America’s Top 15 Cities for Quality of Life Right Now

Quality of life is a crucial metric when deciding where to settle down—mainly because it takes into account priorities such as crime rates, education, and average commute times. But affordability remains a stumbling block.

This year, Ann Arbor, MI, has emerged as the best American city to live in for quality of life, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual list, which is compiled using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Labor.

The cities topping the list have high scores on U.S. News’ Quality of Life Index, which measures how satisfied residents are with their daily lives. Factors like quality and availability of health care, air quality, and well-being are included in the rankings.

The places deemed the have the highest quality of life were scattered across the country, but the South had the most, with 6 out of the top 15. The Midwest and the West had two cities each in that elite group, and the Northeast notched three spots.

“These are all very nice places to live, and people have taken notice,” says Realtor.com® senior economist Joel Berner.

But Berner stresses that none of the ranked cities has a median listing price “that is affordable to the median earner.”

Boulder, CO (No. 2), and Boston (No. 9) are especially challenging, according to Berner, requiring the median earner to shell out more than 70% of their income on a mortgage payment for the median home.

Here are the top 15 cities with the best quality of life in 2024–25, ranked lowest to highest. We also provide the median income and listing price in each of the ranked places.

15. Fayetteville, AR

Overall score: 6.6
Quality of life: 7.0
Value: 7.3
Median list price: $439,125
Median income: $57,241

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Fayetteville is the most populated city in Northwest Arkansas, known for its appeal to those who love the great outdoors, with thousands of acres of parkland for fishing and hiking. It is also home to the University of Arkansas and the Clinton House Museum—the first home of Bill and Hillary Clinton.

14. Richmond, VA

Overall score: 6.3
Quality of life: 7.0
Value: 6.1
Median list price: $374,948
Median income: $64,439

The capital city of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond was founded in 1737, making it one of America’s oldest major cities—and a major tourist destination drawing an average of 7 million visitors each year. Founding Father Patrick Henry gave his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech at Richmond’s St. John’s Church. But the city is not just for history buffs: It’s got a vibrant and modern dining scene, celebrated museums and concert venues, and a wide variety of outdoor activities.

13. Hartford, CT

Overall score: 5.0
Quality of life: 7.0
Value: 3.3
Median list price: $247,500
Median income: $45,006

Hartford dates to 1635 and is home to America’s oldest public art museum, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, and the oldest public park, Bushnell Park. In the 19th century, the city was home to a pair of American literary luminaries, Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe, and now each has a museum in town dedicated to their life and work.

Modern-day Hartford is buzzing with fine-dining restaurants and performance spaces, and for those who enjoy outdoor recreation, there are plenty of parks and heritage trails to explore.

12. Greenville, SC

Overall score: 6.9
Quality of life: 7.0
Value: 7.0
Median list price: $391,264
Median income: $70,060

Sitting in the picturesque foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville has been experiencing a manufacturing boom in recent years thanks to the opening of Michelin and GE facilities in town. The city now boasts a bustling downtown, with award-winning restaurants, art galleries, and theaters. It is also home to the celebrated Falls Park on the Reedy, with its suspension bridge and breathtaking waterfall vistas.

11. San Diego, CA

Overall score: 6.4
Quality of life: 7.0
Value: 4.6
Median list price: $899,000
Median income: $103,838

Situated on the Pacific Coast of Southern California, San Diego is known for its year-round warm climate and dozens of sandy beaches ideally suited for surfing and playing volleyball. The city is also home to the world-famous San Diego Zoo and the USS Midway—an aircraft carrier-turned-floating museum.

10. Asheville, NC

Overall score: 6.6
Quality of life: 7.0
Value: 6.5
Median list price: $599,000
Median income: $65,816

Set against the backdrop of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a small town that packs a punch. Nicknamed “The Paris of the South,” the city has something for everyone: Art aficionados would enjoy strolling through the famed Biltmore estate housing a collection of priceless artworks; foodies would be happy to sample delicacies at Asheville’s farm-to-table restaurants; and beer connoisseurs won’t be disappointed either, considering that the city has more breweries per capita than most other U.S. cities.

9. Boston, MA

Overall score: 6.1
Quality of life: 7.1
Value: 4.5
Median list price: $1,087,450
Median income: $91,331

There are few cities in the U.S. as historically significant as Boston. The cultural center of New England, Beantown is jam-packed with unique attractions, including Faneuil Hall, Fenway Park, and the Museum of Fine Arts. There’s also no shortage of pubs and bars in the city known the world over for its love of sudsy brews, along with noteworthy dining options.

