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. It considers all boroughs, census-designated places, cities, towns and villages with at least 8,000 inhabitants. (Every State Across the US)

Affordability, economy, quality of life and community were all weighted.

These cities have much more to offer than the index components they were ranked on. For one, these communities are often within commuting distance of a central metropolitan area. This is no coincidence, as living closer to a large city gives residents more job opportunities, which can help reduce unemployment and improve financial security.

Alabama

Valley

Population: 9,439
5-Year Population Change: -0.8 per cent
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 family in the Valley earns only $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 per cent of the area’s residents live below the poverty line, with 18.4 per cent below the state poverty rate. Valley residents also benefit from a lower cost of living as goods and services in the city are, on average, about 6 per cent less expensive than those nationwide.

Valley is a pilot city for the Alabama Community of Excellence Program, a non-profit organization that partners with governments, businesses, and universities to prepare participating communities for a more vibrant future.

Alaska

Ketchikan

Population: 8,189
5 years population change: +2.3 per cent
Median home value: $232,500
Median household income: $53,937

Health outcomes are essential to a given area’s overall quality of life. In Ketchikan, Alaska, the hospitalized death rate is 12.2 per 100,000 hospitalizations within 30 days. This figure is the lowest of any central metropolitan area in the state. Ketchikan is the only metro area in Alaska with a death rate below the U.S. rate of 12.9 per 100,000.

Thanks to its scenery along the southeast coast of Alaska and proximity to the continental United States, Ketchikan is a popular tourist destination, especially on cruises. Although much of Alaska is isolated and rural, Ketchikan gives residents and visitors access to many more entertainment options than most parts of the state—which can be vital during long, dark winters. Ketchikan has more bars, restaurants and movie theatres than anywhere else in the state.

Arizona

Paradise Valley

Marine 69-71 / Wikimedia Commons
Paradise Valley
Population: 13,833
5 years population change: +5.6 per cent
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 U.S. More than seven times the median home price. Paradise Valley residents can buy such an expensive house 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 destination for relaxing. The city is home to several resorts and several golf courses. It is located north of Phoenix and Scottsdale and is known for its high-end dining and nightlife.

Arkansas

Batesville

Population: 10,579
5 years population change: +4.5 per cent
Median home value: $120,400
Mean household income: $42,143

Batesville, Arkansas, ranks among the best U.S. cities to live in, mainly due to its affordability and community attractions and amenities. Most homeowners in Batesville pay less than $1,000 yearly in property taxes, which is less than half the amount a typical American homeowner would pay. Annual housing costs typically come to around $7,500 per year, which is about $4,600 less than the national average cost. On average, goods and services nationwide 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 destruction in the Civil War. There are attractions in the area for nearly every taste and preference, including antique shops, art galleries, an annual film festival, and the Batesville Motor Speedway.

California

Palos Verdes Estates

Population: 13,582
5 years population change: +1.3 per cent
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 in 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 master-planned city designed 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
5 years population change: +32.2 per cent
Median Home Value: $261,500
Median household income: $90,321

Frederick, a small town about half an hour north of Denver, ranks as the best city in Colorado to live in. 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 skiing areas within driving distance, and over 300 sunny days a year.

Like many communities on this list, Frederick is relatively prosperous and rapidly growing. The specific area family earns $90,321 a year, about $27,800 more than the median income in entire Colorado. Additionally, over the past five years, the number of people living in Frederick climbed 32.2 per cent. For reference, in the same period, the U.S. The population grew by only 3.9 per cent.

Connecticut

Darien

Population: 21,519
5 years population change: +4.6 per cent
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 households in Darien earn at least $200,000 a year, and four out of five adults in Darien have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Nationwide, less than one in three adults have a bachelor’s degree. A higher median income is bolstered by higher educational attainment and a more robust job market. Just 3.6 per cent of workers in Darien were unemployed in 2017, which is well below the state unemployment rate of 4.7 per cent and the national 2017 unemployment rate of 4.4 per cent.

Darien is also one of the safest communities in the country. In 2017, there were just 14 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents, a fraction of the 383 violent crimes per 100,000 people nationwide.

