2017 Top 100 Best Places To Live

Four-time recipient of the Best Places to Live honor, Rochester earned the top spot for the second year in a row due to high scores for its health-care scene and a diverse range of affordable housing.

Home to the University of Iowa Hawkeyes as well as Kirkwood Community College, Iowa City features a college-town atmosphere with big-city cultural events that are attractive to both locals and students.

Known largely for its 40,000-student University of Michigan flagship campus, Ann Arbor is a city that also houses two of the nation’s top hospitals – St.

As the capital of Washington, Olympia’s major employers are state and local government.

Nicknamed C’ville, Charlottesville is home to Thomas Jefferson’s famed Monticello residence as well as the University of Virginia, and the city is graced with many impressive historic buildings.

Across Lake Washington from Seattle and French for “beautiful view” is Bellevue, which has appeared on the Best Places to Live list four consecutive years and features some of the best public schools in America (along with Bellevue College).

In the heart of Silicon Valley is Palo Alto, a city near Stanford University and home to numerous cutting-edge technology companies.

One of the top bicycling cities in America is Madison, primarily known as home to the University of Wisconsin – one of the top research universities in the world.

Considered an excellent city for young families, Overland Park is a four-time Best Places to Live recipient thanks in large part to great schools, low crime, multiple shopping choices, many independent restaurants and more than 85 community parks.

More than 80 miles of trails grace Bismarck, a fast-growing city on the Missouri River that offers plenty for people who enjoy active lifestyles and the outdoors.