8. Virginia Beach, VA

Overall score: 6.8
Quality of life: 7.1
Value: 6.9
Median list price: $428,450
Median income: $87,988

Located at the meeting point of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach is a resort city with a healthy helping of history and culture on the side. Its First Landing State Park commemorates the arrival of the Jamestown Colonists in 1607. Sun worshippers flock to Virginia Beach each year to enjoy its miles of beaches and water sports. For those who are not keen on the outdoors, there is the Virginia Aquarium, the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, and a vibrant shopping and dining scene.

7. Portland, ME

Overall score: 6.5
Quality of life: 7.1
Value: 5.3
Median list price: $660,00
Median income: $79,871

Set on a peninsula jutting into Casco Bay, Portland charms at first sight with its cobblestoned streets and a bustling waterfront featuring working wharves interspersed with restaurants and quaint shops. Portland has much to recommend it, from art exhibits to historic lighthouses and lush state parks. But the city is not without its challenges, mainly, a dearth of affordable housing and a steadily rising cost of living.

6. Madison, WI

Overall score: 6.7
Quality of life: 7.2
Value: 6.5
Median list price: $411,850
Median income: $79,154

Madison is not only the state capital of Wisconsin; it is also the capital of America’s Dairyland. The city takes pride in its fresh, local produce and burgeoning fine-dining scene. As home to growing information technology, manufacturing, and health care businesses, the city has become an attractive destination for young professionals—and it has gone out of its way to accommodate the influx of newcomers by building new housing and opening trendy eateries and breweries.

5. Raleigh, NC

Overall score: 6.8
Quality of life: 7.2
Value: 6.9
Median list price: $493,346
Median income: $84,515

Raleigh is best known for its universities, including North Carolina State University. The great number of tech and educational institutions dotting Raleigh and the nearby cities of Chapel Hill and Durham have earned the area the nickname “the Research Triangle.” Owing to its status as a busy college town, Raleigh’s population skews younger and more diverse than many other places in the state. The city has much to offer residents by way of its many craft breweries, art museums, and parks.

4. Honolulu, HI

Overall score: 6.5
Quality of life: 7.4
Value: 4.4
Median list price: $648,500
Median income: $81,679

Located on the island of Oahu’s south shore, Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii, world-famous for its crescent-shaped beach overlooking the volcanic Diamond Head crater. A top tourist destination, Honolulu has lived up to its reputation as a swath of earthly paradise, with its crystalline waters, pristine white-sand beaches, and palm trees swaying in the breeze. But it’s got more to offer than resort town vibes: Honolulu has a diverse cultural scene, sites related to the World War II attack on Pearl Harbor, and wide-ranging dining options.

3. Boise, ID

Overall score: 7.0
Quality of life: 7.4
Value: 7.6
Median list price: $569,720
Median income: $83,928

Boise is an outdoorsman’s paradise, offering 180 miles of hiking, biking, and running trails, nestled among breathtaking mountains and canyons crisscrossed with swift rivers. Those who prefer a more urbane lifestyle would enjoy the city’s buzzy downtown area filled with chic lounges, restaurants, and retailers.

2. Boulder, CO

Overall score: 6.7
Quality of life: 7.4
Value: 5.5
Median list price: $1,035,000
Median income: $85,020

Situated at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is ideal for all manner of nature lovers, who can enjoy the city’s parks numbering in the dozens and 155 miles of hiking trails. In recent years, it has become a destination for people pursuing wellness routines thanks to its wide array of yoga studios, spas, and fitness centers. Tired of outdoor recreation and Pilates? Downtown Boulder’s pedestrian Pearl Street Mall is dotted with art galleries, cafes, restaurants, and shops.

1. Ann Arbor, MI

Overall score: 6.6
Quality of life: 7.7
Value: 5.8
Median list price: $573,000
Median income: $74,701

Home to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a city with a broad appeal, combining Midwestern small-town charm with big-city sophistication. Ann Arbor boasts excellent schools, low crime rates, and short commutes for its residents. All that, combined with the city’s lively downtown area bursting with bookshops and cafes, and its family-friendly cultural attractions make Ann Arbor a top destination.