2018 Top 100 Best Places To Live

After appearing on our Top 100 Best Places to Live list for five years in a row, Ann Arbor finally nabbed the #1 spot this year, which means a chorus of "Hail to the victors!" is in order.

No, not the New York one — it’s Manhattan, KS that ranks second on Livability.

Surrounded by majestic mountain ranges and the picturesque Willamette Valley, hiking and biking are among the favorite outdoor activities in Corvallis, a quaint (but growing) college town.

Some crafty Iowa City residents cover trees with knitted tree-huggers during the winter months — it’s that creativity, forward-thinking and sense of fun that helped Iowa City place high on the 2018 Livability.

The great Edgar Allan Poe as well as Georgia O’Keeffe, Tina Fey and Katie Couric have graced the historic halls of the University of Virginia, a progressive academic institution that helped vault Charlottesville to this lofty place on the 2018 Livability.

The beating heart of Silicon Valley is Palo Alto, an eye-pleasing city with a charming mix of old and new and an exciting destination for business or pleasure, thus making it an obvious choice for a vaunted position on our 2018 Best Places list.

One of the nation’s top college towns is Madison, whose economic engine is largely fueled by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Surfing world-class waves before breakfast or hiking among giant redwood trees at sunset are among the numerous outdoor recreation options in Santa Cruz, a robust city that offers natural beauty alongside quality-of-life conveniences.

Always appearing high on our Top 100 Best Places to Live list is Rochester, home to the Mayo Clinic and all the international talent and guests it attracts.

French for “beautiful view,” Bellevue is true to its name.