In a not-so-surprising turn of events, the city in the “Sunshine State” once again secured the top spot in the ranking of the most livable cities in the United States. However, this year’s top ten cities on the list are more diverse, with no particular state dominating, encompassing nine different states across America.
On Tuesday, May 21st, the U.S. News & World Report released its “Best Places to Live 2024-2025” report, with Naples, situated along the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, claiming the coveted top spot.
The report highlighted Naples’ outstanding scores in the job market and quality of life, leading the city to surpass 149 other major cities in the ranking. In the previous year’s ranking, Naples stood at the sixth position.
Compared to previous years, there have been some changes and adjustments in the way U.S. News & World Report selects the “Best Places to Live.”
This annual ranking has long been popular. For the 2024-2025 Best Places to Live ranking, the media outlet compared 150 major cities. The report noted a shift towards focusing on “city-based data” rather than “metropolitan area-based data.”
To make it to the top of the list, a location must boast good value, be an ideal place to reside, and have a robust job market and high quality of life.
The report hailed Boise, the capital of Idaho, for jumping to the second spot in the 2024-2025 rankings, attributing the city’s values, job market, and quality of life indicators for its impressive performance.
Colorado Springs in Colorado, Greenville in South Carolina, and Charlotte in North Carolina also made it into the top five.
The media outlet identified Raleigh in North Carolina as sixth on the list.
Huntsville, the largest city in Alabama, secured the seventh position in this year’s Best Places to Live ranking.
Virginia Beach in Virginia and Austin in Texas claimed the eighth and ninth spots, respectively. Austin performed well in terms of desirability and the job market, having previously held the top spot from 2017 to 2019.
While the South holds a significant presence in the top ten, Colorado is the only state with two cities in the top rankings. Boulder City in Colorado also made it into the top ten.
In a statement to Fox News, U.S. News & World Report mentioned, “This year’s rankings reflect a growing focus on people’s concerns about job prospects, housing affordability, and the increasing costs of goods and services.”
“Although the quality of life remains a top priority for many Americans, a city’s value and job market are becoming increasingly important for those seeking a place to live.”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported a 3.9% overall unemployment rate in April.
Additionally, data from online real estate brokerage Redfin revealed that as of May 5th, the median monthly housing payment for Americans within the past four weeks stood at $2,894, marking a “historic high.”