Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US
24/7 Wall St created a weighted index of more than two dozen measures to identify the best city to live in each state. Consider all districts, census places, cities, towns and villages with at least 8,000 inhabitants.
Affordability, economy, quality of life, and community were weighted.
These cities have much more to offer than the components of the index in which they were ranked. For one thing, these communities are often within driving distance of a central metropolitan area.
This is not a coincidence, as living closer to a big city provides residents with more job opportunities, which can help reduce unemployment and improve financial security.
Alabama
- Population: 9,439
- 5-year population change: -0.8 percent
- Median Home Value: $82,900
- Median Household Income: $39,387
Most of the cities on this list are relatively wealthy. Valley, Alabama, is an exception. The typical Valley family earns just $39,387 a year, about $5,000 less than the typical Alabama household.
Still, severe financial hardship is less common in the Valley than in Alabama because 15.7 percent of area residents live below the poverty line, with 18.4 percent below the poverty rate.
Valley residents also benefit from a lower cost of living as goods and services in the city are, on average, about 6 percent less expensive than those in the entire country.
Valley is a pilot city for the Alabama Community of Excellence Program, a nonprofit organization that partners with governments, businesses and universities to prepare participating communities for a more vibrant future.
Alaska
- Population: 8,189
- Population change in 5 years: +2.3%
- Median Home Value: $232,500
- Median Household Income: $53,937
Health outcomes are essential to the overall quality of life in a given area. In Ketchikan, Alaska, the hospitalized death rate is 12.2 per 100,000 30-day hospitalizations.
This figure is the lowest of any central metropolitan area in the state. Ketchikan is the only Alaska metropolitan area with a death rate below the US rate of 12.9 per 100,000.
Thanks to its landscape along the southeast coast of Alaska and its proximity to the continental United States, Ketchikan is a popular tourist destination, especially on cruise ships.
Although much of Alaska is isolated and rural, Ketchikan provides residents and visitors with access to far more entertainment options than most parts of the state, which can be vital during the long, dark winters. Ketchikan has more bars, restaurants, and movie theaters than anywhere else in the state.
Arizona
- Marina 69-71 / Wikimedia Commons
- paradise valley
- Population: 13,833
- Population change in 5 years: +5.6%
- Median Home Value: $1,332,600
- Median Household Income: $173,487
Most homes in Paradise Valley, Arizona are worth more than $1.3 million, the highest in the US More than seven times the median home price.
Paradise Valley residents are able to purchase such an expensive home due to their relatively high income. The typical household in the city earns $173,487 a year, one of the highest median household incomes in the country.
Paradise Valley lives up to its name as a popular relaxation destination. The city is home to several resorts and several golf courses. It is located north of Phoenix and Scottsdale and is known for its nightlife and upscale dining.
arkansas
- Kennethory / Wikimedia Commons
- batesville
- Population: 10,579
- 5-year population change: +4.5 percent
- Median Home Value: $120,400
- Median household income: $42,143
Batesville, Arkansas ranks among the best cities in the US to live, primarily due to its affordability and community attractions and amenities.
Most Batesville homeowners pay less than $1,000 a year in property taxes, which is less than half what a typical American homeowner would pay.
Annual housing costs are typically around $7,500 per year, which is about $4,600 less than the national median cost. On average, goods and services across the country are 16 percent less expensive in Batesville.
With roots in 1804, Batesville is the second oldest city in Arkansas. Many historic buildings and sites in the city survived the destruction in the Civil War.
There are attractions in the area for almost every taste and preference, including antique shops, art galleries, an annual film festival, and the Batesville Motor Speedway.
California
- Palos Verdes Farms
- Population: 13,582
- Population change in 5 years: +1.3%
- Median Home Value: $1,609,500
- Median Household Income: $200,766
Palos Verdes Estate is the best place to live in California, along the Pacific coast, less than 30 miles from Los Angeles.
In one of the wealthiest areas of the country, the typical household earns more than $200,000 a year, which is more than three times the national median household income of $55,322.
Crime is virtually unheard of in Palos Verdes Estates, as its violent crime rate of 22 incidents per 100,000 people is a small fraction of the national rate of 383 per 100,000.
The high ranking may not surprise those familiar with it, as it is a city designed to a master plan by the Olmsted brothers, the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, architects of New York City’s Central Park and the Stanford University campus. Is.
Colorado
- Frederick
- Population: 10,791
- Population change in 5 years: +32.2%
- Median Home Value is: $261,500
- Median Household Income is: $90,321
Frederick, a small town about a half hour north of Denver, ranks as the best city in Colorado to live.
