2019 Top 100 Best Places To Live

Known as the Queen City, Charlotte is a crown jewel of the South thanks to its history, diversity and unique culture where creativity meets innovation.

Offering peace, quiet and wide open spaces, Laramie is a dream come true for those lucky enough to live here. People tend to come for the fresh air and gorgeous mountain views, but they stay for the eclectic and tight-knit community they find in town.

Located in the heart of North Carolina’s Piedmont region, Durham is best known for being part of the “Research Triangle,” an area home to three major research universities, including Duke University.

Billings serves as the launch point for tons of outdoor recreation opportunities in southern Montana. This mid-sized city has a western vibe to it, so the dress code is almost always casual (and you might run into a real “Montana cowboy,” too).

You’ll find Cincinnati, AKA the Queen City or Cincy for short, located along the tree-lined banks of the Ohio River and Ohio’s southern border with Kentucky.

Affectionately called “Larry” by those who love it best, Lawrence has consistently ranked on our Top 100 Best Places to Live list because it’s an under-the-radar cool city where everyday life is centered around the arts and education.

Founded in 1864 by four miners with dreams of striking it rich, Helena was built on gold. Today, it continues to offer residents a comfortable living with its rock-solid economy and high-scoring infrastructure and educational system.

There’s a lot you can say about Louisville. That it’s a bourbon lover’s paradise. Or that it’s home to “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” Or that it’s famous for its namesake baseball bats. Or that the food scene here is one-of-a-kind. Or that it’s a diverse and lively and inclusive city that is full of surprises. But honestly? Louisville is just cool.

As the capital of New York, Albany has long been a hub of history, culture, art and more. Albany received an above-average rating in health, as the city is home to a number of hospitals (chief among them is St. Peters, which is considered high-performing in a number of advanced surgical procedures).

Richland’s bulletproof economy is just one of the things that earned it a spot on the 2019 Top 100 Best Places to Live list. From some of the most affordable housing prices in Washington to a long list of amenities that includes wineries, golf courses and 23 miles of desert trails, this Eastern Washington city is perfect for those who like to work hard and play even harder.