Picking a place to live can be tough.
Some people relocate six times in a decade, searching for adventure and happiness. Others take the plunge, but then regret their moves.
Data can help. Each year, US News & World Report ranks 150 major cities on factors including quality of life, education, crime rates, employment opportunities, and housing affordability to determine the best places to live in the United States.
The 2024 list is out — and the best cities to live in are mostly in the South and the Midwest.
This year's top spots include a few cities consistently ranked among the best places to live, including booming Boise, Idaho, sandstone-hued Colorado Springs, and the southern banking hub of Charlotte, North Carolina. Newcomers include Austin, Texas' growing tech hub, and two pretty South Carolina spots: Greenville and Charleston, South Carolina.
In addition to the availability of jobs and housing, US News & World Report places a strong emphasis on the overall standard of living in each area.
In the beachfront city of Naples, Florida, the unemployment rate stood at 3.1% in March 2024, according to the most recent economic data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. That's lower than the national average — but residents also delight in a vibrant community teeming with diverse restaurants and outdoor recreational options.
"Naples is an incredible town, with a pleasant mix of kitschy beachside quirk and high-life glamor," one person said on neighborhood ranking site Niche. Another said, "Naples is a great place to live if you love the beach and good food."
According to US News & World Report, here are the 15 best places to live in the US. In these spots, residents are pretty satisfied with their lives, homes are relatively affordable, and there are plenty of jobs.