The Top Livability.com Stories of 2024
Here at Livability, we like to have a lot of fun; fortunately, our job lets us do that.
We love providing our readers with information about the best cities in the country that are affordable and cool and, most importantly, are places you actually want to go.
With a completely re-formatted Top 100 Best Places to Live list that — for the first time ever — let our readers pick the categories, population size and regions that are most important to them to find their own unique best place to live, we saw our most engaged audience yet. Additionally, we released tons of content about relocating, affordability and travel inspiration that covered everything from the best places to live if you’re a pet owner to tips for traveling on a budget to the best cities for women in the workplace.
Our team is small but mighty. Without the help of our many talented freelance writers, friends and co-workers and the incredible cities that we get to write about, Livability wouldn’t be all that it is.
But, mostly, we are grateful for our readers — like you! Thanks for spending time with us, reading and sharing our content and giving us feedback on how we can better meet your needs. We can’t wait for you all to see the exciting things we have in store for 2025.
Without further ado, here is a list of the five stories that got the most traffic this year (and a couple of our staff favorites, too!):
In This Article
Most Popular Stories of 2024
1. 2024 Top 100 Best Places to Live
Our most popular story is always our annual Top 100 list. This year’s Top 100 Best Places to Live list was unlike any other that we had done before. We always begin with the data, craft the rankings and ask ourselves one question: If you could live anywhere, where would you choose and why? Unsurprisingly, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the perfect place to live.
For the first time, we released a Top 100 Best Places to Live that wasn’t ranked from 1 to 100. Instead, we created a fully interactive list with tools to sort and filter according to the criteria that are most important to you, from the cities with the highest category rankings to population sizes to geographical location and even a median home value. This year’s list represented cities from all over the country that are truly wonderful places to live, and finding the right one for you is easier than ever.
2. 8 U.S. Destinations That Feel Like Traveling Abroad
We get it; sometimes, you just need to get away. However, time and budget constraints can supersede those plans. Lucky for you, we created a roundup of the eight best U.S. destinations that will give you the feeling of traveling abroad. From the Dutch charm of Holland, MI, to the German heritage of Leavenworth, WA, these towns are full of European-inspired architecture, culture and cuisine.
3. The Top 25 Best Places to Live in Each Region
A data-driven spin-off of our Top 100 Best Places to Live are our annual rankings of the Top 25 Best Places to Live in each region.
- Top 25 Best Places to Live in the Northeast
- Top 25 Best Places to Live in the Southeast
- Top 25 Best Places to Live in the Midwest
- Top 25 Best Places to Live in the Southwest
- Top 25 Best Places to Live Out West
We examine 2,300 cities to narrow down the best places to live in America and then narrow it down further to highlight the top 25 best places in each region.
4. The 10 Best States for Retirement in 2024
Ready to retire? Us, too.
But, when it comes to retiring, the last thing you want to fret over is where to spend your golden years. Enter WalletHub’s study of the best states to retire to, where they studied everything from tax rates to health care access and entertainment. We focused on the 10 best states for retirement and everything you need to know!
5. The Best Places to Live in Colorado
Everyone wants to be in the Centennial State! Colorado is a fantastic place to live if you love the outdoors, with over 300 days of sunshine and stunning Rocky Mountain scenery perfect for activities like hiking and skiing. Its cities offer a vibrant arts and culture scene, a strong job market and thriving craft breweries. Colorado’s natural beauty, outdoor recreation and community spirit make it a highly desirable place to call home and here are the best places to live in Colorado.
Staff Favorites
We asked some of our staff editors to pick out their favorite stories from this year, too!
In Cowboy Country: Rodeo in Southern Idaho
While Southern Idaho continues to grow, it’s also maintaining its beloved traditions like rodeo. This article dives into the sport’s history in the region and how that legacy continues to shape the culture today. It’s an interesting read for a history buff or anyone wanderlusting for the West! – Holly Tilleros, Livability Media Editor
5 Dog Parks That Are Also Bars (Yes, You Read That Right)
I mean, who doesn’t love this article? It’s two of my favorites wrapped into one, not to mention the clever dog park names! – Jordan Moore, Executive Vice President of Sales
The Ultimate Guide to Flying With Pets
This was my favorite story of the year! As a pet owner, I loved all of the pet content that we did and found this story to be super informative! – Sarah Henderson, Marketing Coordinator
Travel More, Spend Less: How to Have a Ball on a Budget
My favorite article this year is Travel More, Spend Less piece. When I first read the article, I was looking for tips as my son said he wants to go to Spain to celebrate his college graduation. I loved the tips on booking in the off-season (which I did), information on how to utilize public transportation and how effective it is, and shopping locally. Although we made a pivot and are now traveling to Venice, Italy, the article was helpful. – Sherrye Moore, Integrated Media Manager
8 U.S. Destinations That Feel Like Traveling Abroad
I think my overall favorite this year is a story we did about places that feel like traveling abroad because it shows that if you can’t afford to travel abroad, there are so many places in the U.S. that are just as beautiful as Europe!
