The tree-lined, lakeside community of Flower Mound, Texas - one of the most livable cities in the United States.

The Best US Cities To Live In By Livability Score

The best city to live in the United States, as per the 2023 Livability Scores, is Johns Creek, Georgia. This suburb of Atlanta was followed closely by Flower Mound, Texas, and Carmel, Indiana. These three communities were selected because they fit strategic population parameters and checked off a number of criteria that contribute to overall quality of life. So let's unpack the results (as well as highlight many other places with high-ranking "LivScores"), to figure out just why these cities are so appealing, why results change over time, and why one of these spots might very well become your next home.

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Top 50 US Cities By Livability Score

Rank	City	Livability Score
1	Johns Creek, Georgia	877
2	Flower Mound, Texas	872
3	Carmel, Indiana	866
4	Broomfield, Colorado	855
5	Sugar Land, Texas	854
6	Cary, North Carolina	849
6	Overland Park, Kansas	849
8	Fishers, Indiana	848
9	Naperville, Illinois	841
10	Troy, Michigan	837
11	Roswell, Georgia	832
12	Clifton, New Jersey	831
13	Columbia, Maryland	828
14	Sandy, Utah	817
15	Olathe, Kansas	813
16	Beaverton, Oregon	809
17	Gilbert, Arizona	805
18	Bloomington, Minnesota	801
19	Round Rock, Texas	798
19	Rochester Hills, Michigan	798
21	Chandler, Arizona	796
22	Warwick, Rhode Island	795
23	Evanston, Illinois	789
24	Cranston, Rhode Island	788
25	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	786
25	Thornton, Colorado	786
27	Vancouver, Washington	782
28	Lee's Summit, Missouri	779
29	Hillsboro, Oregon	779
30	Jersey City, New Jersey	775
31	Tempe, Arizona	771
32	Edmond, Oklahoma	770
33	Salt Lake City, Utah	768
33	Virginia Beach, Virginia	768
35	Parma, Ohio	767
35	Minneapolis, Minnesota	767
37	Hoover, Alabama	765
37	Meridian, Idaho	765
37	Omaha, Nebraska	765
40	Franklin, Tennessee	764
41	Orem, Utah	762
42	Norwalk, Connecticut	761
43	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	757
44	St. Petersburg, Florida	756
45	Fort Collins, Colorado	755
46	Alafaya, Florida	754
47	Fort Lauderdale, Florida	751
48	Castle Rock, Colorado	750
49	Elk Grove, California	749
50	Cedar Rapids, Iowa	748

Metrics

The bustling streets of Manhattan's Times Square — The bustling streets of New York City. Large metropolises such as these were intentionally excluded from the the LivScore list. Photo: Luciano Mortula - LGM

Population

Livability.com, together with Applied Geographic Solutions (AGS) derived their LivScore using several strategic metrics. For starters, they wanted to rule out both small towns and the biggest of cities (such as Los Angeles and New York City) - acknowledging that well-known American cities tend to have polarizing pros and cons, and that there is a current migration trend away from major metropolises. Instead, this list focuses on a population sweet spot of between 75,000 and 500,000 people.

Quality of Life

Other key data points that were considered when ranking the most livable U.S. cities include: the local Economy (i.e. unemployment, employment opportunities, and income trends), Cost of Living (i.e. tax rates, housing market/average apartment rentals, and income inequality), Amenities (i.e. parks, retail, entertainment, art/culture, etc.), Transportation (i.e. walkability, commute times, vehicles per household), Environment (i.e. air quality, population density, natural disaster risks), Safety (i.e. crime rates), Education (quality of schools and educational attainment), and Health (i.e. life expectancy, availability of doctors, and accessibility of hospitals). It should also be noted that for 2023, amenities and economics were prioritized by the algorithm, followed by education, and then housing/cost of living. So let's also break down the top ten lists for each of these individual metrics so that each American can tailor to his or her desires/needs.

Top 10 Best U.S. Cities to Live Based on Amenities

The radiant skyline of Jersey City, New Jersey — There's always lots of fun stuff to do in Jersey City, NJ.

If you like shopping 'till you drop, going out for an exciting night on the town, getting some miles in at the community park(s), or having a solid selection of local museums and art galleries to peruse then these ten American cities are for you.

Rank	City	Amenity Score
1	Jersey City, New Jersey	95
2	Fort Lauderdale, Florida	91
2	Clifton, New Jersey	91
4	Norwalk, Connecticut	84
5	Minneapolis, Minnesota	83
5	Evanston, Illinois	83
7	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	82
8	Cranston, Rhode Island	81
9	Lowell, Massacheusetts	80
10	St. Louis, Missouri	79

Top 10 Best U.S. Cities to Live Based on the Economy

An American flag, $100 bill, and stock market graph — The all mighty dollar dictates the quality of life for so many Americans.

If you are seeking employment, striving to advance your career, and/or starting to save for retirement, these ten U.S. cities are perfect for you.

Rank	City	Economic Score
1	Broomfield, Colorado	97
2	Johns Creek, Georgia	96
3	Roswell, Georgia	93
3	Sandy, Utah	93
5	Carmel, Indiana	92
6	Fishers, Indiana	90
6	Flower Mound, Texas	90
8	Gilbert, Arizona	89
8	Chandler, Arizona	89
10	Thornton, Colorado	88
10	Overland Park, Kansas	88

Top 10 Best U.S. Cities to Live Based on Education

University students in the middle of a class. — Great schools make for highly-livable cities.

