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Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S.

2023 marks Livability.com’s 10th year helping you
discover the Best Places to Live in America.

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By Livability.com on June 14, 2023

At Livability, we love small and mid-sized cities — the crowd-pleasing, best places to live that leave you with money left over after paying your rent or mortgage. Speaking of mortgages, you might actually be able to get one of those without breaking the bank. 

For 10 years now, Livability editors have combined our love of places with data to create our annual list of the Top 100 Best Places To Live in the U.S. Today, we’re not the only best places list out there — great content from our peers at U.S. News & World Report and Resonance also spotlight some amazing U.S. cities, but we take an approach no one else does.  

Why Livability’s Top 100 Is Unique 

We consider only cities with a population between 75,000 and 500,000 — no NYC or L.A. adulation here. Not because those cities aren’t incredible but because we’re all familiar with their advantages and disadvantages, and we also know that our biggest cities continue to see a significant exodus. Where should those relocators head next? Well, we have some ideas — our list of the Best Places To Live in the U.S. recognizes the unsung (or at least, less-sung) awesomeness of the many places outside of our largest metros — the cities where most Americans create dream careers, build families, launch businesses and lead meaningful lives. 

Where are the best cities in America to create a life you love, even if you’re an average earner? Our list’s second big differentiator is affordability. We take it seriously: Only cities with a median home value of $500,000 or less have a shot at making our best places list. As home prices hit historical highs and inflation continues to rise, we laud the cities that are growing wages and home values while maintaining an affordable cost of living, including reasonable rent and home prices relative to local income. 

How We Chose Our Top 100 Cities

We partnered with Applied Geographic Solutions (AGS) to select our Top 100 Best Places To Live in the U.S. in 2023. Together we curated our cities based on nearly 100 data points and an algorithm taking into account measures of a city’s economy, housing and cost of living, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education and health. To learn more about how we chose the Top 100 cities, check out the Livability Top 100 Methodology

New Sorting, Filtering Options Help You Find the Best Cities To Live In

Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to where to live, which is why we reformatted our 10th anniversary Best Places To Live list as an interactive tool that allows you to prioritize what’s most important to you — from amenities to top-rated schools to a new-to-you place that’s not too far from your family. Looking for a place with great health outcomes? Check out the health filter. Care most about safety? There’s a filter for that.

Our filters empower you to sort the list according to each city’s performance across eight data categories: economy, housing and cost of living, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education and health. You can prioritize which of these criteria are most important and indicate your preferred home pricing, population size and region of the country to create a personalized Top 100 Best Places To Live. 

The Only Thing Missing? You.

Aside from the stats, our list answers other questions about what makes these 100 places special. Where can you spend a Saturday or meet your friends for happy hour after a long day? What’s the weather like? What about the local economy and taxes? How is this city different from other places?

If you’re looking for a fresh start, sick of insane rent and want to find a community that’s just the right fit, this list is for you. These 100 cities are welcoming, affordable and offer the space and opportunity to grow.

Editing by Cara Sanders, Managing Editor & Director of Digital Marketing. Contributing Writers: Brittany Anas, Jamie Birdwell-Branson, Kathy Bradshaw, Wesley Broome, Dana Getz, Nicole Haase, Michele Herrmann, Patricia Kaowthumrong and Cara Sanders. Other Contributors: Cathy Atlas, Amanda Ellis, Misty Emery, Julia van Hooser, Sarah Henderson, Branham Maddox, Eric Montzka, Richard Stevens and Jessy Yancey.

Explore Our Best Places to Live in the U.S.

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Outdoor activities, including boating and fishing, are abundant in Johns Creek, GA.

Johns Creek, GA

LivScore: 877

Region: Southeast

Population: 82,493

Med. Home Value: $453,747

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The prolific wildflowers in Flower Mound, TX, make this Dallas-Fort Worth suburb a pretty place to live.

Flower Mound, TX

LivScore: 872

Region: Southwest

Population: 81,173

Med. Home Value: $423,603

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Find antiques, art, furniture and more in the Arts & Design District in downtown Carmel, IN.