The city has many amenities that make it an attractive place to live, including a museum, a golf course, and more than 20 community parks. , 25 ski areas a short drive away and more than 300 sunny days a year.
Like many communities on this list, Frederick is relatively affluent and growing rapidly. The family in the specific area earns $90,321 a year, about $27,800 more than the median income for all of Colorado.
Additionally, in the past five years, the number of people living in Frederick has increased by 32.2 percent. For reference, in the same period, the US population grew by just 3.9 percent.
Connecticut
- Darien
- Population: 21,519
- Population change in 5 years: +4.6%
- Median Home Value: $1,248,200
- Median Household Income: $208,125
Darien, Connecticut has one of the wealthiest and best-educated populations in the country. More than half of Darien households earn at least $200,000 a year, and four out of five Darien adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Nationally, less than one in three adults have a bachelor’s degree. A higher median income is reinforced by a higher level of education and a stronger labor market.
Only 3.6% of Darién workers were unemployed in 2017, well below the state unemployment rate of 4.7% and the 2017 national unemployment rate of 4.4%.
Darien is also one of the safest communities in the country. In 2017, there were just 14 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, a fraction of the 383 violent crimes per 100,000 residents nationwide.
Delaware
- city center
- Population: 20,045
- Population change in 5 years: +13.8%
- Median Home Value: $274,400
- Median Household Income: $87,250
Middletown ranks as the best community to live in Delaware. The city has several public parks with many amenities, including tennis and basketball courts, soccer and baseball fields, pavilions, a track, and a swimming pool.
The relatively affluent Middletown area has a median income of $87,250, which is about $26,200 higher than the median income in Delaware.
Home values are also about 18 percent higher than the state average, with more than half of all homes in Middletown worth more than a quarter of a million dollars.
Like many of the cities and towns on this list, Middletown proliferates. Middletown’s population has grown 13.8 percent in the past five years.
Florida
- pine ridge
- Population: 19,272
- Population change in 5 years: +5.2%
- Median Home Value: $840,900
- Median Household Income: $130,900
Pinecrest is by far the richest place in Florida and one of the richest places in the entire country. With a median household income of $130,900, most Pinecrest households earn more than double the income of a typical Florida family of $48,900.
In part because of the area’s relatively high incomes, the typical home in Pinecrest costs more than $840,000, more than four times what a home in central Florida costs.
A suburb of Miami near Biscayne Bay, Pinecrest is also one of the best-educated areas in the state. Among adults 25 and older, 61.7 percent have at least a bachelor’s degree. Statewide, only 27.9 percent of adults finished college.
Georgia
- Milton
- Population: 36,755
- 5-year population change is: +19.1 percent
- Median Home Value is: $475,300
- Median Household Income is: $109,784
A planned community incorporated in 2006, Milton is one of the fastest growing cities in Georgia. Now home to about 37,000 people, Milton’s population has more than doubled since 2009 and is projected to hit 43,000 by 2030.
A short drive from Atlanta, many Milton residents commute to the state’s largest city in search of jobs. well paid.
The typical Milton family earns $109,784 a year, more than double the statewide median income of $51,037. Similarly, Milton’s poverty rate of 5.5 percent is less than a third of the state’s poverty rate of 17.8 percent.
Milton is also a safe city. In 2017, there were only 23 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, a fraction of the national rate of 383 per 100,000.
Honolulu
- Population: 349,597
- Population change in 5 years: +4.3 percent
- Median Home Value: $601,500
- Median Household Income: $63,361
Education can be an essential factor in the health and well-being of the population. In addition to being more financially stable, college graduates tend to live longer, healthier lives than those who haven’t received at least a bachelor’s degree.
A high level of education helps make urban Honolulu the best city to live in Hawaii. Among Honolulu adults, 36 percent have at least a bachelor’s degree, the highest rate in Hawaii.
Long car journeys can negatively affect physical and mental health. Honolulu residents use alternative modes to get to work.
Approximately one in eight residents use public transportation to get to work, while many others walk or bike. Overall, 22.9 percent of commuters don’t drive to work, five times more than in the nearest city in Hawaii.
Idaho
- hail
- Population: 8,058
- Population change in 5 years: +2.6 percent
- Median Home Value: $266,500
- Median Household Income: $56,522
Hailey is located in the Rocky Mountains in the Wood River Valley of Idaho. The city is surrounded by public lands and forests where residents and visitors can bike, ski, fish, and horseback ride, and it’s just a short drive from Ketchum and Sun Valley, two resort towns.
