Explore the Best Places to Live in the USA, A TWN 2022 Guide

What makes a place an ideal place to live? Affluent residents, a plethora of job opportunities, excellent schools, and affordable housing are frequently cited factors. Many places are awarded the best livable place title every year and this list keeps adding new names. Now as you searched for the top 10 or top 20 best places to live in the US on google, you might have landed on this article about the best places to live in the US. We have the top 25 most livable places that you might want to live and retire in. Let’s lay down the list and help you choose the place you want to grow old in.

Before we lay down the list, let’s talk about the factors that make a place livable.

Factors Before Choosing the Best Place to Live in the USA

Factors to be considered are as follows:

1. Size of town or city
2. Weather/Climate
3. Lifestyle, Entertainment, and Culture
4. Employment
5. Infrastructure
6. Safety
7. Affordability

Best and Most Affordable Places to Live in the USA

Without wasting more time, let’s know about the best cities to live in the USA:

25. Omaha, Nebraska

After ranking No. 40, the Midwestern metropolitan area of Omaha is now ranked No. 25 due to its consistent low cost of living and job market, which managed to remain stable compared to many other parts of the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Household expenses, which include mortgage or rent payments, property taxes, utilities, and other costs, account for only 20.42 percent of the area's median household income.

Median Home Price: $303,980

Metro Population: 931,779

Average Annual Salary: $50,550

24. Spartanburg, South Carolina

Spartanburg, located in northwestern South Carolina, draws a lot of people because of its low cost of living. Plenty of people are migrating as well – the Spartanburg urban area grew by 7.97 percent between 2015 and 2019 solely due to net migration, according to the US Census Bureau. Housing costs account for 20.63 percent of the median family income in Spartanburg. It is the reason why Spartanburg is among the best cities to live in.

Metro Population: 307,617

Median Home Price: $156,300

Average Annual Salary: $44,920

23. Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City ranks highly for housing affordability concerning the area's median family income, as well as for its employment market, which managed to maintain a low unemployment rate and see wages rise despite national market instability during the pandemic. The Salt Lake City metro area's average monthly rate of unemployment for 2020 was 4.64 percent, while the national average was 8.1 percent.

Metro Population: 2,480,709

Median Home Price: $458,230

Average Annual Salary: $50,103

22. Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville, like many other Florida metropolitan areas, is experiencing rapid growth as a result of people moving to the area. According to a survey of more than 3,600 U.S. residents who were questioned where they'd prefer to live, Jacksonville ranks No. 22 out of all the places on the list in terms of desirability.

Metro Population: 1,503,574

Median Home Price: $303,789

Average Annual Salary: $48,270

21. Green Bay, Wisconsin

Green Bay is best known as the NFL team's hometown, and it is located approximately 100 miles to the north of Milwaukee. Green Bay ranks first in the Best Places to Live for its minimal cost of living in comparison to the area's median household income. Green Bay residents pay only 19.83 percent of the median household income on mortgage or rent payments, plus other costs such as taxes and utilities.

Metro Population: 319,401

Median Home Price: $181,700

Average Annual Salary: $47,400

20. Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, which fell to No. 20 after ranking No. 6, receives high marks for its desirability as well as its continuous sustainable population growth. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, net migration alone grew the Charlotte metro area by 5.9 percent between 2015 and 2019. Charlotte is also the 20th most nice place to live, with many US residents expressing a desire to live there over other places on the list.

Metro Population: 2,545,560

Median Home Price: $351,700

Average Annual Salary: $52,150

19. Seattle

This year, Seattle ranks No. 19 due to its strong job market and high attractiveness among U.S. residents as a place to settle. While the job market suffered as a result of the pandemic, it still ranks sixth among the 150 most populous metro areas in the United States. Seattle has the fifth-highest independent average salary of any city on the list, with a yearly salary of $68,460.

