Are you looking for the perfect place to live in the US? If so, you’re in luck! There are so many great places to choose from, each with its own unique charms. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best places to live in the US. We’ll consider factors such as job opportunities, cost of living, quality of life, and overall livability.
Best Places to Live in the US
The following are some of the best places to live in the US in no particular order.
Peoria, Illinois
Population: 403,747 Average Annual Salary: $54,330.
Peoria is quickly becoming a city where families can live comfortably in the suburbs while young people can enjoy new entertainment districts.
Each weekend during the warmer months, festivals pop up around the city, and nature lovers have access to trails for hiking, hunting, and biking, making it one of the best places to live in the US.
Charleston, South Carolina
Population: 790,955
Average Annual Salary: $50,810
Charleston’s charming, historic, and sophisticated atmosphere epitomizes Southern culture. “Not only is the area overflowing with entertainment and good food, but this low country locale is also gorgeous,” a local expert said.
Charleston’s tourism industry is thriving, creating numerous job opportunities, particularly during the summer months. Jobs in technology, sales, marketing, and advertising keep the city’s economy humming all year.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Population: 409,419
Average Annual Salary: $48,060.
Fort Wayne, Indiana, a Rust Belt hub, has recently been revitalized. Manufacturers such as General Motors and BAE Systems have brought jobs to the area, and the economy is benefiting from a surge of young people eager to relocate from the suburbs.
“With its low cost of living and quiet neighborhoods, Fort Wayne, Indiana, is one of the best places to buy a house, start a career, launch a business, live in, and raise children in the US,” according to a local expert.
Hartford, Connecticut
Population: 1,205,842
Average Annual Salary: $65,750.
Hartford, located in the Connecticut River Valley, was once home to notable historical figures such as Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Today, among the city’s historical attractions are nearby entertainment venues, ski slopes, and state parks.
In Hartford, which is home to Aetna Inc., United Technologies Corp., and Hartford Hospital, the aerospace, healthcare, and financial services industries dominate the job market.
North Carolina, Asheville
Population: 459,344 Average annual salary: $46,310.
It’s no surprise that the mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina, is popular with both tourists and locals. Asheville, located between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains, attracts outdoor enthusiasts as well as fans of music, art, and craft beer.
Buffalo, New York
Population: 1,129,018
Average annual salary: $53,300.
Buffalo, located only 20 miles from the tourist destination of Niagara Falls, offers a more intimate community. Its residents can watch a game between two of their favorite professional sports teams or go skiing in the winter.
For nature lovers, the Allegheny National Forest and Letchworth State Park are nearby, and art lovers can enjoy cultural attractions as well.
Pensacola, Florida
Population: 496,278
Average annual salary: $45,170.
This diverse area is home to a 10-day fiesta, beautiful beaches facing the Gulf of Mexico, and excellent fishing spots. Pensacola received high marks for desirability and net migration, indicating that an increasing number of people are interested in relocating to this lovely part of the country.
Greenville, South Carolina
Population: 908,680
Average annual salary: $47,100.
Greenville, once a sleepy small town, has experienced a cultural revival in recent years, complete with an influx of new restaurants and businesses. Though summers can be hot, the city’s typically mild weather allows you to walk around downtown at any time of year.
An influx of manufacturing jobs has also boosted Greenville’s economy, with well-known companies such as GE and Michelin establishing operations in the city.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Population: 2,214,265
Average annual salary: $53,650.
Cincinnati is a city that is passionate about its food, sports, and culture. From a thriving job market to a packed calendar of museums, baseball, and local heritage events, the Midwest’s Queen City has something for everyone.
Residents appreciate the city’s affordability; housing costs less than the national average, despite Cincinnati being one of the country’s 30 largest metro areas, making it one of the best places to live in the US.
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Population: 264,322
Average annual Salary: $51,480.
Kalamazoo’s small-town atmosphere entices anyone interested in chili cook-offs and farmers’ markets. It’s a popular destination for art and culture enthusiasts.
During their visit to Kalamazoo, visitors can enjoy craft breweries, museums, and live music.
Tampa Bay, Florida
Population: 3,152,928
Average annual salary: $51,770.
Residents of Tampa can enjoy the laid-back vibes of the beach while still having access to a metropolitan area with plenty of entertainment options, including an NFL team.
It was once known as the “Cigar Capital of the World,” and the Tampa Bay metro area includes St. Petersburg’s beaches.
Syracuse, New York.
Population: 650,211
Average annual salary: $54,890.
Syracuse is a winter wonderland, but it is also one of the most affordable metropolitan areas in the United States. Wine lovers will appreciate its proximity to the Finger Lakes, where they can sample some of the region’s best wines.