The quality of life for residents has been exacerbated by below-average crime, poverty and unemployment rates.
While the median household income of $56,522 in Hailey is only $1,000 more than the median national income, a dollar goes to Hailey more than the rest of the country. On average, goods and services are 4 percent less expensive across the country.
Illinois
- Winnetka
- Population: 12,437
- Population change in 5 years: +2.3 percent
- Median Home Value: $989,600
- Median Household Income: $207,857
Winnetka is a small town located on the shores of Lake Michigan, about 15 miles north of downtown Chicago. One of the wealthiest cities in the state, the typical Winnetka family earns $207,857 a year.
Winnetka residents who work in Chicago have close access to public transportation, with more than a quarter of commuters using public transportation, an option that most Americans do not have.
In the village, the downtown shops were described by the Chicago Tribune in 2012 as reminiscent of the Hamptons on Long Island in New York, minus the celebrities.
Winnetka has four beaches, a pier, several parks, a tennis club, a golf course, an ice rink, and protected forest areas, all open to the public. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Indiana
- Mani Suryakant
- Population: 15,790
- Population change in 5 years: +6.6 percent
- Median Home Value: $148,200
- Median Household Income: $55,209
Jasper is one of the cheapest places to live in Indiana. The cost of living in the city is only 83.6 percent of what the typical American pays. Jasper’s median household income of $55,209 is higher than the Indiana median of $50,433.
The combination of relatively high income and low costs compared to the rest of the state allows Jasper residents to afford homes compared to most other areas in Indiana.
The median home price in Jasper is $148,200, while the median home price in Indiana is $126,500.
Jasper residents are much less likely to have money problems than the average Indiana resident. Statewide, 15 percent of Indiana residents live in poverty. In Jasper, the poverty rate is less than half, at 7.1 percent. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Iowa
- Mars
- Population: 9,826
- Population change in 5 years: +1.0 percent
- Median Home Value: $139,400
- Median Household Income: $56,851
Le Mars, Iowa is one of the most affordable cities in the United States. The city’s cost of goods and services is about 15% lower than the national average.
Housing is exceptionally cheap, with typical household expenses of $8,124 per year, about $4,000 less than the average annual cost of housing nationwide.
The city also has its share of attractions. Home to the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Manufacturing Plant, Le Mars produces more ice cream from a single company than any other city, earning it the nickname “The Ice Cream Capital of the World.”
The city and its surroundings are also home to a history museum, an art museum, a golf course, a campground, and an ice cream museum. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Kansas
- macpherson
- Population: 13,212
- 5-year population change: +0.0 percent
- Median Home Value: $135,800
- Median Household Income: $54,057
The median household income in McPherson, Kansas, is $54,057 per year, well below the national average of $55,322. However, a dollar goes a long way in MacPherson because goods and services are 14 percent less expensive across the country.
In fact, extreme financial hardship is relatively rare in the city. Only 7.3 percent of residents live in poverty, compared to 13.3 percent of the Kansas population.
MacPherson residents are also spoiled for choice when it comes to entertainment and entertainment.
The city has more than the usual concentration of restaurants, gyms, museums, golf courses and cinemas. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Kentucky
- wood edge
- Population: 8,703
- 5-year population change: +0.5 percent
- Median Home Value: $204,300
- Median Household Income: $89,073
The best city to live in Kentucky, Edgewood, is wealthy and affordable. The typical Edgewood family earns $89,073, nearly double the statewide median income of $44,811. In addition, goods and services in Edwood are approximately 11% less expensive nationwide.
Edgewood’s overall quality of life is enhanced by two large public parks and an easily accessible hospital and health care facility within the city limits.
Located about seven miles south of Cincinnati on the other side of the Ohio River, Edgewood, like many of the cities on this list, is just a short drive from a central metropolitan area. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Louisiana
- youngsville
- Population: 10,878
- 5-year population change: +41.5%
- Median Home Value is: $222,300
- Median Household Income is: $94,564
Youngsville is a relatively prosperous city in one of the poorest states in the country. The typical Youngsville family earns about $95,000 a year; only 5.5 percent of the population lives in poverty.
Meanwhile, the typical Louisiana family earns less than $46,000 a year and nearly one in five Louisiana residents live in poverty.
Even a dollar is more than usual in Youngsville, with goods and services costing about 7% less than the national average.
Youngsville residents have benefited from the 70-acre multi-million dollar sports complex and recreation center that opened in 2016 since its completion in 2014. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
The facility includes:
- 10 tennis courts.
- Six soccer fields.
- Five baseball fields.
- Batting cages.
- A fishing pond.