Metro Population: 3,871,323

Median Home Price: $675,237

Average Annual Salary: $68,460

18. Melbourne, Florida

Melbourne jumped ten places this year, owing to rapid population growth from net migration – and a job market that fared better than many other metropolitan areas during the pandemic. According to the US Census Bureau, net migration increased in the Melbourne metroplex by 8.46 percent between 2015 and 2019.

Metro Population: 585,507

Median Home Price: $217,400

Average Annual Salary: $51,180

17. Fort Collins, Colorado

Fort Collins is a small metropolitan area in Colorado that is rapidly growing. It is located about 30 miles south of the Colorado-Wyoming state line. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Fort Collins ranks 11th out of 150 metro areas in terms of population growth due to immigration levels, which increased by 8.2 percent from 2015 to 2019.

Metro Population: 344,786

Median Home Price: $462,481

Average Annual Salary: $53,230

16. Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is ranked 16th in the Best Places to Live list, thanks in large part to the metro area's strong job market. While many other urban centers faced unemployment rates of more than 7% in 2020, Madison's was relatively low at 4.95 percent. Furthermore, the average annual income is $54,300, which is higher than the median of $53,490.

Metro Population: 653,725

Median Home Price: $348,940

Average Annual Salary: $54,300

15. San Francisco

San Francisco remains highly ranked for its strong job market, even though the entire country lost jobs during the coronavirus pandemic – ranking fourth out of 150 metro areas on the list, trailing its Bay Area neighbor, San Jose, California; Washington, D.C.; and Boulder, Colorado. The average annual salary in San Francisco is $75,890.

Metro Population: 4,701,332

Median Home Price: $1,047,714

Average Annual Salary: $75,890

14. Denver

While the Denver metro area has suffered some setbacks as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it retains a reputation as a liveable city among U.S. residents, positive population growth due to net migration, and a job market that is stronger than the average U.S. metro area. Denver, nicknamed the Mile High City due to its 5,280-foot ascent (although officially reported as 5,279 feet), is located at the base of the Rocky Mountains and serves as a gateway to a variety of outdoor activities, though it is probably best known for its devoted ski and snowboarders.

Metro Population: 2,892,066

Median Home Price: $557,273

Average Annual Salary: $61,540

13. Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines is ranked 13th this year, thanks to a strong job market and relatively consistent net migration to the metro area. Des Moines also has a low cost of living in comparison to the area's median family income, standings fifth out of the 150 most densely populated metro areas in the United States in terms of affordability.

Metro Population: 680,439

Median Home Price: $273,134

Average Annual Salary: $52,890

12. Ann Arbor, Michigan

Most people associate this southeastern Michigan metro area with the University of Michigan. Based on data from the U.S. News Best Hospitals ranking, Ann Arbor ranks first among the 150 most populous metro areas in the United States for access to quality health care, tied with Kalamazoo, Michigan; Reading, Pennsylvania; York, Pennsylvania; and Trenton, New Jersey. Ann Arbor's high school students appear to be prepared for college as well – the metro area ranks third in college and career readiness, trailing only Boulder and San Jose.

Metro Population: 367,000

Median Home Price: $270,567

Average Annual Salary: $56,370

11. Boise, Idaho

Idaho's capital ranks high in terms of population expansion due to immigration numbers and housing affordability in comparison to median average household income. Mortgage or rent payments, as well as supplemental housing costs such as property taxes and utilities, require only 22.11 percent of the median household income. Boise, on the other hand, ranks lower in terms of desirability among US residents when it comes to where they want to live.

Metro Population: 710,743

Median Home Price: $221,475

Average Annual Salary: $47,170

10. Portland, Oregon

Residents in the United States consider Portland to be a highly desirable location, with the city ranking fifth in that category, trailing Colorado Springs, Colorado, Honolulu, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, which are tied for first place. Furthermore, Rose City's No. 10 ranking is due to a fairly robust job market and consistent population growth due to immigration numbers over five years.

