UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.
#1. Alexandria
With it’s close proximity to Washington DC, the Entrepreneur’s Organization and Entrepreneur Center @ Northern Virginia Technology Center, Alexandria, Va. is a hotspot for entrepreneurs. It hit a number of criteria putting it at the #1 spot on the list – it ranks in the top 10 for lowest unemployment rate, top 20 for small business loans, top 20 for high wage job growth, top 5 for diversity and rates on our list for access to high speed internet. The area is chock-full of creatives and educated individuals, ranking in the top 10 for creative class workers and top 20 in educational attainment. The city also doesn’t lack in the arts and culture scene, ranking in our top 5 for culture. The drawbacks of working so close to D.C.? The commute time is the worst on list. But Alexandria ranks #1 for transportation affordability and in the top 5 in safety. And it may be a little pricey to eat around the area, but Alexandria made it on our Top 10 Best Foodie Cities, as well as three years in a row on the Top 100 Best Places to Live and Top 10 Downtowns.