- A one mile walkway.
- A playground.
- Bathroom
- Population: 8,334
- 5-year population change is: -3.6 percent
- Median Home Value is: $164,600
- Median Household Income: $42,275
Bath is the best place to live in Maine. Strengthened in large part by the Bath Iron Works, a shipbuilding plant operated by defense giant General Dynamics, the city’s job market is relatively strong.
The town, located near the mouth of the Kennebec River, has an annual unemployment rate of 3.2 percent, well below the national rate of 4.4 percent.
Many residents also benefit from the city’s walkability, with more than one in 10 commuters on Bath’s Walk to Work exceeding the national ratio. The city is also relatively safe and has a high concentration of restaurants, gyms, museums, and libraries.
Despite its advantages, Bath is one of the few cities on this list that is shrinking in size. In the past five years, Bath’s population has decreased by 3.6 percent, while the total US population has decreased by 3.6 percent. The population has increased by 3.9 percent. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Maryland
- Bowie
- Population: 57,633
- Population change in 5 years: +5.7 percent
- Median Home Value: $303,900
- Median Household Income: $106,098
Washington, DC, a short drive from Bowie, Maryland, provides easy access to high-paying jobs in and around the nation’s capital.
Most Bowie households earn more than $106,000 a year, $30,000 more than the median household income for the state of Maryland.
Only a small proportion of Bowie’s residents live in poverty. Its poverty rate is just 3.3 percent, just a third of the state’s poverty rate.
To qualify for these high-level jobs, many Bowie residents need a good education. Nearly half of all adults in Bowie have at least a college degree, compared to 38.4 percent of Marylanders. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Massachusetts
- Winchester
- Population: 22,491
- Population change in 5 years: +6.1 percent
- Median Home Value: $796,500
- Median Household Income: $149,321
Winchester is the most educated place in Massachusetts and one of the most educated in the entire country.
About three quarters of adults in this field have a bachelor’s degree. This college degree completion rate is well above that of Massachusetts, which is 41.2 percent.
This high level of education, coupled with the fact that Winchester is on the outskirts of Boston, can make it easier for residents to find work.
Winchester has the lowest unemployment rate in the state, at 2.7 percent. Massachusetts’ unemployment rate is a high overall percentage.
This high level of employment is likely to help reduce the poverty rate in Winchester. Only 2.4 percent of Winchester residents live below the poverty line, the lowest proportion in Massachusetts. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Michigan
- East Grand Rapids
- Population: 11,297
- Population change in 5 years: +5.2 percent
- Median Home Value is: $303,400
- Median Household Income: $118,393
East Grand Rapids is one of the wealthiest cities in Michigan and the United States. Families in the targeted area earn more than $118,000 a year, compared to a typical household income of $55,322 nationwide.
City residents also benefit from a lower cost of living, with goods and services in East Grand Rapids being, on average, 7 percent less expensive nationwide.
In addition to the cultural and entertainment attractions in nearby Grand Rapids, East Grand Rapids has 10 parks, including a lake with a boat launch, miles of trails, playgrounds, and a baseball diamond. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Minnesota
- new ulma
- Population: 13,279
- 5-year population change is: -1.6 percent
- Median Home Value is: $133,100
- Median Household Income is: $52,244
Residents of New Ulm, Minnesota, are more likely to be working and financially secure, on average, than most other Americans.
The city’s poverty rate of 8.5 percent is well below the national poverty rate of 15.1 percent. In addition, the city’s five-year average unemployment rate of 2.6 percent is 4.8 percentage points lower than the comparable national rate.
These numbers are better than comparable national figures, although New Ulm residents are not particularly wealthy.
The city’s median household income of $52,244 per year is several thousand dollars less than the median US household income. Unlike nearly everywhere else on this list, New Ulm’s population has declined in the last few years. last five years.
At a time when the US population of New Ulm increased by 3.9 percent and New Ulm’s population decreased by 1.6 percent. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Mississippi
- madison
- Population: 25,473
- Population change in 5 years: +7.1 percent
- Median Home Value: $243,500
- Median Household Income: $100,978
Madison, located along a reservoir less than 20 miles north of the state capital, ranks as the best city to live in Mississippi.
Madison is a relatively wealthy community, with a median income of $100,978, more than double the state median income of $40,528. Madison’s median cost of living is also about 8 percent lower nationwide.
Madison residents have access to several public parks with amenities, including an archery range, baseball and soccer fields, walking trails, batting cages, and an outdoor education center. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Missouri
- Ladew
- Population: 8,579
- 5-year population change: +1.1 percent
- Median Home Value: $771,500
- Median Household Income: $186,371
One of the wealthiest cities in Missouri, LaDew has a median household income of $186,371 a year, more than triple the median national income of $55,322.