Metro Population: 2,445,761

Median Home Price: $515,360

Average Annual Salary: $58,240

09. Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota rose seven places since 2021 when it was ranked 16th. Sarasota, located on Florida's Gulf Coast, is the second-fastest-growing metro area on the list, trailing only Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. According to the US Census Bureau, net migration increased Sarasota's population by 11.22 percent between 2015 and 2019.

Metro Population: 803,709

Median Home Price: $227,754

Average Annual Salary: $46,040

08. Portland, Maine

Due to its high quality of life, relatively stable job market, and growing reputation as a good place to live, Maine's most populous metro area hopped several spots from No. 19 in 2021. Portland ranks eighth out of 150 metro areas for the quality of life, taking into account college readiness among high schoolers, proximity to quality health care, crime, typical commute time, and overall well-being.

Metro Population: 532,075

Median Home Price: $310,300

Average Annual Salary: $52,820

07. Naples, Florida

After ranking 14th last year, this metro area of fewer than 400,000 people will jump to 7th in 2022. Naples, located on the southern side of Florida's Gulf Coast, where the Everglades start, does not attract as many tourists as Miami or Tampa, but many people want to move there – and many are already doing so. Out of the 150 cities on the list, Naples has the fourth-fastest rising metro area.

Metro Population: 371,453

Median Home Price: $345,000

Average Annual Salary: $47,980

06. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs is one of the most desirable places to live, tied with Honolulu, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Colorado Springs ranks near the top of the list this year due to steady population growth from immigration levels and a consistently strong job market, though the rising cost of living has hindered the metro area's affordability.

Metro Population: 723,498

Median Home Price: $455,371

Average Annual Salary: $52,360

05. Austin, Texas

After ranking as the No. 1 Best Place to Live in the United States for three years in a row in 2017, 2018, and 2019, Austin was dethroned in 2020 to rank third, and then again in 2021 to rank fifth. Nonetheless, Austin continues to remain an ideal place to live for many, with a sturdy job market and long-term population increase due to net migration, despite rising living costs.

Metro Population: 2,114,441

Median Home Price: $377,693

Average Annual Salary: $55,190

04. Fayetteville, Arkansas

This fast-growing Arkansas metro area has long been a top candidate in the Best Places to Live list – and this year is no exception. A low cost of living in relation to family income, strong population growth as a result of net migration, and a stable job market all contribute to Fayetteville's ranking.

Metro Population: 514,259

Median Home Price: $203,150

Average Annual Salary: $47,600

03. Huntsville, Alabama

Huntsville goes up from No. 15 to No. 3, thanks in part to a stronger job market amid national unemployment concerns. This northern Alabama metropolitan area is the most affordable of the 150 most densely populated metro areas in the United States, with many local businesses, focused on science, technology, engineering, and math, contributing to a higher average annual income for the local population.

Metro Population: 457,003

Median Home Price: $192,667

Average Annual Salary: $55,980

02. Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina

Because of its budget and job market, the Raleigh-Durham metro area remains an appealing place for people to relocate. Research, technology, education, and health care are all rapidly expanding industries in the region. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, net migration increased the Raleigh-Durham metro area by 5.87 percent between 2015 and 2019. Metro Population: 1,959,006

Median Home Price: $329,709

Average Annual Salary: $56,888

01. Boulder, Colorado

For the second year in a row, Boulder is the best place to live among the most populous metro areas in the United States. According to the desirability survey, Boulder has a solid reputation among US residents and provides excellent academic achievement for high school students, tying it for first place with San Jose. Boulder residents have a high quality of life, with the mountains right outside their door and an estimated yearly salary of $67,160.

Metro Population: 322,510

Median Home Price: $528,833

Average Annual Salary: $67,160

These places have a reputation for an easy life where an individual can retire and spend the days without worrying about anything. One of these places can be your ultimate destination. With the ease of living and facilities for your family, give a try to any one of these places. You will not regret it.

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