Delaware

Middletown

Population: 20,045
5-Year Population Change: +13.8 per cent
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 pool. Middletown’s relatively affluent area has a median income of $87,250, which is approximately $26,200 higher than the median income in Delaware. Home values are also about 18 per cent higher than the state average, and more than half of all homes in Middletown are worth more than a quarter million dollars.

Like many of the cities and towns on this list, Middletown proliferates. Middletown’s population has grown by 13.8 per cent in the past five years.

Florida
Pinecrest
Population: 19,272
5 years population change: +5.2 per cent
Median home value: $840,900
Median household income: $130,900

Pinecrest is by far the wealthiest place in Florida and one of the wealthiest places in the entire country. With a median household income of $130,900, most Pinecrest households earn more than twice the income of a typical Florida family, which is $48,900. Partly due to the relatively high income of the area, the typical home in Pinecrest costs more than $840,000—more than four times that of a central Florida home.

A Miami suburb near Biscayne Bay, Pinecrest is also one of the best-educated areas in the state. Among adults age 25 and older, 61.7 per cent have at least a bachelor’s degree. Across the state, only 27.9 percent of adults finished college.

Georgia

Milton

Population: 36,755
5-Year Population Change: +19.1 percent
Median home value: $475,300
Median household income: $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 reach 43,000 by 2030. Within walking distance of Atlanta, many Milton residents travel to the state’s largest city for high-paying jobs. Milton’s typical family earns $109,784 yearly, more than double the median income of $51,037 in the entire state. Similarly, Milton’s poverty rate of 5.5 percent is less than a third of the statewide poverty rate of 17.8 percent.

Milton is also a safe city. In 2017, there were only 23 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents, a fraction of the national rate of 383 per 100,000.

Honolulu

Population: 349,597
5 years population change: +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 and healthier lives than those who have not 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.

Taking long journeys by car can negatively affect physical and mental health. Honolulu residents use alternative modes of commuting to work. Roughly one in eight residents use public transport to get to work, while many others walk or cycle. Overall, 22.9 percent of commuters do not drive to their jobs, five times more than in the nearest city in Hawaii.

Idaho

Haile

Population: 8,058
5 years population change: +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 land and forests where residents and visitors can bike, ski, fish, and ride horseback, and it is 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 national median income, a dollar goes into Hailey more than the rest of the country. On average, goods and services are about 4 percent less expensive nationwide.

Illinois

Winnetka

Population: 12,437
5 years population change: +2.3 percent
Median home value: $989,600
Median household income: $207,857

Winnetka is a small village 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 transit, as more than a quarter of commuters use public transportation—an option that most Americans don’t have.

In the village, downtown shops were described by the Chicago Tribune in 2012 as reminiscent of the Hamptons on Long Island in New York, without the celebrities. Winnetka has four beaches, a boat launch, several parks, a tennis club, a golf course, an ice rink and forest-protected areas, all open to the public.

Indiana

Suryakant Mani

Population: 15,790
5 years population change: +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 just 83.6 percent of what the typical American pays. The median household income of $55,209 in Jasper is higher than the Indiana average of $50,433. The combination of relatively high incomes and low costs compared to the rest of the state enables Jasper residents to afford homes compared to most other areas of 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 struggle with money than the average Indiana resident. Across the state, 15 percent of Indiana residents live in poverty. In Jasper, the poverty rate is less than half, at 7.1 percent.

Iowa

Le mars

Population: 9,826
5 years population change: +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 percent lower than the average nationwide. Housing is exceptionally cheap, with typical household expenses of $8,124 per year, about $4,000 less than the average annual housing cost nationwide.

The city has its share of attractions too. Home of the Blue Bunny ice cream manufacturing plant, Le Mars churns out more ice cream from a single company than any other city, earning the nickname “The Ice Cream Capital of the World.” The town and surrounding area also house a history museum, an art museum, a golf course, a campground, and an ice cream museum.

Kansas

Macpherson

Population: 13,212
5 years 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 nationwide. Indeed, extreme financial hardship is relatively rare in the city. Just 7.3 percent of residents live in poverty, compared to 13.3 percent of the Kansas population.