The city center is only a short distance from the surrounding suburbs, and it is only four hours from New York City.
Myrtle Beach is located in South Carolina.
Population: 481,489
Average annual salary: $39,250.
Because of beachgoers’ tourism, Myrtle Beach has a plethora of job opportunities in the hospitality industry. The tourist destination provides recreational activities, high-quality restaurants, and pleasant weather.
The low-income taxes and business incentives make this an ideal location for small business owners.
Washington, Seattle
Population: 3,928,498
Average annual salary: $74,330.
Seattle is surrounded by water and mountains, so it doesn’t get as much rain as you might think, according to one local expert. Residents are drawn to the area because of its “calm and patience” atmosphere and proximity to nature.
Seattle’s jobs are concentrated in the technology, healthcare, and maritime industries, but the city is also a major manufacturing center for companies such as Boeing.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Population: 574,691
Average annual salary: $52,700.
Harrisburg, located on the banks of the Susquehanna River and at the foothills of the Appalachian Trail, provides residents with unrestricted access to the outdoors.
Many people work for the state and federal governments in Harrisburg, but there are also several large private-sector employers, such as Hershey’s, Rite Aid, and D&H Distributing.
Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky
Population: 514,273
Average annual salary: $48,150.
Lexington, Kentucky, is known as the world’s horse capital, and residents are especially proud of their city’s equestrian reputation. Aside from world-famous horse parks and racetracks, the area has over 1,000 horse farms, not to mention streets named after Triple Crown winners and a slew of horse statues in city parks. But a passion for equestrian activities isn’t the only thing Lexington has to offer.
Younger residents are drawn to the area because of its college-town atmosphere and appreciation for local sports and music. The area is also a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with the nearby Red River Gorge and Cumberland Falls providing scenic spots for residents to explore their surroundings, making it one of the best places to live in the US.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Population: 861,872
Average annual salary: $47,740.
Knoxville, Tennessee, is one of the best places to live for sports and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Getting outside and enjoying nature is easy in this Southern city, thanks to its proximity to the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Ijams Nature Center.
Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth
Population: 861,872
Average annual salary: $47,740.
Dallas provides residents with “big-city excitement and quiet, suburban living,” according to one local expert. To satisfy the large population, there are local bars, retail shops, and plenty of sports spirit. The city is teeming with young professionals, thanks to large employers in business, finance, and education.
Hickory, North Carolina
Population: 367,982
Average annual salary: $43,630.
Hickory, located just an hour outside of Charlotte, is gaining popularity among young professionals after previously being home to mostly retirees and families.
Residents have access to the mountains of Asheville, an hour west, as well as local art in the form of outdoor sculptures and art galleries throughout town. Apple and Google both have data centers in the area.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Population: 2,595,027
Average annual salary: $55,330.
A “melting pot effect” attracts people from all walks of life to Charlotte, which has “equal parts old-fashioned southern charm and high-energy cosmopolitan bustle,” according to one local expert. NASCAR and motorsports are culturally significant in Charlotte.
The Queen City is home to Bank of America’s headquarters as well as major Wells Fargo offices, making it one of the country’s largest financial hubs.
Omaha, Nebraska
Population: 940,163
Average annual salary: $53,050.
Omaha has earned the nickname “Silicon Prairie” due to its history of cattle ranching and the current landscape of bustling tech startups. Additionally, the city is home to eight Fortune 500 companies, including Berkshire Hathaway, Union Pacific Railroad, and Mutual of Omaha.
Young professionals and families are drawn to the city because of its affordability, safety, and robust economy.
Lincoln, Nebraska.
Population: 333,193
Average annual salary: $50,240.
Lincoln is the state capital of Nebraska and home of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhuskers. Despite the fact that the city attracts thousands of college football fans and students in the fall, the city’s low cost of living keeps people coming back.
It is home to large tech companies like Hudl and Spreetail as part of the Midwest’s “Silicon Prairie.”
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
Population: 3,605,450 Average annual salary: $62,560.
The Twin Cities have “big-city amenities like museums and sports stadiums, but also an approachable, Midwestern feel,” according to a local expert. Residents are used to the changing seasons, going ice fishing and cross-country skiing in the winter and attending music festivals and baseball games in the spring and summer.
Jobs in science-related fields are available at companies such as Xcel Energy and Medtronic, as well as retail giants such as Best Buy and Target.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Population: 2,234,447
Average annual salary: $54,300.
Pittsburgh is rehabilitating its industrial reputation by increasing the number of green spaces and state parks.