I also loved the 50 Things You Didn’t Know About the Olympics because the facts are so interesting it went semi-viral on TikTok! (Psst, follow us over there!) – Branham Maddox, Digital Content Coordinator
Can Where You Live Shape Your Personality?
One of my 2024 faves was our piece about where you live and its impact on someone’s personality. It’s the sort of story that makes our work at Livability unique, exploring not only the ways we shape places but the ways in which places shape us. Plus, I think any of us who have lived in one place for a while start to wonder about how that may have impacted us. – Amanda Ellis, Editor-in-Chief
Fall in Love with the Art Displays in Northern Kentucky
I liked this article and was glad to see the urban art scene highlighted. I’m downtown often and LOVE all the murals — I think there were maybe 4 or 5 new ones that went up this year. Also, I got to go to BLINK, which was incredible!!!! – Katie Middendorf, VP of Sales Operations & Client Services
How to Spend the Perfect Day in Johnson City, TN
Ranked high on the Wall Street Journal’s Emerging House Market List, Johnson City is no longer a hidden gem. Nestled in the northeast corner of Tennessee, among the Appalachian Mountains, this city has a lot to offer – from world-renowned trails to legendary music venues. So, where should you go when you visit? Start crafting your itinerary with this article, which tells you everything you need to know about how to enjoy the area like a local. – Holly Tilleros, Livability Media Editor
Freelancer Favorites
We asked some of our beloved freelance writers what their favorite story of the year was, and they didn’t disappoint. Livability quite literally wouldn’t be the same without them!
City Walk Birmingham Provides a Unique Public Space
I visited City Walk BHAM while on a trip to Birmingham this year. It’s an incredible concept to turn a bland Interstate underpass into a cool gathering spot. – Michele Herrmann, writer
7 State Parks That Rival National Parks — Without the Cost or the Crowds
I love slightly under-the-radar natural wonders, and this roundup has them in spades, including sandstone cliffs, springs you can swim in, waterfalls, boardwalks, a 1,000-pound mastodon skull, and a mini (but still huge) Grand Canyon 30 miles from the nearest city. – Cheryl Rodewig, writer
How Getting a Dog Helped Me Feel at Home in a New City
Doggos are such an important part of our lives, and I loved all the wonderful pet-related stories that Livability put together this year. Megan Seling’s piece on how her beagle helped her feel at home in a new city was so sweet and so relatable. (Bonus: You get to see lots of photos of her pup!)
We recently moved with our senior dog and we’ve met so many neighbors who look to see the baby we’re pushing in a stroller and then see a Boston Terrier in a bow tie instead. Dogs truly are the best ambassadors.
Cara’s Favorites
As the managing editor and writer of this roundup, I get to make the rules. And I’ve decided it’s unfair to make me pick favorites — so I simply won’t. Here are three of my top picks from the year, and if you want to see what other stories I loved this year, check out our roundup of moving inspo articles I put together a few weeks ago.
Video: The Most Pet-Friendly Places in the U.S.
I really loved this entire pet-friendly places project from start to finish, but I’m partial to this particular piece of content because we got to spend a really fun afternoon with my mini golden doodle, Lottie, and Sarah’s golden retriever, Ellie. We took them to a sweet dog park in Franklin, TN — one of the country’s best cities for pet owners — where they made friends with a Frenchie and got to burn off lots of energy. Personally, I think Lottie and Ellie are absolute stars, and I’m glad they had time to shine.
Hush-Hush Hideaways: 11 Quiet Luxury Destinations
I grew up going on vacation in South Carolina at a tiny place called Fripp Island. It is technically private (but that sounds way fancier than it actually is!), and I love the idea of taking a slow, sweet vacation where the destination is the whole experience. This roundup was at the height of the quiet luxury trend, so it felt perfect to publish it when we did.
The Best College Football Traditions Around the Country
As a University of Tennessee graduate (Go Vols!), I love seeing people’s reactions when they learn about the Vol Navy. We’re big fans of college football at Livability, and this is one of my favorite stories!
Can Where You Live Shape Your Personality?
Amanda and I both picked this story because it really encompasses the entire idea of loving where you live. This was a wonderfully written story that was super engaging and informative to me!