Ladew is not only a rich city, but it is also cheap. On average, goods and services are 11 percent cheaper in Ladue than in the entire country.
With easy access to jobs in nearby St. Louis, LaDue residents looking for work generally have no trouble finding it. Over the past five years, unemployment in the city was just 2.0 percent, a fraction of the national rate of 7.4 percent.
In addition to the cultural attractions and entertainment venues in St. Louis, LaDue residents enjoy more than the typical concentration of restaurants, fitness and entertainment centers, golf courses, and museums within the city limits. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Mountain
- miles from the city
- Population: 8,667
- Population change in 5 years: +3.6 percent
- Median Home Value is: $130,100
- Median Household Income: $47,383
Miles City is the least expensive place to live in Montana. The city has the lowest property tax at just $1,480 per year, plus the lowest median monthly cost of housing is $655.
Although Miles City’s median household income of $47,383 is one of those low numbers in Montana, a relatively small proportion of residents are poor.
The area’s poverty rate of 13.5 percent is among the lowest in the state, and Montana’s statewide poverty rate is well below 14.9 percent.
Miles City ranks as the best city in Montana to live, in part because it is the safest place in the state.
Its violent crime rate of 104 reported incidents per 100,000 residents is less than half the rate of the next safest place in the state. Montana also has one of the lowest property crime rates in Miles City. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Nebraska
- norfolk
- Population: 24,398
- Population change in 5 years: +1.9 percent
- Median Home Value: $123,200
- Median Household Income: $45,401
Norfolk is a small city of less than 25,000 people in northeast Nebraska. A relatively safe city, Norfolk’s violent crime rate of 148 incidents per 100,000 residents is less than half the national rate of 383 per 100,000.
Although the typical household in Norfolk earns just $45,401 per year, about $10,000 less than the typical American household, a dollar in Norfolk goes a long way.
Goods and services in and around the region are about 14.5 percent less expensive across the country. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Snowfall
- alcos
- Population: 20,078
- Population change in 5 years: +11.0 percent
- Median Home Value: $215,100
- Median Household Income: $76,826
Alcoa has by far the highest median household income in Nevada. No other region in the state came within $20,000 of Alco’s median household income of $76,826.
Although Elko residents earn a relatively high amount, it is the least expensive place to live in Nevada. The cost of living in Alcoa is only 83.9% of the cost of a typical US city.
Alcoa is the fastest growing location in Nevada by a wide margin. In the past seven years, its population has grown 18.7 percent to more than 20,000.
During the same time period, no other place in the state had increased its population by more than 10 percent. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
new hampshire
- Hanover
- Population: 8,482
- 5-year population change: +0.0 percent
- Median Home Value: $469,300
- Median Household Income: $96,406
Hanover has many advantages over other New Hampshire cities. Its median household income of $96,406 is more than $26,000 higher than the nearest city and well above the state median of $68,485.
Hanover is also the best-educated place in the state, with 83.1 percent of adults holding at least a bachelor’s degree. No other city in New Hampshire comes close to that part. The state’s bachelor’s degree completion rate is 35.5 percent.
Hanover is a small city with a population of 8,482. Therefore, many residents are able to commute to and from work. Walking not only provides many health benefits, but also helps reduce road traffic and pollution.
About 40 percent of Hanoverians commute on foot, the highest rate in New Hampshire and the highest rate of any US population. The second-highest rate in the city. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
New Jersey
- haddonfield
- Population: 11,444
- 5-year population change is: -1.3 percent
- Median Home Valueis : $487,700
- Median Household Income is: $135,700
Haddonfield is one of the most economically prosperous places in New Jersey and the United States.
The typical Haddonfield household earns $135,700, about $62,000 more than the typical New Jersey household. Haddonfield is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, giving its residents access to city jobs.
Compared to the rest of the state, Haddonfield residents are unlikely to struggle with poverty. The poverty rate in the region is only 2.9 percent, which is significantly lower than New Jersey’s poverty rate of 10.9 percent.
Although Haddonfield’s cost of living is 11% higher than the US city average, it is still one of the lowest in New Jersey. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
New Mexico
- Poplars
- Population: 11,733
- 5-year population change: -2.9 percent
- Median Home Value: $277,700
- Median Household Income: $101,535
Los Alamos, New Mexico, has history, cultural amenities, and parks. These include a science museum, a theater, nearly 100 public art installations, a network of more than 90 miles of hiking trails, and the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, a monument to the city’s important role in World War II.