According to Cheryl Werber, a local expert, more and more companies are migrating to the Steel City, bringing exciting job opportunities with them. Despite rising rates, housing in Pittsburgh is still more affordable than in other major cities.
Nashville, Tennessee.
Population: 1,904,186 Average annual salary: $52,170.
Nashville is defined by its honky-tonk culture and entrepreneurial spirit.
“A blossoming job market and an exploding entertainment scene [are] fueling an appetite (and thirst) for all things locally sourced and artisanal in craft,” according to a local expert. Thousands of residents work in healthcare at large hospitals and research centers, as well as small startups and business accelerator programs in the area.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Population: 1,533,796 Average annual salary: $49,940
Jacksonville’s proximity to the beach makes it ideal for outdoor activities. Aside from spending lazy days in the sand, residents can visit the area’s top golf courses or go hiking, camping, and kayaking in nearby parks. According to a local expert, Jacksonville is also expanding, with thriving art and music scenes as well as new business development, making it one of the best places to live in the US.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Population: 2,522,032 Average annual salary: $52,094.
Salt Lake City may have some of the snowiest weather in the country, but residents make the most of it by taking advantage of the city’s many ski resorts. Residents can enjoy outdoor performances by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Temple Square during warmer weather by visiting Salt Lake’s more than 900 acres of public parks.
Portland, Oregon
Population: 2,472,774
Average annual salary: $61,860.
Portland isn’t for everyone — its slogan is “Keep Portland Weird,” after all. However, according to one local expert, it is a “well-rounded city with more than just offbeat shops and events” and a population with “more academic degrees than the national average.”
Portland is home to major employer Intel Corporation, as well as Nike’s headquarters, which is located about seven miles outside of town.
New York City
Population: 880,766
Average annual salary: $58,880.
Despite the snowy winters, there are several advantages to living in Albany. Albany has a lower cost of living than the national average, and the cost of housing is significantly lower than the rest of the United States. Albany’s primary industries for residents are the city’s state government and healthcare companies.
Visitors can peruse art galleries, wine shops, and churches in Albany’s downtown. Residents prefer hockey because it fits in with the city’s cold climate.
Melbourne, Florida
Population: 594,001
Average annual salary: $51,740.
There’s never a shortage of things to do in Melbourne, with fishing, boating, and a plethora of bars and restaurants. The city is teeming with retirees and “snowbirds” — people who spend their summers in colder climates and their winters in Florida — who can spend their days on one of the many nearby golf courses and their nights out exploring the local shops and art galleries.
Washington, DC
Population: 6,250,309
Average annual salary: $77,210.
The District’s neighborhoods each have their own vibe, but residents throughout the city frequently “gather for block parties, mingle at dog parks, and converse at coffee shops,” according to a local expert. While Washington, DC is known as a political hotspot, there is also a strong job market for education and health care, making it one of the best places to live in the US..
Boston, Massachusetts.
Population: 4,854,808
Average annual salary: $73,850.
Boston attracts a diverse range of residents, from recent college graduates to retirees, musicians to engineers. According to one local expert, the historical city is often referred to as the “Cradle of Liberty,” and it also overflows with Red Sox and Patriots fandom.
Madison, Wisconsin.
Population: 660,212
Average annual salary: $57,680.
The state capital of Wisconsin is a “hotbed of the healthcare, information technology, and manufacturing industries,” according to a local expert. The area is also home to the University of Wisconsin at Madison, which provides hundreds of educational jobs.
Madison has a distinct food culture that combines fine dining with farmer’s markets to serve the city’s college students, young professionals, and families.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Population: 1,069,696
Average annual salary: $49,700.
Grand Rapids attracts “college students and young families with its healthy job market, affordable housing, and outdoor recreational activities,” according to a local expert. The self-proclaimed “Beer City USA” has over 80 breweries, as well as vibrant public art and music scenes.
Grand Rapids’ job market, once dominated by furniture manufacturing, is now dominated by education and healthcare, with many opportunities for workers without a college degree.
Des Moines, Iowa
Population: 690,585
Average annual salary: $55,660.
According to a local expert, Des Moines is attracting millennials and young families alike because of its “one-of-a-kind shops, locally-owned restaurants, and hip bars,” as well as its historical homes in quiet neighborhoods. The job market is thriving in this city, which is home to more than 80 insurance companies, including industry titans Allied Insurance and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Austin, Texas.
Population: 2,173,804
Average annual salary: $57,830.
According to a local expert, the Texas capital attracts about 150 new residents per day, with many drawn to the city’s “music, outdoor spaces, and cultural institutions.”