You want your kids to get the best education possible, or perhaps, you are returning to higher education yourself - either way, these ten U.S. cities are top-ranked in the education department.

Rank	City	Education Score
1	Columbia, Maryland	90
2	Overland Park, Kansas	88
3	Clifton, New Jersey	86
3	Broomfield, Colorado	86
5	Naperville, Illinois	83
6	Olathe, Kansas	81
6	Sugar Land, Texas	81
8	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	79
8	Cary, North Carolina	79
10	Flower Mount, Texas	78
10	Fort Collins, Colorado	78
10	Bloomington, Minnesota	78

Top 10 Best U.S. Cities to Live Based on Housing/Cost of Living

The vibrant skyline of Knoxville, Tennessee — Knoxville, Tennessee leads the charge in terms of affordable housing, accessible monthly rentals, and overall cost of living. Photo: Marcus E Jones

It's been tough to make ends meet lately. Prospective homeowners feel hopeless, monthly rent is getting tighter by the season, the tax man keeps reaching for more, and income inequality only worsened with the pandemic. But fear not, these ten U.S. cities are the most friendly in terms of the housing market and general cost of living.

Rank	City	Housing & Cost of Living
1	Knoxville, Tennessee	89
1	Des Moines, Iowa	89
1	Orem, Utah	89
4	Broken Arrow, Oklahoma	88
5	Cedar Rapids, Iowa	87
5	Fishers, Indiana	87
5	Round Rock, Texas	87
5	Provo, Utah	87
9	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	86
10	Rio Rancho, New Mexico	85
10	Wichita, Kansas	85

Unpacking the Most Livable U.S. Cities

An aerial view of the tree-line, lakeside community of Flower Mound, Texas — Tree-lined, lakeside Flower Mound, Texas.

Now that we've combed through the raw data, let's take a closer look at the top three most livable cities in the United States (as evaluated by their overall livability score).

Johns Creek, Georgia

LivScore: 877
Region: Southeast
Population: 82,493
Median Household Income: $126,508
Median Home Value: $453,747
Average State Property Tax: $1,850
Median Monthly Rent: $1,476
Average Commute: 26.22 Minutes

Johns Creek hovers on the northeastern outskirts of Georgia's capital, Atlanta. This suburban city is therefore just a stone's throw from one of the biggest international airports in the country. But transportation isn't even one of its top three traits. Johns Creek claimed the number one livability spot in 2023, first and foremost, because of its economy, health care, and safety. Over 450 health care facilities and social service companies can be found in this Fulton County city. Not only do they serve the community directly, but they also provide tons of good-paying jobs. The schools here are excellent, the neighborhoods are safe, and natural beauty/outdoor recreation abounds thanks to local parks, the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, multiple golf courses, and quick access to Georgia's biggest body of water: Lake Lanier.

Flower Mound, Texas

LivScore: 872
Region: Southwest
Population: 81,173
Med. Household Income: $135,214
Med. Home Value: $423,603
Avg. Property Tax: $3,520
Med. Monthly Rent: $1,280
Avg. Commute: 25.24 Mins

Flower Mound, Texas mirrors Johns Creek in several regards. Once again a northern suburb of one of the state's major metropolitan areas (i.e. Dallas/Fort Worth), Flower Mound benefits from big-city amenities (including immediate access to the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport) but also a wholesome suburban life. This large town of both Denton and Tarrant County also achieved its nation-topping livability ranking thanks to a standout trifecta of economy, health care, and safety. But like our first pick, Flower Mound delivers beautiful parks (including a wildflower haven in the heart of the community), two sizable local lakes (in this case, Grapevine Lake and Lewisville Lake), and top-notch schools to boot. Additionally, low property taxes, low crime rates, and exceptional medical care all contribute to Flower Mound being the second-most livable city in the U.S. (as of 2023).

Carmel, Indiana

LivScore: 866
Region: Midwest
Population: 103,628
Med. Household Income: $117,078
Med. Home Value: $388,578
Avg. Property Tax: $1,308
Med. Monthly Rent: $1,126
Avg. Commute: 20.26 Mins

It may not reside in the south like our first two picks, but Carmel, Indiana is every bit as charming. Yet again, Carmel is a northern suburb, this time of Indiana's state capital, Indianapolis, that posted a top-tier 2023 LivScore thanks to a strong economy, a robust health care scene, and safe neighborhoods. This Hamilton County community also boasts great schools and a plethora of quality jobs. And even though life is a little slower paced than our first two selections (partly because Indianapolis is a smaller metropolitan), Carmel excels in the arts and culture department, thanks to the multi-venue Center for the Performing Arts. Plus, with ample parks, walking paths, and bike lanes, it's easy to get outside and enjoy the fair-weather seasons. With that said, our bronze-medal livable city keeps spirits high during the "off season," thanks to themed festivals and a winter farmers market.

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Final Thoughts:

There are so many factors to consider when trying to build a healthy, happy life for yourself, with your partner, and/or on behalf of your family. Is the city in question safe? Is it affordable? Is it a fun and inspiring place in which to pass the foreseeable future? Well, if it shows up on 2023's list of best U.S. cities, then it has aced the litmus test for overall livability. Individuals may prioritize certain metrics, in which case, we trust that the accompanying top-10 themed lists will also be of value. No matter your preferences/necessities, all the best on your upcoming migration towards a new and better life!

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