And the development of the atomic bomb. It is USA. According to News & World Report, Los Alamos has one of the best public high schools in New Mexico.
Many people in the area work at Los Alamos National Laboratory, a US Department of Energy facility with a $2.6 billion budget allocated primarily for weapons development. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
NY
- Croton-on-Hudson
- Population: 8,209
- Population change in 5 years: +2.8 percent
- Median Home Value: $519,400
- Median Household Income: $117,656
Croton-on-Hudson is a small town on the east bank of the Hudson River, less than 40 miles north of Manhattan.
The town is on a train line that goes directly into the city, and as a result, more than one in four workers in Croton-on-Hudson use public transportation.
The town’s proximity to New York City contributes to high property values, with most homes in the community worth more than half a million dollars.
Croton-on-Hudson is one of the safest communities in New York. In 2017, there were only 48 violent crimes per 100,000 villagers, about one-eighth of the national violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
North Carolina
- morrisville
- Population: 22,600
- Population change in 5 years: +30.5 percent
- Median Home Value: $291,400
- Median Household Income: $92,769
Morrisville is in the middle of North Carolina’s “Investigation Triangle.” The cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill are each home to a major scientific research university (North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, respectively) and have developed several major industries. intensive research.
Morrisville provides close access to each of the three universities, as well as businesses located nearby. Morrisville is one of the fastest growing communities in the entire country.
Its population has grown by more than 30 percent in the last five years, from 13,000 to 22,600. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
North Dakota
- Population: 20,613
- 5-year population change is: +14.2 percent
- Median Home Value is: $175,400
- Median Household Income is: $60,034
Residents of Mandan, North Dakota, benefit from a low cost of living, 13 percent below the national average, a five-year unemployment rate of 2 percent, and a violent crime rate of less than the half the national rate.
Mandan residents have access to jobs, entertainment, and cultural attractions in Bismarck, the state capital, fronting the Missouri River.
Business leaders, elected officials and ordinary citizens recently established a committee to formulate a comprehensive plan to improve Mandan over the next decade. Committee accomplishments include:
- Broad support and commercial encouragement.
- The creation of festivals and annual events.
- Improvements in public education.
- Increased communication regarding local elections.
Ohio
- new albany
- Population: 9,384
- Population change in 5 years: +25.3 percent
- Median Home Value is: $492,400
- Median Household Income is: $191,375
New Albany, Ohio, is one of the most prosperous cities in the country. The median household income of $191,375 in the US is one of the top five cities. There are many livability benefits in affluent areas, including lower crime rates in low-income cities.
New Albany recorded just 36.9 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, less than a tenth of the national crime rate. New Albany has many amenities for the residents, including over the 600 acres of parks and playgrounds.
Many factors can draw people to certain cities, including jobs, schools, and facilities. New Albany excels in many of these aspects, reflecting its rate of population growth.
The city’s population grew more than 25 percent in the past five years, while the national growth rate was only 3.9 percent. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Oklahoma
- newcastle
- Population: 9,030
- Population change in 5 years: +21.0 percent
- Median Home Value is: $180,300
- Median Household Income is: $78,144
Newcastle is a small city of less than 10,000 people on the outskirts of Oklahoma City. One of the fastest growing cities in the state, Newcastle’s population has grown by 21 per cent in the last five years.
Like the other cities on this list, Newcastle residents are actively involved in improving their community. The Bridge to 2020 initiative, run by city residents, was launched in 2007 to develop a long-term strategic plan for the community.
In addition to the nearby amenities in Oklahoma City, Newcastle has seven golf courses, six movie theaters, access to four hospitals, and two shopping malls.
A relatively prosperous city, Newcastle’s median income of $78,144 is about $30,000 more than statewide, and goods and services across the country are about 17 percent less expensive. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Oregon
- Sherwood
- Population: 18,965
- Population change in 5 years: +7.5 percent
- Median Home Value: $313,000
- Median Household Income: $86,111
Sherwood is a small town about 15 miles southwest of Portland. In addition to the amenities, attractions, and employment opportunities in the nearby town, Sherwood has more than a dozen parks and a community recreation center in the center of a swimming pool.
The quality of life in Sherwood is also enhanced by low violent crime rates and relative financial stability.
In 2017, Sherwood had just 82 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, less than a quarter of the national violent crime rate.