MacPherson residents also have many options when it comes to entertainment and entertainment. The city has more than just the usual concentration of restaurants, fitness centres, museums, golf courses, and movie theatres.

Kentucky

Edgewood

Population: 8,703
5 years 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, almost double the median income of $44,811 in the entire state. Additionally, goods and services in Edwood are about 11 percent less expensive nationwide.

Edgewood’s overall quality of life is enhanced by two large public parks and an easily accessible hospital and medical care centre within the city limits. Located about seven miles south of Cincinnati across the Ohio River, Edgewood — like many of the cities on this list — is within walking distance of a central metropolitan area.

Louisiana

Youngsville

Population: 10,878
5-Year Population Change: +41.5%
Median Home Value: $222,300
Median household income: $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 state residents lives in poverty. Even a dollar is more than usual in Youngsville, as goods and services are about 7% less expensive than the nationwide average.

Youngsville residents have benefited from the 70-acre, multimillion-dollar sports complex and a recreation centre that opened in 2016 since its completion in 2014. The facility includes:

10 tennis courts.
Six football fields.
Five baseball fields.
Batting cages.
A fishing pond.
A one-mile walkway.
A playground.

Bath

Population: 8,334
5-Year Population Change: -3.6 percent
Median Home Value: $164,600
Median household income: $42,275

Bath is the best place to live in Maine. Largely fortified by Bath Iron Works, a shipbuilding plant operated by defence 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 walking capacity as more than one in 10 commuters in the Bath Walk to Work, surpassing the national share. The city is also relatively safe and has a high concentration of restaurants, fitness centres, museums, and libraries.

Despite its advantages, Bath is one of only a handful of cities on this list that is shrinking in size. Over the past five years, Bath’s population has declined by 3.6 percent, while the total U.S. population has declined by 3.6 percent. The population has increased by 3.9 percent.

Maryland

Bowie

Population: 57,633
5 years population change: +5.7 percent
Median Home Value: $303,900
Median household income: $106,098

Washington, D.C., just a short trip 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 annually—$30,000 more than Maryland’s state median household income. Just a tiny proportion of Bowie 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 residents of Bowie are well educated. Nearly half of all adults in Bowie have at least a college degree, compared to 38.4 percent of Maryland residents.

Massachusetts

Winchester

Population: 22,491
5 years population change: +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 highly educated in the entire country. About three-quarters of adults in this field have a bachelor’s degree. This college degree attainment rate is well above Massachusetts’s, which is 41.2 percent.

This high level of education, coupled with the fact that Winchester is just outside of Boston, can make it easier for residents to find jobs. Winchester has the lowest unemployment rate anywhere in the state, at 2.7 percent. Massachusetts’ unemployment rate is a total percentage high. This high level of employment likely helps reduce the poverty rate in Winchester. Only 2.4 percent of Winchester residents live below the poverty line, the lowest share in Massachusetts.

Michigan

East Grand Rapids

Population: 11,297
5 years population change: +5.2 percent
Median Home Value: $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 specific area earn more than $118,000 annually, compared to the typical household’s earnings of $55,322 nationwide. City residents also benefit from a lower cost of living as goods and services in East Grand Rapids are, on average, 7 percent less expensive nationwide.

In addition to entertainment and cultural 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 field.

Minnesota

New Ulma

Population: 13,279
5-Year Population Change: -1.6 percent
Median home value: $133,100
Median household income: $52,244

New Ulm, Minnesota residents, 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 nationwide rate.

These numbers are better than comparable national figures, even though New Ulm’s residents are not particularly wealthy. The city’s median household income of $52,244 per year is several thousand dollars less than the U.S. median household income. Unlike almost all other places on this list, the population of New Ulm has declined over the past five years. At a time when the U.S. The population of New Ulm increased by 3.9 percent, and the population of New Ulm declined by 1.6 percent.

Mississippi

Madison

Population: 25,473
5 years population change: +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 statewide median income of $40,528. Madison’s average 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 paths, batting cages, and an outdoor education centre.

