Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2023-2024
U.S. News analyzed the 150 most populous metro areas 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 42 PhotosGreen Bay, WI
#1 in Best Places to Live
Home to one of the most storied football franchises in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers, Green Bay has the perfect mix of... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.9
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 7.3
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 8.0
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.9
- Quality of Life
- 7.3
- Value
- 8.0
View All 29 PhotosHuntsville, AL
#2 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
- 6.9
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 7.0
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 8.2
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.9
- Quality of Life
- 7.0
- Value
- 8.2
View All 24 PhotosRaleigh & Durham, NC
#3 in Best Places to Live
Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill are known for their research/technology roots and collegiate rivalries. This tri-city... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.9
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 7.2
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 7.0
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.9
- Quality of Life
- 7.2
- Value
- 7.0
View All 53 PhotosBoulder, CO
#4 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
- 6.8
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 7.7
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 5.3
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Quality of Life
- 7.7
- Value
- 5.3
View All 22 PhotosSarasota, FL
#5 in Best Places to Live
Sarasota has a distinct vibe that’s different from Florida’s relative coastal cities, with its own vibrant arts scene... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 7.0
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 6.1
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Quality of Life
- 7.0
- Value
- 6.1
View All 58 PhotosNaples, FL
#6 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
- 6.8
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 7.1
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 5.5
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.8
- Quality of Life
- 7.1
- Value
- 5.5
View All 27 PhotosPortland, ME
#7 in Best Places to Live
For the people of Maine, there is only one Portland. Maine's largest metro area and economic hub features cobblestone... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.7
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 7.4
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 6.2
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.7
- Quality of Life
- 7.4
- Value
- 6.2
View All 17 PhotosCharlotte, NC
#8 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
- 6.7
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.4
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 7.0
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.7
- Quality of Life
- 6.4
- Value
- 7.0
View All 34 PhotosColorado Springs, CO
#9 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
- 6.7
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.5
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 5.8
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.7
- Quality of Life
- 6.5
- Value
- 5.8
View All 24 PhotosFayetteville, AR
#10 in Best Places to Live
Located in a region experiencing drastic growth, Fayetteville – together with Bentonville, Rogers and Springdale – has... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.7
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.9
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 7.8
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.7
- Quality of Life
- 6.9
- Value
- 7.8