Carmel, IN

LivScore: 866

Region: Midwest

Population: 103,628

Med. Home Value: $388,578

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Housing options are diverse in Broomfield, CO, ranging from big homes on sprawling lots to friendly neighborhoods.

Broomfield, CO

LivScore: 855

Region: Southwest

Population: 76,856

Med. Home Value: $491,306

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The town square in Sugar Land, TX, hosts events like festivals, concerts, markets and outdoor movies.

Sugar Land, TX

LivScore: 854

Region: Southwest

Population: 118,604

Med. Home Value: $361,907

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An aerial view of the Cary Arts Center, a hub of arts activity in downtown Cary, NC.

Cary, NC

LivScore: 849

Region: Southeast

Population: 180,391

Med. Home Value: $438,130

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Residents have all kinds of fun things to do in Overland Park, KS, including The Overland Park Fall Festival.

Overland Park, KS

LivScore: 849

Region: Midwest

Population: 200,773

Med. Home Value: $353,316

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The Nickel Plate District in Fishers, IN, has tons of restaurants, breweries and live entertainment, all connected by a biking trail.

Fishers, IN

LivScore: 848

Region: Midwest

Population: 103,610

Med. Home Value: $331,594

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The Naperville Riverwalk in Naperville, IL, is a popular spot for jogging and walking.

Naperville, IL

LivScore: 841

Region: Midwest

Population: 149,293

Med. Home Value: $438,434

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Kids play in a creek in Troy, MI. The 1,000 acres of parks in Troy allow for just about every outdoor activity.

Troy, MI

LivScore: 837

Region: Midwest

Population: 87,252

Med. Home Value: $352,806

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A 30-foot waterfall on Mill Creek is the highlight of hiking in Roswell, GA.

Roswell, GA

LivScore: 832

Region: Southeast

Population: 92,536

Med. Home Value: $407,034

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The highlight of a visit to Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in Clifton, NJ, is a gorgeous view of the waterfall and scenic bridge crossing the gorge.

Clifton, NJ

LivScore: 831

Region: Northeast

Population: 89,579

Med. Home Value: $398,692

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Office buildings along the water in Columbia, MD. Businesses there enjoy a central location between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and a talent pipeline with highly educated workers.

Columbia, MD

LivScore: 828

Region: Northeast

Population: 106,498

Med. Home Value: $455,220

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Surrounded by gorgeous mountain views, Sandy, UT, is a magnet for outdoor activities of every stripe, from skiing to hiking and rock climbing.

Sandy, UT

LivScore: 817

Region: Southwest

Population: 97,754

Med. Home Value: $477,230

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Women stroll through the vineyards at KC Wine Co in Olathe, KS. Olathe is the Shawnee word for "beautiful," reflected in the city's rolling hills and gorgeous scenery.

Olathe, KS

LivScore: 813

Region: Midwest

Population: 142,664

Med. Home Value: $313,146

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Families play in City Park Fountain in downtown Beaverton, OR, at dusk.

Beaverton, OR

LivScore: 809

Region: Northwest

Population: 97,966

Med. Home Value: $494,298

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An aerial shot of downtown Gilbert, AZ, a Phoenix suburb named one of the best places to live in the US in 2023.

Gilbert, AZ

LivScore: 805

Region: Southwest

Population: 277,284

Med. Home Value: $413,974

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Residents dance to live music at Arts in the Parks in Bloomington, MN. Unrivaled parks are one amenity that makes Blomington one of the best places to live in the U.S.

Bloomington, MN

LivScore: 801

Region: Midwest

Population: 88,925

Med. Home Value: $321,368

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A view of the Round Rock in the middle of Brushy Creek for which Round Rock, TX, is named. The fast-growing suburb of Austin is one of the best places to live in the US in 2023.

Round Rock, TX

LivScore: 798

Region: Southwest

Population: 129,785

Med. Home Value: $373,907

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Children play in a sandbox at one of Rochester Hills, MI's many parks. Rochester Hills, a suburb of Detroit, is one of the best places to live in the US in 2023.

Rochester Hills, MI

LivScore: 798

Region: Midwest

Population: 76,113

Med. Home Value: $334,020

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