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 three times the national median income of $55,322. Ladew is not only a wealthy city, but it is also cheap. On average, goods and services are 11 percent cheaper in Ladue than nationwide.

With easy access to jobs in nearby St. Louis, LaDue residents who seek a job usually have no trouble finding a job. In the last five years, unemployment in the city was only 2.0 per cent, a fraction of the national rate of 7.4 per cent. In addition to cultural attractions and entertainment venues in St. Louis, LaDue residents enjoy more than just the typical concentration of restaurants, fitness and entertainment centres, golf courses, and museums within their city limits.

Montana

Miles city

Population: 8,667
5 years population change: +3.6 percent
Median Home Value: $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 least expensive average monthly housing cost is $655. Although Miles City’s $47,383 median household income is one of such low figures 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 for the next safest place in the state. Montana also has one of the lowest property crime rates in Miles City.

Nebraska

Norfolk

Population: 24,398
5 years population change: +1.9 percent
Median home value: $123,200
Median household income: $45,401

Norfolk is a small town of less than 25,000 in northeastern 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 only $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 nationwide.

Nevada

Alcos

Population: 20,078
5-Year Population Change: +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 of 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 just 83.9 percent of the cost of a typical U.S. city.

Alcoa is the fastest-growing location in Nevada by a wide margin. In the past seven years, its population has grown by 18.7 percent to more than 20,000. During the same time frame, no other place in the state had increased its population by more than 10 percent.

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 is well ahead of the statewide average of $68,485. Hanover is also the best-educated place in the state, as 83.1 percent of adults have at least a bachelor’s degree. No other city in New Hampshire comes close to that part. The state’s bachelor’s degree attainment rate is 35.5 percent.

Hanover is a small city with a population of 8,482. Thus, many residents can commute to and from work. Not only does walking provide many health benefits, but it also helps in reducing road traffic and pollution. About 40 percent of Hanover residents travel on foot—the highest rate by far in New Hampshire and the highest rate of any U.S. population. The city’s second-highest rate.

New Jersey

Haddonfield

Population: 11,444
5-Year Population Change: -1.3 percent
Median home value: $487,700
Median household income: $135,700

Haddonfield is one of the most economically prosperous places in New Jersey and the United States. The typical Haddonfield home earns $135,700, about $62,000 more than the typical New Jersey home. Haddonfield is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, giving its residents access to the city’s jobs.

Compared to the rest of the state, residents of Haddonfield are unlikely to struggle with poverty. The poverty rate in the region is just 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 percent higher than the average U.S. city, it is still one of the lowest in New Jersey.

New Mexico

Los Alamos

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 theatre, 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. Is. U.S. 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 U.S. Department of Energy facility with a $2.6 billion budget allocated primarily for weapons development.

New York

Croton-on-Hudson

Population: 8,209
5 years population change: +2.8 percent
Median home value: $519,400
Median household income: $117,656

Croton-on-Hudson is a small village on the east bank of the Hudson River, less than 40 miles north of Manhattan. The village is on a train line that goes directly into the city, and as a result, more than one out of every four workers in Croton-on-Hudson use public transport. The village’s proximity to New York City contributes to high property values as most homes in the community are 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 for every 100,000 village residents, about an eighth of the national violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000.

North Carolina

Morrisville

Population: 22,600
5 years population change: +30.5 percent
Median Home Value: $291,400
Median household income: $92,769

Morrisville is in the middle of the “Research Triangle” of North Carolina. The cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill are each home to a significant scientific research university—North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, respectively—and have developed several major research-intensive industries. Region.

Morrisville provides close access to each of the three universities, as well as companies 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 past five years, from 13,000 to 22,600.

North Dakota

Mandan

Population: 20,613
5-Year Population Change: +14.2 Percent
Median Home Value: $175,400
Median household income: $60,034

Residents of Mandan, North Dakota, benefit from a low cost of living — 13 percent lower than the nationwide average — a five-year unemployment rate of 2 percent, and a violent crime rate of less than half the national rate. Mandan residents have access to jobs, entertainment, and cultural attractions in the state capital Bismarck, opposite the Missouri River.

