Thinking that you might be ready for a move to a new city? No matter what point you’re at in life, making a new home in a great city is always an option. Depending on what you’re looking for – a job in a tech field, access to the great outdoors or the best restaurants the culinary world has to offer – that city is out there and waiting for you. Not sure where to put your X on the map? Livability.com’s annual ranking of the best small to mid-sized cities in the U.S. is a great place to start. Here’s a few of the top picks and for the complete report, click here.
The Best Places to Live in the U.S.
East
Portland, Maine
More than 230 restaurants grace Portland, giving the city the most restaurants per capita for the entire United States. Portland has a vibrant arts district, good health care options, several college and university campuses, and large financial institutions. A Portland-to-Montreal crude oil pipeline also contributes greatly to the area economy.
Asheville, North Carolina
Nicknamed “Land of the Sky,” Asheville is a picturesque city that welcomes many tourists who visit attractions like nightclubs, performance venues and microbreweries. A high-achieving public school system is in place along with the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and a strong health-care network includes Asheville VA Medical Center and Mission Health System.
Miami Beach, Florida
Sultry beaches, sizzling restaurants, wild nightclubs and the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world make Miami Beach one hot place to live. Golf courses, museums and shopping centers provide more entertainment options. Miami Beach has attracted a diverse group of residents and draws thousands of tourists.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Two of the most famous universities in the world – Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – are the two largest employers in Cambridge, a city named for the University of Cambridge in England. Many technology-based companies contribute to the city’s overall economy, and multiple arts, music and museum venues grace the community.
Midwest
Iowa City, Iowa
Annual cultural events and a strong literary history with writers like John Irving and Flannery O’Connor have helped shape Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa. The college community offers a hardy arts and entertainment environment along with good health care for residents, highlighted by Mercy Hospital and the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.
Madison, Wisconsin
Taking the number one spot Madison stands out as a real winner. Both a capitol city and a hip college town, Madison provides residents with affordable housing, great schools, excellent health care and a wide range of recreational activities and entertainment options.
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
More than 2,700 businesses operate in St. Louis Park, and its largest employer is Park Nicollet Health Services with 4,500 workers. The award-winning St. Louis Park School District is the only district in Minnesota where all public schools are recognized with a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.
Columbia, Missouri
The college town of Columbia is home to the University of Missouri, with 27,000 students and 8,600 employees. The city displays much public art and attracts a progressive music culture, and residents have access to top health care with six individual hospitals that include Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital.
West
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto remains one of the best places to live, especially for those blazing the digital frontier. A 31-mile dark fiber ring around the city provides ultra high-speed Internet access. Schools and open spaces are highly valued in Palo Alto, which has a well-educated, politically active and socially minded population.
Missoula, Montana
Nearby mountain ranges, three rivers and more than 400 acres of city parkland make Missoula an outdoor lover’s dream come true. Home to the University of Montana, Missoula’s breweries, coffee houses, cafes and restaurants create a unique, cool vibe. Independent bookstores, a symphony and music venues provide more entertainment options.
Berkeley, California
Once known for its hippie vibes, Berkeley is now revered for its food scene, which has landed the city on Livability’s lists of top 10 foodie cities in 2013 and 2014. The town, part of the San Francisco Bay, is also home to the popular University of California campus and a wealth of cultural attractions including museums, galleries and theaters.
Bellevue, Washington
Across Lake Washington from Seattle is the beautiful community of Bellevue, a city graced by the Cascade Mountains and many public parks. Bellevue schools are ranked among the best in the state, while Bellevue College and City University of Seattle provide residents with top higher education choices. The community also features a rich culture of arts.
Do you live in one of these cities or could you see making one of them your home?
**All city descriptions taken from Livability.com’s annual ranking of the Best Small to Mid-Sized Cities in the U.S.
