UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.
#6. Fresno CA
Bet you didn’t think you’d see a California city on this list!
Fresno is nestled in the middle of the state, just two hours from the Sierra Nevada mountains and three hours from the coast, and is the perfect distance away from all of that Bay Area congestion. In fact, the average commute time in Fresno is just 22.3 minutes. The city also ranked in Wallethub’s study, gaining points for being in the top five for least amount of annual hours spent in congestion.
Fresno, which has been called the “bohemia of California,” boasts an exploding arts scene spearheaded by a multi-day arts festival known as the Rogue. It’s also one of California’s most affordable cities, where you can comfortably live on a salary of $44,500 a year.