The 12 best places to live in the US, which have cheaper homes, good weather, and lots of jobs
- US News & World Report released its 2023 list of best places to live in America on Tuesday.
- The top 12 cities have affordable homes, a high quality of life, and are popular with movers.
- Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Huntsville, Alabama, topped the list.
Thinking of moving this year?
From sea to shining sea, there are great places to settle down in the US — but only a dozen cities in the Sun Belt, Midwest, and New England take the prize for being the very best, according to US News & World Report.
Each year, the magazine analyzes the largest 500 metro areas in the US and ranks them according to employment rates, moving patterns, housing affordability, and quality of life considerations like access to healthcare and crime rates.
While these regions of the country have been drawing newcomers for years, the places topping the list published on Tuesday are on the outskirts of the most populated places that have grabbed bigger headlines for their offerings, like Miami and Boston.
Those smaller cities — such as Raleigh, North Carolina, or Portland, Maine — might have fewer amenities but are still singled out for their quality of life. Some proof of that is in their growth, which has been steady.
While US News & World Report puts a lot of weight on housing affordability and the job market to determine the rankings, quality of life was the single most important factor in its methodology.
Indeed, the cities on this list all have below-average crime rates, good schools, happy residents, easy commutes, and clean air, according to the report. In other words, they may be the perfect places to raise a family.
Without further ado, here are the 12 best places to live this year, and their metro area population, housing costs, and yearly salaries, according to US News & World Report.
Population of the metro area: 328,713
Median home price: $221,475
Median monthly rent: $1,005
Average annual salary: $49,010
Known for: Idaho's capital city is marked by its natural beauty and outdoorsy lifestyle, with beautiful hill views and hiking trails galore. It's also home to art and culture establishments such as the Egyptian Theater, a concert hall, and the Boise Art Museum.
Population of metro area: 660,212
Median home price: $390,950
Median monthly rent: $1,080
Average annual salary: $57,680
Known for: A college town with a vibrant nightlife, food establishments and art scene, Wisconsin's capital city is known as a cultural hub with a youthful flair.
Population of metro area: 526,101
Median home price: $203,150
Median monthly rent: $868
Average annual salary: $50,470
Known for: Another outdoorsy spot to settle down, Fayetteville is located amid the Ozark Mountains in the northern portion of the state. It's also home to Walmart's corporate headquarters and several colleges including the University of Arkansas.
Population of metro area: 735,480
Median home price: $555,072
Median monthly rent: $1,232
Average annual salary: $55,540
Known for: Nestled against the Colorado Rockies, Colorado Springs is another great spot for nature lovers. It's also home to both US Army and Air Force bases, and the defense industry makes up a huge chunk of its economy.
Population of metro area: 2,595,027
Median home price: $406,169
Median monthly rent: $1,073
Average annual salary: $55,330
Known for: As North Carolina's biggest city, Charlotte is known for its southern charm, NASCAR, and the headquarters of some major banks. It's filled with museums, art, and small businesses as well.
Population of metro area: 536,314
Median home price: $310,300
Median monthly rent: $1,115
Average annual salary: $55,790
Known for: A true coastal New England city, Portland is a great place for water and land sport lovers alike. Its cobblestone streets convey a rich history as does the architectural style of its homes. It's a hub for the maker movement and seafarers as well.
Population of metro area: 379,345
Median home price: $345,000
Median monthly rent: $1,374
Average annual salary: $50,040
Known for: Naples' sandy beaches and year-round warm weather have made it a favored hub for those moving to Florida. The coastal waters are home to dolphin pods and tropical fish. Its economy is largely tourism-based.
Population of metro area: 821,613
Median home price: $387,630
Median monthly rent: $1,259
Average annual salary: $48,180
Known for: In addition to being another beach city on Florida's western coast, Sarasota is also an art hub in the Sunshine State. It's home to the Sarasota School of Architecture as well as various museums.
Population: 324,682
Median home price: $528,833
Median monthly rent: $1,582
Average annual salary: $70,450
Known for: Boulder is known as an environmental hub, and a museum and college town inspiring to artists such as electropop duo The Chainsmokers. Two of its primary industries are academia and aerospace.
Population of metro area: 1,999,253
Median home price: $436,760
Median monthly rent: $1,132.085
Average annual salary: $59,173
Known for: A science and research hub in the south, this metro area is two points of the so-called Research Triangle. Along with Chapel Hill — the third point — these two cities house several major universities such as University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Duke University.
Population: 464,607
Median home price: $192,667
Median monthly rent: $869
Average annual salary: $58,730
Known for: A major defense and data center hub, Huntsville is Alabama's largest city and is brimming with emerging and age-old industries alike. Tech giant Meta, Facebook's parent, employs hundreds of people in its multi-billion dollar data center here.
Population of the metro area: 320,827
Median home price: 181,700
Median monthly rent: $807
Average annual salary: $50,020
Known for: As the hometown of the NFL's Green Bay Packers, this city knows a thing or two about sports and fun. Bordering Lake Michigan and close to state parks, it's also the perfect place for water-sport enthusiasts and nature explorers. The National Railroad Museum calls it home, too.