The US is still the land of opportunity and still ranks as one of the most desirable countries in the world to move to. The US offers great career opportunities, an unparalleled lifestyle and one of the highest standards of living in the world – all in a beautiful environment.

Where are people moving to 2023? ›

Based on migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are moving to Austin, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona. The most moved-to cities are based on percentage increases in population since 2010.

What country has the best quality of life? ›

1. Sweden. Sweden is the top country in 2022 best quality of life rankings. The country stands out in the ranking of quality of life for health systems and well-developed public education, security, economic stability, and politics.

Where is the cheapest place to live in America? ›

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.

What U.S. city has the highest cost of living? ›

1. Manhattan, New York
  • Overall cost of living: 127.7% above U.S. average.
  • Median household income: $70,663.
  • Average home price: $2,434,977.
  • Average monthly rent: $4,569.
  • Unemployment rate: 4.3%
  • Poverty rate: 17%
  • Cost of a half-gallon of milk: $3.04.
Feb 3, 2023

What is the most successful city in the United States? ›

New York, NY

Coming as a surprise to few, New York City solidly holds first place as far as GDP.

What is the most livable city in the world 2023? ›

This year the winner of the Global Liveability Index is… VIENNA. The capital of Austria scored 99.1 out of a possible 100 on the study, scoring full marks in every category except culture and environment, for which it scored 96.3.

Who has the best quality of life in 2023? ›

The Netherlands ranks highest for quality of life in 2023

According to the most recent findings from Numbeo, the Netherlands ranks #1 for quality of life based on several factors including cost of living, crime rates, healthcare, commute times, and environmental pollution.

What's the best state to raise a family? ›

Massachusetts was crowned the top state to raise a family in, followed by Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, and Vermont. New Hampshire checked in at sixth on the list, while Connecticut ranked 10th, Rhode Island ranked 11th and Maine ranked 16th. Mississippi was ranked the worst state to raise a family in.

What state has the best economy? ›

Personal finance website says Washington has the best economy of all U.S. states in 2023.

What US state has the best education? ›

1. Massachusetts. Massachusetts has the best-ranked public schools in the United States and is the second-most educated state, just behind the District of Columbia. About 90.40% of Massachusetts adults have a high school diploma, and 42.90% have a Bachelor's degree or higher.

Where do the happiest people live? ›

1. Finland: For the sixth year in a row, Finland is the world's happiest country, according to the World Happiness Report. Aleksanterinkatu (Aleksi Street) in Helsinki is pictured.

Where do happy people live? ›

For five years in a row, Finland has ranked No. 1 as the happiest country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report.

Will moving states make me happier? ›

So, can moving make you happier? Likely yes, if it comes with general improvements in your living environment, social network, and work-life balance. But it's far from a cure-all, and you're unlikely to notice a change in how you feel if your move doesn't offer more than just a superficial change in scenery.

Where to live in U.S for $1,000 a month? ›

  • New Bern, N.C. Median rent price: $1,000. ...
  • Rock Hill, S.C. Median rent price: $1,000. ...
  • Tallahassee, Fla. Median rent price: $990. ...
  • Beaumont, Texas. Median rent price: $997.50. ...
  • Winston-Salem, N.C. Median rent price: $945. ...
  • Shreveport, La. Median rent price: $950. ...
  • Las Cruces, N.M. Median rent price: $945. ...
  • Champaign, Ill.
Jul 22, 2016

Where is the most unaffordable place to live? ›

The least affordable was Miami, where the median-priced home costs $598,000 and would require a monthly payment of $3,183 to cover mortgage and taxes — more than 85 percent of the local median household income of $44,581 (or $3,715 a month). Los Angeles and New York followed — no surprise given their steep home prices.

What 3 states have the highest cost of living? ›

The ten states with the highest cost of living are Hawaii, Massachusetts, California, New York, Alaska, Maryland, Oregon, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Hawaii is the state with the highest cost of living in the US, with a cost of living index of 184.

What states are ranked healthiest? ›

States with the healthiest populations, according to the analysis:
  • Hawaii.
  • Utah.
  • Minnesota.
  • California.
  • Massachusetts.
  • Colorado.
  • Washington.
  • Connecticut.
Jan 17, 2023

What is the best state in 2023? ›

The latest edition of the Best States rankings project finds a new No. 1 and a strong showing from the West and Midwest in the top 10. Utah has taken the No.

What state has most murders? ›

In 2020, the states with the highest murder rates stayed roughly the same after making this change: Mississippi in first, then Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, Missouri, Illinois, Maryland, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Which state has the most crime? ›

Alaska. The most dangerous state in the USA is Alaska, as it has the highest combined violent and property crime rate out of any state. Out of a population of 736,081, Alaska's crime rate was 32.14 per 1,000 people in 2022, making it the state with the highest crime rate.

Which is the most peaceful state in USA? ›

Maine is the most peaceful state in the U.S. for the 11th year in a row, Louisiana is the least peaceful. The Northeast continues to be the most peaceful region with three of the five most peaceful states. The South is once again the least peaceful region in America, with four of the five least peaceful states.

What state has the best 4 seasons? ›

Thanks to the mild climate and exquisite scenery everywhere you look, Western North Carolina is the best place to live experience all four seasons. Whether you want to lead an active lifestyle or simply relax and watch the scenery change throughout the year, Western North Carolina has it all.

What state has all 4 seasons? ›

North Carolina and Ohio both have four seasons.

What state is not too hot and not too cold? ›

San Diego is the textbook example of beautiful year-round climate. It's never too hot and never too cold, with a very minimal amount of that pesky California fog to get in the way—when it does roll in, it burns off pretty quickly in the morning. Winters average at 57° F, summers at 72° F—72° F, people!