Austin is well-known for its live music scene and hosts some of the country’s largest music and culture festivals, such as South by Southwest and Austin City Limits. In the 1990s, the city was dubbed “Silicon Hills” because it was “among the top areas for venture capital investment in the country.”
Naples, Florida
Population: 379,345
Average annual salary: $50,040.
Naples is located between the Everglades and the Gulf of Mexico. It attracts many older, wealthy residents, including retirees and snowbirds, due to its sunny beaches, fine dining, and golf courses. Because of tourism and frequent development, the hospitality and construction industries predominate.
Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Population: 368,385
Average annual salary: $59,200.
Ann Arbor is best known as the home of the University of Michigan, but it is also attracting more full-time residents downtown and along its outskirts. The city was founded in the mid-1800s and is surrounded by hills, with the Huron River running through it.
Throughout the year, residents will find plenty to do outside, from kayaking to ice skating. According to the Trust for Public Land, more than 90% of residents live within 10 minutes of a public park by foot.
San Francisco, California
Population: 4,709,220
Average annual salary: $81,840.
According to a local expert, San Francisco is “the heart of the bohemian lifestyle, the epicenter of the LGBT rights movement, and the launching point of the technology era.” Over the last decade, thousands of tech companies have raced to set up shops in the Bay Area, driving up living costs.
Despite the city’s emphasis on the tech and startup scenes, there are plenty of business jobs available, with more than 30 international finance headquarters.
Portland, Maine
Population: 536,314
Average annual salary: $55,790.
Portland, which is right on the water at Casco Bay and has cobblestone streets, immediately conjures up images of a much smaller town. There’s plenty to do, from fishing to sailing to cross-country skiing to exploring the city’s vibrant nightlife. Seafood enthusiasts can dine on fresh catches at the city’s modern oyster bars or order one of Maine’s famous lobster rolls.
Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Population: 526,101
Average annual salary: $50,470.
Fayetteville is located in the Ozark Mountains and is home to the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas. Seven Fortune 500 companies, including Walmart and Tyson Foods, have their headquarters in northwest Arkansas.
According to a local expert, the city has grown “from a small town to a center of higher education, culture, commerce, and entrepreneurialism.”
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Population: 1,999,253
Average annual salary: $59,174.
Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill form the Triangle, a region defined by its research and technology foundation. Nearly 40,000 people are employed in the Triangle by companies such as IBM, SAS Institute Inc., and Cisco Systems, as well as nearby colleges Duke, North Carolina State, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
According to a local expert, a strong job market combined with a thriving microbrewery and dining scene attracts new residents on a daily basis.
San Jose, California
Population: 1,985,926
Average annual salary: $93,450.
San Jose’s sprawling city is “as much defined by its suburban neighborhoods and large tech campuses as it is by the high-rises in its business district,” according to a local expert. Young residents and recent graduates of nearby Stanford and UC Berkeley find it easy to find work in the area, which boasts Facebook, Google, and Apple as its largest private-sector employers.
Boulder, Colorado
Population: 324,682 Average annual salary: $70,450.
Boulder residents have access to more than 60 parks and 155 miles of hiking trails, so there’s never a shortage of outdoor activities. Locals downtown enjoy the vibrant arts scene, craft breweries, and farmer’s markets. Boulder’s major employers include companies in the technology, aerospace, and bioscience industries.
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Population: 320,827
Average annual salary: $50,020.
Green Bay, Wisconsin’s oldest settlement, was once a major shipping center. Today, it is better known as the Green Bay Packers stadium. Craft breweries and wineries, boutique shopping, museums and art galleries, and outdoor fun on trails and the Fox River are all available to residents.
Insurance companies like UnitedHealth Group and Humana, as well as shipping companies like Georgia-Pacific, are among Green Bay’s largest employers.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Population: 735,480
Average annual salary: $55,540.
According to a local expert, Colorado Springs is “booming,” with “new residences popping up alongside quality schools, parks, and cultural attractions.” The city is only an hour’s drive from Denver and close to the world-class ski resorts of Aspen and Vail. Military jobs have an impact on the culture and economy of Colorado Springs, but there are also opportunities for medical innovation and technology.
Huntsville, Alabama
Population: 464,607
Average annual salary: $58,730.
Huntsville, Alabama, once a sleepy town, rose to prominence in the 1960s as a NASA hub. It is currently experiencing a renaissance, with tech companies, craft breweries, and artists all flocking to the city in recent years.
Huntsville is Alabama’s fastest-growing city, and residents are enjoying an emerging downtown shopping and dining scene while maintaining a low cost of living. If you can stand the heat and humidity, you might feel at ease there.
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