Recently, business leaders, elected officials and ordinary citizens set up a committee to formulate a comprehensive plan to improve Mandan in the coming decade. The committee’s achievements include:

Widespread commercial support and encouragement.
The creation of annual festivals and events.
Improvements in public education.
Increased communication regarding local elections.

Ohio

New Albany

Population: 9,384
5 years population change: +25.3 percent
Median home value: $492,400
Median household income: $191,375

New Albany, Ohio, is one of the most prosperous cities in the country. The median household income of $191,375 in the U.S. It 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 only 36.9 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, less than a tenth of the national crime rate. New Albany has many amenities for residents, including more than 600 acres of parks and playgrounds.

Many factors can attract people to certain cities, including jobs, schools and facilities. New Albany excels in many of these aspects, reflecting its population growth rate. The city’s population grew by more than 25 percent in the last five years, while the national growth rate was only 3.9 percent.

Oklahoma

Newcastle

Population: 9,030
5 years population change: +21.0 percent
Median home value: $180,300
Median household income: $78,144

Newcastle is a small town of less than 10,000 just outside Oklahoma City. One of the fastest growing cities in the state, Newcastle’s population has grown by 21 percent over the past five years. Like the other cities on this list, Newcastle residents are actively engaged in improving their community. The city’s resident-run Bridge to 2020 initiative was launched in 2007 to develop a long-term strategic plan for the community. In addition to nearby amenities in Oklahoma City, Newcastle has seven golf courses, six movie theatres, access to four hospitals, and two shopping malls.

A relatively affluent city, Newcastle’s median income of $78,144 is about $30,000 more than statewide, and goods and services nationwide are about 17 percent less expensive.

Oregon

Sherwood

Population: 18,965
5 years population change: +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 amenities, attractions, and employment opportunities in the nearby town, Sherwood has more than a dozen parks and a community recreation centercentrea pool.

Quality of life in Sherwood is also reinforced by low violent crime rates and relative financial stability. In 2017, Sherwood had just 82 violent crimes for every 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 a third of the state and national poverty rates of 15.7 percent and 15.1 percent, respectively.

Pennsylvania

Franklin Park

Population: 14,228
5 years population change: +7.9 percent
Median Home Value: $312,200
Median household income: $121,661

Franklin Park is a borough just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The region has a relatively high share of residents with high educational attainment. Seventy percent of adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, the highest degree in the U.S. Cities have one of the highest college attainment rates. People with college degrees are more qualified for specialized jobs that have higher pay. In Franklin Park, the median household income of $121,661 per year is among the highest in the country.

Like many affluent, well-educated areas, Franklin Park is relatively safe. The violent crime rate of 14 incidents per 100,000 people is among the lowest in the country. Across the country, there were 383 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2017.

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 their bachelor’s degree. No other central Rhode Island community exceeded the state’s college graduation rate of 32.5 percent. This high educational achievement 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 Rhode Island’s, homes in the area are much more valuable than those in the rest of the state. The median home value of Newport is $382,200, much higher than Rhode Island’s median home value of $238,200.

South Carolina

Tega Ku

Population: 9,026
5 years population change: +23.3 percent
Median Home Value: $301,200
Median household income: $120,346

Tega Cay ranks as one of the best cities to live in, partly due to its relatively high income and the many associated benefits of prosperity. The city’s median household income is more than $120,000, which is the highest in the U.S. and is more than twice the median. Very few residents face severe financial hardship in a city with a high percentage of affluent households. Only 0.9 percent of residents are living 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 fast. It was home to less than 5,000 people in 2009. As of 2016, over 9,000 people lived there.

South Dakota

Pierre

Population: 13,959
5 years population change: +2.2 percent
Median Home Value: $164,900
Median household income: $54,868

Most American homeowners spend more than $12,000 per 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, as goods and services are, on average, 15 percent less expensive nationwide.

Pierre, the capital of South Dakota, is home to many outdoor amenities, mainly due to its proximity to the Missouri River. The nearby Farm Island and LaFramboise Island offer residents the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking.