Where are most Americans moving to? ›

PODS long-distance moving data shows that Americans are continuing to move to cities in Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and the Carolinas in droves — over 80% of the most moved-to cities on our top 20 list came from these popular southern states.

What country is most Americans moving to? ›

By almost any metric, Mexico is the top destination for Americans leaving the country.

Why do people go to America? ›

Why do people move to America? There are many reasons one may want to immigrate to the United States. It is common for individuals to move based on a job opportunity, a loved one, or simply because they are seeking to live out the 'American Dream'.

What states are people leaving the most? ›

Top states residents are leaving

The annual 2022 United Van Lines National Movers study is out! But it wasn't good news for New Jersey or New York. A similar report from United Van Lines showed New Jersey as the top outbound state, followed by Illinois, New York, Michigan, and Wyoming. The full list is below.

Why are people moving out of Florida? ›

The other reasons that people leave the state after moving here are varied: “A nearly 14,000-member Facebook group for people moving out of Florida has cited severe weather, low wages, crowded beaches, changing politics, and steep housing prices as reasons people left.”

What is the fastest-growing city in the US? ›

Georgetown, Texas, remained the fastest-growing city by percent change in 2022, with the highest rate of growth among all U.S. cities and towns with at least 50,000 people.

What country is the freest? ›

When looking at the data from the Human Freedom Index, Switzerland emerges as the freest country in the world with a score of 9.11. It is followed closely by New Zealand (9.01) and Denmark (8.98). These countries consistently rank highly in terms of personal, civil, and economic freedoms.

Which country has the most comfortable life? ›

  • Sweden. #1 in Quality of Life. #5 in Best Countries Overall. ...
  • Denmark. #2 in Quality of Life. #10 in Best Countries Overall. ...
  • Canada. #3 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Switzerland. #4 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Norway. #5 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Finland. #6 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Germany. #7 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Netherlands. #8 in Quality of Life.

What country has best healthcare? ›

Countries With the Most Well-Developed Public Health Systems
  • Sweden.
  • Norway.
  • Canada.
  • Switzerland.
  • United Kingdom.
  • Netherlands.
  • Finland.
  • Belgium.
Sep 27, 2022

What city in U.S. has lowest cost of living? ›

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.

What is the cheapest and safest state to live in? ›

Take a look at the 10 cheapest states to live in for 2022.
  1. Mississippi. Coming in as the cheapest state to live in in the United States is Mississippi with a cost of living index score of 83.3. ...
  2. Kansas. ...
  3. Alabama. ...
  4. Oklahoma. ...
  5. Georgia. ...
  6. Tennessee. ...
  7. Missouri. ...
  8. Iowa.
Mar 31, 2023

Where is the best place to move to start over? ›

St Louis, Missouri is the top-rated city in the U.S. for people looking to start over. New York City is the most difficult city to move to for a fresh start. Hartford, Connecticut has the best social scene score. Birmingham, Alabama has the best cost of living score compared to other cities we studied.

Where is the cheapest nicest place to live? ›

Most Affordable Places to Live in the U.S. in 2023-2024
  • Hickory, NC.
  • Youngstown, OH.
  • Huntington, WV & Ashland, KY-OH.
  • Fort Wayne, IN.
  • Beaumont, TX.
  • Peoria, IL.

What is the most expensive place to live in America? ›

1. Manhattan, New York
  • Overall cost of living: 127.7% above U.S. average.
  • Median household income: $70,663.
  • Average home price: $2,434,977.
  • Average monthly rent: $4,569.
  • Unemployment rate: 4.3%
  • Poverty rate: 17%
  • Cost of a half-gallon of milk: $3.04.
Feb 3, 2023

What state has the best cost of living? ›

States With Lowest Cost of Living

Mississippi is the state with the lowest cost of living in the US, with a cost of living index of 85. This means that the cost of living in Mississippi is 15% lower than the national average. The state has a low cost of housing, groceries, and utilities.

What state has the least crime? ›

Story at a glance
State/rankViolent crime rateProperty crime rate
1. Maine109 per 100K residents1,156 per 100K residents
2. New Hampshire146 per 100K residents1,099 per 100K residents
3. New Jersey195 per 100K residents1,158 per 100K residents
4. Vermont173 per 100K residents1,217 per 100K residents
6 more rows
May 7, 2023

What's the best state to move to? ›

Download Table Data
StateOverall RankCrime
Washington119
Minnesota215
Utah38
New Hampshire41
21 more rows

What state has the highest crime rate? ›

The burden of Crime by State

According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, the 5 most hazardous states in the U.S. in 2023 are: Louisiana: Overall Crime Rate of 537.5/100,000 people, making it the most dangerous. Mississippi: Overall Crime Rate of 413.2/100,000 people.

Where should I move alone? ›

Our overall winner was Milwaukee, WI, with our runner ups being Cleveland, OH and St. Louis, MO. All of these cities have a unique combination of affordability, safety, and the potential to create new social networks, which make them perfect for someone looking to live alone or start over in a new city.

Where do people move to the most? ›

And secondly, they are also states where housing is more affordable and available than in parts of the country that lost residents. The states that attracted the most new residents in 2022 are Florida, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina, followed by other states in the South and West.

Where is everyone moving to in 2023? ›

Based on migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are moving to Austin, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona. The most moved-to cities are based on percentage increases in population since 2010.

What is the cheapest state to retire in 2023? ›

Rather, Alabama is the most affordable state to retire in, according to WalletHub's “2023 Best States to Retire.” The analysis compared all 50 states across three key categories: health care, quality of life and affordability.

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