U.S. News & World Report Unveils The 2017 Best Places To Live
Austin, Texas, bumps Denver, Colorado, from the No. 1 spot; Sacramento, California makes list
Source: U.S. News and World Reports
Photo: Ernesto Morales
U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today unveiled the 2017 Best Places to Live in the United States. The new list ranks the country’s 100 largest metropolitan areas based on affordability, job prospects and quality of life. Austin, Texas, took the No. 1 spot, bumping Denver, Colorado, to No. 2. San Jose, California, climbed from No. 10 to No. 3, while Washington, D.C., moved up four spots to No. 4. Fayetteville, Arkansas, rounds out the top five.
“When considering a move people are concerned about finding a job in their field, earning enough to afford a home, sending their kids to good schools and feeling like a part of their community,” said Kim Castro, executive editor at U.S. News. “The Best Places to Live ranking takes all of that into account – the metro areas that do well are the ones with strong job markets and high quality of life.”
Several metro areas saw significant gains year over year. Boston, Massachusetts, moved to No. 8 from No. 30 thanks to a noteworthy drop in the unemployment rate. Salt Lake City’s improved cost of living propelled it from No. 27 to No. 10. Hartford, Connecticut, Syracuse, New York, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, all made impressive strides, climbing more than 20 spots into the top 50. Like Salt Lake City, all three metro areas earned higher affordability scores in 2017.
The 2017 Best Places to Live were determined in part by a public survey of thousands of individuals across the U.S. to find out what qualities they consider important in a home town. The methodology also factors in data from the United States Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as U.S. News rankings of the Best High Schools and Best Hospitals.
Best Places to Live is part of U.S. News’ expanding Real Estate channel, which provides rankings, tools and advice to help individuals navigate the housing market, from getting a mortgage and working with an agent to buying and selling a home. The new U.S. News Real Estate Agent Finder matches individuals with top-performing agents in their markets.
2017 U.S. News Best Places to Live Rankings – Top 10
1. Austin, TX
2. Denver, CO
3. San Jose, CA
4. Washington, DC
5. Fayetteville, AR
6. Seattle, WA
7. Raleigh & Durham, NC
8. Boston, MA
9. Des Moines, IA
10. Salt Lake City, UT
See the full city rankings, from 1 to 100, by visiting here.
What’s it like to live in Sacramento, CA?
Profile written by local expert: Ernesto Morales
Many people think Sacramento’s best attribute is that it’s located a few hours from exciting destinations like San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. Though it’s constantly overshadowed by cosmopolitan places in its own state, Sacramento is undergoing a transition, with technological and cultural developments breathing new life into the California capital.
Drawn to the reasonable cost of living, abundant sunshine and ethnic diversity, young professionals and middle-class families are leading a population boom not seen since the Gold Rush. Even though the region battled high unemployment and a housing market downslide after the Recession of 2007-2009, economic development and a resurgent real estate market are providing a shot in the arm that is exciting locals and newcomers alike.
Sacramento also beckons to foodies. Sitting in the heart of the Central Valley, the metro area is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork movement. Residents have access to an abundance of fresh, locally sourced foods from nearby farms, wineries and breweries.
Blog Editor’s Note: We actually believe the editors at U.S. News inadvertently added an extra digit to Sacramento’s ranking and haven’t visited lately. There’s no mention of the emerging tech scene or the amazing Golden 1 Center.