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 attractions and amenities 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 people, less than half the national violent crime rate. Safe roads and proximity to a significant city make Atoka an attractive location for new residents and families. Over the past five years, the city’s population has grown by 11.9 percent, surpassing the national growth rate of 3.9 percent.

Texas

West University Place

Population: 15,318
5 years population change: +4.0 percent
Median Home Value: $917,800
Median household income: $220,868

A wealthy suburb of Houston, West University Place ranks as the best city to live in in Texas. In a wealthy city, the median household income of about $221,000 per year is nearly 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 nationwide on average. In addition to entertainment and culture in nearby Houston, West University has a far greater concentration of restaurants, bars, fitness centres, museums, and theatre 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 people is among the lowest in the country, as does the five-year average unemployment rate of 2.7 percent.

Utah

Woods cross

Population: 10,930
5-Year Population Change: +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 to the city, which can help increase the city’s labour force participation rate. More than three-quarters of Woods Cross adults, 77.4 percent, participate in the labour force, the most of any Utah community.

This higher labour force participation likely helps increase the median household income. The typical Woods Cross family earns $78,750 yearly, well ahead of Utah’s $62,518 median household income.

Vermont

South Burlington

Population: 18,704
5 years population change: +6.2 percent
Median Home Value: $271,900
Median household income: $66,728

On the shores of Lake Champlain, South Burlington is adjacent to Burlington, Vermont’s largest city. South Burlington’s population is well educated, with access to several nearby colleges, including Champlain College and the University of Vermont. More than half of all adult residents of the city have a bachelor’s degree or higher, which exceeds the national bachelor’s degree attainment rate of 30.3 percent. There are many job opportunities in the field, including at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Just 2.0 percent of workers in South Burlington were unemployed in 2017, well below both the 3.0 percent state and 4.4 percent national unemployment rates.

A strong job market strengthens the financial security of the area’s residents. Just 6.2 percent of South Burlington’s population lives in poverty, less than half the national poverty rate of 15.1 percent.

Virginia

Waynesboro

Population: 21,366
5 years population change: +1.7 percent
Median Home Value: $158,800
Median household income: $45,097

Waynesboro, an independent city in Virginia, is notable for its affordability, security, and natural beauty. Goods and 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 half of the U.S. 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 cuts through the city, providing residents with a water trail for fishing and enjoying by boat. Waynesboro has more than a typical concentration of restaurants, movie theatres, and museums.

Washington

Snoqualmie

Population: 12,510
5 years population change: +28.3 percent
Median Home Value: $471,800
Median household income: $131,453

Snoqualmie, Washington, is one of the safest places in the country, with only 15 violent crimes for every 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 fewer crimes than areas with lower incomes. The median annual household income in Snoqualmie, within commuting distance of Seattle, is $131,453 per year, one of the higher incomes among U.S. cities. In addition to Seattle’s culture and entertainment, Snoqualmie has more than a typical concentration of restaurants, bars, museums, and movie theatres.

West Virginia

Bridgeport

Population: 8,364
5 years population change: +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 almost the highest of the state’s cities. The high college attainment rate has contributed to the city’s relatively high median household income of $80,462 per year. Bridgeport is not only affluent, but it is also cheap. Goods and services are 15 percent less expensive than average in the city.

When it comes to culture and entertainment, Bridgeport residents have options. The city is home to a far higher concentration of restaurants, bars, entertainment centres, golf courses, and movie theatres than anywhere else across the country.

Wisconsin

Whitefish bay

Population: 14,088
5 years population change: +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 partly due to a strong job market. The region’s average unemployment rate over the past five years is only 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 only 36 incidents per 100,000 people. For context, in 2017, there were 383 violent crimes per 100,000 people nationwide.

WYOMING

Jackson

Population: 10,279
5 years population change: +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 theatres 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 annually, about $11,000 more than the typical Wyoming household. The higher income isn’t enough to offset the area’s higher cost of living, however, as Jackson’s goods and services are 35 percent more expensive nationwide. Housing is costly because most area homes cost more than half a million dollars.

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