Top 10 most livable small to midsize cities where the median home price is $500,000 or less
Kelsey Vlamis
- Escalating housing costs in major cities have Americans looking for smaller cities to settle down in.
- Livability released a list of the 100 most livable small and midsize US cities.
As sky-high housing costs are increasingly pricing people out of places like Los Angeles and New York, Americans are increasingly looking to smaller cities and rural towns to set down roots.
Millennials are moving further and further into the suburbs, while remote workers have made cross-country moves to previously low-key places like Montana to capitalize on the relatively more affordable housing and costs of living.
The influx of transplants to some of these smaller cities and towns has, in turn, raised housing costs and caused problems for locals — but not all places have passed the threshold of affordability.
Livability, a media and marketing company that ranks places based on how livable they are, released its annual list of the 100 most livable small to midsize cities in the US this week.
The list is limited to cities with populations under 500,000 people that also have median home values under $500,000. That excludes places like Miami or Oakland, for instance, which have less than half a million people but have median home prices of around $601,000 and $840,000, respectively.
Beyond size and home values, the list is based on the following factors: the economy, like unemployment rates and job opportunities; housing and cost of living; amenities like museums, parks, shopping, and nightlife; transportation, including walkability and median commute time; environment, such as air quality and natural disaster risks; safety; education; and health.
The data used to compile the list includes public sources, like the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the IRS, and private sources, including satellite imagery and business records.
Livability's list of 100 cities is not ranked in order, as you are able to filter and rank the list based on your top priorities. However, each city is assigned an overall livability score, or LivScore, using an algorithm that considers the above categories. All one 100 cities can also be viewed on a US map, so you can easily search by region or state.
The following ranking of the top 10 best small to midsize cities to live in is based on the overall livability scores.
10. Troy, Michigan
Troy, Michigan, is located about 25 miles northwest of Detroit and has a population of over 85,685. The median home value is $343,627. Troy ranked high on Livability's list for education due to highly rated schools, as well as health and cost of living. It has also been voted the safest city in Michigan.
9. Frisco, Texas
Frisco, Texas, is a suburb of Dallas located about 27 miles directly north of the city. With a population of about 224,003 and a median home value of $470,968, Frisco ranked high in the categories of health, education, and economy, thanks to abundant job opportunities.
8. Sugar Land, Texas
Sugar Land, Texas, sits on the southwest edge of the greater Houston area, about 20 miles from the city. The suburb has a population of 113,429 people and median home value of $359,460. In addition to being in close proximity to one of the largest cities in the US, Sugar Land ranked high for its cost of living and education, and has attractive amenities like museums and parks.
7. Overland Park, Kansas
Overland Park, Kansas, sits on the state line just southeast of Kansas City, Missouri. Overland Park has a population of 200,187 people and a median home value of $354,977. The city ranked high in the economy category and is home to large companies like T-Mobile and United Healthcare.
6. Broomfield, Colorado
Broomfield, Colorado, is located roughly in between two of the state's better-known cities, Denver and Boulder. Broomfield has 76,358 residents and a median home value of $491,262. Broomfield has abundant green space and outdoor opportunities, including the Flatiron rock formations, and is ranked high for education and economy.
5. Naperville, Illinois
Naperville, Illinois, is a large suburb situated about 30 miles west of Chicago. The population is 150,412, and the median home value is $433,840. The city ranked high for health and education, and downtown Naperville is full of restaurants, shopping, and other amenities.
4. Fishers, Indiana
Fishers, Indiana, is located northeast of Indianapolis, the state's largest city. The suburb has a population of 102,878 and a median home value of $332,418. Fishers ranked extremely high for housing and cost of living, in part due to the availability of affordable homes.
3. Columbia, Maryland
Columbia, Maryland, located southwest of Baltimore, has a median home value of $467,495. Its population of 106,410 people makes it the second most populated community in the state. Columbia ranked high in education and health and access to government and research jobs due to being about 30 miles from Washington, DC.
2. Cary, North Carolina
Cary, North Carolina, is located just west of Raleigh, the state's largest city. It has a population of 179,000 and a median home value of $434,151. Cary ranked high in the environment, economy, and education categories, and is close to major colleges like Duke and University of North Carolina.
1. Carmel, Indiana
Carmel, Indiana, located north of Indianapolis, had the highest livability score on the list. It has a population of 100,691 and a median home value of $380,506. Carmel ranked high for its cost of living and health and attracts families due to job opportunities, parks, and highly rated schools.
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