Additionally, Sherwood’s poverty rate of 4.7 percent is less than one-third of the state and national poverty rates of 15.7 percent and 15.1 percent, respectively. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Pennsylvania
- franklin park
- Population: 14,228
- Population change in 5 years: +7.9 percent
- Median Home Value: $312,200
- Median Household Income: $121,661
Franklin Park is a township just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The region has a relatively high proportion of residents with a high level of education.
Seventy percent of adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, the highest degree in the US Cities have one of the highest college attainment rates.
People with college degrees are more qualified for specialized jobs that have higher salaries. In Franklin Park, the median household income of $121,661 per year is among the highest in the country.
Like many affluent and well-educated areas, Franklin Park is relatively safe. The violent crime rate of 14 incidents per 100,000 residents is among the lowest in the country. Nationwide, there were 383 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2017. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Rhode Island
- Newport
- Population: 24,570
- 5-year population change: -0.1 percent
- Median Home Value: $382,200
- Median Household Income: $59,794
Newport, Rhode Island, is the best educated city in the state. More than 50.9 percent of adult residents completed at least a bachelor’s degree. No other central Rhode Island community exceeded the state’s college graduation rate of 32.5 percent.
This high educational attainment would qualify many of the city’s residents for highly skilled jobs and possibly help reduce unemployment. Newport’s unemployment rate is just 3.8 percent, the lowest in the country.
Although Newport’s median household income is close to that of Rhode Island, homes in the area are much more valuable than those in the rest of the state.
The median home value in Newport is $382,200, much higher than the Rhode Island median home value of $238,200. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
South Carolina
- tega ku
- Population: 9,026
- Population change in 5 years: +23.3 percent
- Median Home Value is: $301,200
- Median Household Income is: $120,346
Tega Cay ranks as one of the best cities to live in, in part due to its relatively high income and the many associated benefits of prosperity.
The city’s median household income is over $120,000, which is the highest in the US and more than twice the median.
Very few residents face serious financial difficulties in a city with a high percentage of affluent households. Only 0.9 percent of residents live in poverty.
They are located near the Carolinas and Lake Ville on the Tega border. Access to the water allows residents to swim, boat and fish.
The city has many bars and restaurants per resident as a tourist destination. Tega Cay is growing rapidly. It was home to fewer than 5,000 people in 2009. As of 2016, more than 9,000 people lived there. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
South Dakota
- Pedro
- Population: 13,959
- Population change in 5 years: +2.2 percent
- Median Home Value: $164,900
- Median Household Income: $54,868
Most American homeowners spend more than $12,000 a year on housing. In Pierre, South Dakota, most people spend less than $8,500 a year.
Overall, the cost of living in Pierre is low, with goods and services being, on average, 15% less expensive across the country.
Pierre, the capital of South Dakota, is home to many outdoor attractions, primarily due to its proximity to the Missouri River.
Nearby Farm Island and LaFramboise Island offer residents the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Tennessee
- atok
- Population: 8,917
- 5-year population change: +11.9 percent
- Median Home Value: $172,400
- Median Household Income: $87,047
Many of the cities and towns on this list are adjacent to a central metropolitan area. About 25 miles northeast of Memphis, Atoka is one of them.
In addition to the attractions and services in Memphis, Atoka has several parks with playgrounds, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a fishing pond.
Atoka is a safe community with a violent crime rate of 152 incidents per 100,000 residents, less than half the national violent crime rate.
Safe roads and proximity to a major city make Atoka an attractive place for new residents and families.
Over the past five years, the city’s population has grown by 11.9 percent, exceeding the national growth rate of 3.9 percent. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Texas
- Western University Place
- Population: 15,318
- 5-year population change is: +4.0 percent
- Median Home Value is: $917,800
- Median Household Income is: $220,868
A wealthy suburb of Houston, West University Place ranks as the best city to live in Texas. In a wealthy city, the median household income of about $221,000 per year is almost four times the income of the typical American family.
Even a dollar goes a long way in a city because goods and services are 5 percent less expensive on average across the country.
In addition to the entertainment and culture in nearby Houston, West University has a much higher concentration of restaurants, bars, gyms, museums, and theater companies than anywhere else in the country.
West University is also a safe city with a strong job market. The city’s violent crime rate of 64 per 100,000 residents is among the lowest in the country, as is the five-year average unemployment rate of 2.7 percent. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Utah
- wooden cross
- Population: 10,930
- Population change in 5 years: +15.5%
- Median Home Value: $226,200
- Median Household Income: $78,750
North of Salt Lake City, Woods Cross provides easy access to Utah’s largest city and the Great Salt Lake to the west and Grandview Peak to the east.
Its proximity to Salt Lake City gives Woods Cross residents a short commute into the city, which can help increase the city’s workforce participation rate.
