UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.
#8. Santa Monica CA
Santa Monica scores a spot on our list in part because several huge game developers call this California city home: Naughty Dog Inc. (creators of “Uncharted” and “The Last of Us”), Activision Blizzard (think “Overwatch,” “Guitar Hero,” and “World of Warcraft”), and Santa Monica Studio (“God of War”). This game-crazed city also recently opened up its very own legit esports training facility for Team Liquid, a professional esports organization.
Thinking of moving here? Santa Monica’s high population of residents ages 22 to 29 lead the way to a fun and active way of life. In fact, Livability ranked Santa Monica a Top 10 Best City for Recent College Grads last year. If you don’t want to work in the video game industry, there are plenty of other jobs available in the tourism, education, tech and entertainment fields.