When deciding where to put down roots, many factors are in the eye of the beholder, such as climate, politics, or proximity to extended family.
Other aspects are coveted by nearly everybody: affordable housing, access to well-paying jobs, a low cost of living, good schools, and quality healthcare. In its ranking of the best places to live in America for 2019, U.S. News & World Report gathered data on these crucial components for more than 100 US cities.
While some US cities have been more affected by the coronavirus pandemic than others, this ranking looks at data collected prior to the pandemic.
U.S. News categorized the data into five indexes for each city — job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration — to definitively rank these major metro areas. You can read U.S. News' full methodology here.
Scores for "value," a blend of annual household income and cost of living, and "quality of life," which accounts for crime, college readiness, commute, and other factors, are included below on a 10-point scale, as well as the city's population and average annual salary.
Austin, Texas, came out on top for the third consecutive year, while Denver, Colorado, moved back up to No. 2 after being topped by Colorado Springs in the previous year.
A handful of cities entered the top 50 list, including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Knoxville, Tennessee; Lansing, Michigan; Kansas City, Missouri; Pensacola, Florida; and Indianapolis, Indiana.
Keep reading to discover the 50 best places to live in America.