More than three-quarters of Woods Cross adults, 77.4 percent, participate in the workforce, the most of any Utah community.
This increased labor force participation is likely to help increase median household income. The typical Woods Cross family earns $78,750 a year, well above the Utah median household income of $62,518. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Vermont
- south burlington
- Population: 18,704
- Population change in 5 years: +6.2 percent
- Median Home Value: $271,900
- Median Household Income: $66,728
On the shores of the Lake Champlain, South Burlington is adjacent to Burlington, Vermont’s largest city.
The population of South Burlington is well educated and has access to several nearby universities, including Champlain College and the University of Vermont.
More than half of all adult city residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, which is better than the national bachelor’s degree earning rate of 30.3 percent.
There are many job opportunities in the field, including at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Just 2.0% of workers in South Burlington were unemployed in 2017, well below the 3.0 percent statewide and 4.4 percent national unemployment rates.
A strong job market strengthens the financial security of area residents. Only 6.2 percent of South Burlington’s population lives in poverty, less than half the national poverty rate of 15.1 percent. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Virginia
- waynesboro
- Population: 21,366
- Population change in 5 years: +1.7 percent
- Median Home Value: $158,800
- Median Household Income: $45,097
Waynesboro, an independent city in Virginia, is noted for its affordability, safety, and natural beauty. Goods & services in the city are about 7 percent less expensive nationwide.
Additionally, the violent crime rate of 182 incidents per 100,000 people is less than the half the US violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000.
Waynesboro offers easy access to the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail located in the Shenandoah Valley.
The South River runs through the city and provides residents with a waterway for fishing and boating. Waynesboro has more than a typical concentration of restaurants, movie theaters, and museums. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Washington
- snoqualmie
- Population: 12,510
- Population change in 5 years: +28.3 percent
- Median Home Value is: $471,800
- Median Household Income is: $131,453
Snoqualmie, Washington, is one of the safest places in the country, with only 15 violent crimes per 100,000 city residents in 2017. The city’s property crime rate of 1,077 incidents per 100,000 residents is also less than half the national rate.
Areas with higher median household incomes tend to have less crime than areas with lower incomes.
The median annual household income in Snoqualmie, a short drive from Seattle, is $131,453 per year, one of the highest incomes among US cities.
In addition to Seattle’s culture and entertainment, Snoqualmie has a higher concentration that typical of restaurants, bars, museums and cinemas. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
West Virginia
- portbridge
- Population: 8,364
- Population change in 5 years: +3.9 percent
- Median Home Value: $199,000
- Median Household Income: $80,462
In Bridgeport, 45.3 percent of adults have graduated from college, which is about the highest level for cities in the state.
The high college achievement rate has contributed to the city’s relatively high median household income of $80,462 per year. Bridgeport is not only prosperous, but also cheap. Goods and services are 15 percent less expensive than the city average.
When it comes to culture and entertainment, Bridgeport residents have options. The city is home to a much higher concentration of restaurants, bars, entertainment centers, golf courses, and movie theaters than anywhere else in the country. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
Wisconsin
- white fish bay
- Population: 14,088
- Population change in 5 years: +0.4 percent
- Median Home Value: $350,700
- Median Household Income: $105,156
Whitefish Bay, a Milwaukee suburb along Lake Michigan, is the best place to live in Wisconsin. Whitefish Bay’s high quality of life is due in part to a strong job market.
The region’s average unemployment rate over the past five years is just 3.2 percent, less than half the national rate of 7.4 percent.
Whitefish Bay is also one of the safest communities in the country, with a violent crime rate of just 36 incidents per 100,000 residents. For context, in 2017, there were 383 violent crimes per 100,000 people nationwide. (Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US)
WYOMING
- jackson
- Population: 10,279
- Population change in 5 years: +7.6 percent
- Median Home Value: $573,400
- Median Household Income: $70,517
The resort town of Jackson is one of the best places to stay in Wyoming. Jackson has a high concentration of restaurants, bars, museums and movie theaters and access to Jackson Hole, one of the most famous ski resorts in the United States.
Income in Jackson is relatively high. The typical area household earns $70,517 a year, about $11,000 more than the typical Wyoming household.
However, higher incomes are not enough to offset the area’s higher cost of living, with goods and services in Jackson being 35 percent more expensive nationwide. Housing is expensive with most houses in the area costing more than half a million dollars.
We hope you like our article on Best Cities to Live in Every State Across the US.
Thanks for visiting US Map Time Zones
If u have any query, you can ask in comment section. Thanks
