Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2024-2025
For the 2024-2025 Best Places to Live rankings, we selected 150 major cities to find the best places to live. To make the top of the list, a place had to have good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market and a high quality of life. For more information on how we rank, read the Best Places to Live methodology.
View All 58 PhotosNaples, FL
#1 in Best Places to Live
Nestled between the edges of the Everglades and the shores of the Gulf of Mexico sits Collier County, home to Naples... Read More- Overall Score
- 7.1
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.8
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 6.0
- Value
- Overall Score
- 7.1
- Quality of Life
- 6.8
- Value
- 6.0
View All 34 PhotosColorado Springs, CO
#3 in Best Places to Live
Pikes Peak, inspiration for the song “America the Beautiful,” is the backdrop for Colorado Springs. Here, you’ll find a... Read More- Overall Score
- 7.0
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.5
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 7.0
- Value
- Overall Score
- 7.0
- Quality of Life
- 6.5
- Value
- 7.0
View All 23 PhotosGreenville, SC
#4 in Best Places to Live
Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville has transformed from a blip on the national map to a... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.9
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 7.0
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 7.0
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.9
- Quality of Life
- 7.0
- Value
- 7.0
View All 17 PhotosCharlotte, NC
#5 in Best Places to Live
A charming yet sprawling Southern city, Charlotte is a pleasant urban area nestled in the Piedmont region of North... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.7
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 7.3
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Quality of Life
- 6.7
- Value
- 7.3
View All 13 PhotosRaleigh, NC
#6 in Best Places to Live
Raleigh, along with neighboring Durham and Chapel Hill, is known for research/technology roots and collegiate rivalries... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 7.2
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 6.9
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Quality of Life
- 7.2
- Value
- 6.9
View All 29 PhotosHuntsville, AL
#7 in Best Places to Live
Once a sleepy farming town, Huntsville gained national recognition during the Space Race of the 1960s and is now... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.6
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 8.1
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Quality of Life
- 6.6
- Value
- 8.1
View All 22 PhotosVirginia Beach, VA
#8 in Best Places to Live
Despite Virginia Beach's resort city status, its friendly residents and relaxed atmosphere have swayed many to take up a... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 7.1
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 6.9
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Quality of Life
- 7.1
- Value
- 6.9
View All 22 PhotosAustin, TX
#9 in Best Places to Live
With the slogan “Keep Austin Weird,” this Texas city is laid-back to the point that if you’re dressing up, it must be a... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.8
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 6.3
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Quality of Life
- 6.8
- Value
- 6.3
View All 53 PhotosBoulder, CO
#10 in Best Places to Live
Snug against the foothills where the Great Plains give rise to the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is nothing if not a looker... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.7
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 7.4
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 5.5
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.7
- Quality of Life
- 7.4
- Value
- 5.5
