The Best Places to Live for Families in the U.S. in 2023-2024
日期：2024-02-15 22:31:10 人气：129 收藏
Moving to a new part of the country can be a daunting task, especially if you’re moving your entire family. To help you find the right metro area for raising your kids, we started with the Best Places to Live in the U.S. rankings for 2023-2024.
Moving to a new part of the country can be a daunting task, especially if you’re moving your entire family. To help you find the right metro area for raising your kids, we started with the Best Places to Live in the U.S. rankings for 2023-2024, then weighted affordability, quality of life and job market equally.
These scores combine to make the Best Places to Live for Families, taking into consideration not only the cost of living and average annual salary, but also the quality of high school education, average commute time, crime rate, the area’s overall well-being and access to top-notch health care.
These are the Best Places to Live for Families in the U.S.:
25. Boise, Idaho 24. Cincinnati 23. Davenport-Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline-Rock Island, Illinois (Quad Cities) 22. Washington, D.C. 21. Rochester, New York 20. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 19. Portland, Maine 18. Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina 17. Buffalo, New York 16. Ann Arbor, Michigan 15. Hickory, North Carolina 14.Omaha, Nebraska 13. Pittsburgh 12. Syracuse, New York 11. Madison, Wisconsin 10. Lincoln, Nebraska 9. Fort Wayne, Indiana 8. Grand Rapids, Michigan 7. Albany, New York 6. Des Moines, Iowa 5. Minneapolis-St. Paul 4. Fayetteville, Arkansas 3. Green Bay, Wisconsin 2. San Jose, California 1. Huntsville, Alabama
25.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 12 Metro Population: 750,669 Metro Size: 11,766.6 square miles Median Home Price: $221,475 Average Annual Salary: $49,440
If getting to a less populated state with plenty of space for your family is a priority, Boise has been a popular choice for many people since before the coronavirus pandemic. Being such a popular choice has driven up the cost of living in recent years. Residents in the metro area can expect to spend 23.19% of the median household income on housing costs, which is below the national median of 24% but higher than living in Boise once was.
24.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 50 Metro Population: 2,244,329 Metro Size: 4,546.5 square miles Median Home Price: $291,336 Average Annual Salary: $54,910
The cost of living in Cincinnati requires just 21.3% of the median annual household income, which helps families and individuals keep more money for basic needs and discretionary spending. Looking at quality of life data, Cincinnati scores best for its proximity to quality health care options, based on data from the U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings.
23.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 54 Metro Population: 384,055 Metro Size: 2,269.9 square miles Median Home Price: $149,317 Average Annual Salary: $51,240
This metro area straddling the state line between Iowa and Illinois – with the Mississippi River in between – offers affordability, a short average commute and low risk of and high resilience to natural disasters. The Quad Cities metro area ranks seventh for its average morning commute of just 20 minutes, and 20th for the risk of and resilience to extreme weather or natural disasters, based on data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
22.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 39 Metro Population: 6,332,069 Metro Size: 6,567.7 square miles Median Home Price: $538,037 Average Annual Salary: $80,480
As the largest metro area on this list, the District of Columbia offers high-quality high school options – the metro areas ranks No. 15 in college readiness based on Best High Schools data. Plus, the plethora of federal government and government contractor jobs, in addition to a growing tech industry in the area, lead to a high average annual salary of $80,480. Naturally, the trade-off comes in the form of a long commute, as residents should expect to spend, on average, 34.3 minutes traveling between home and work.
21.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 26 Metro Population: 1,088,373 Metro Size: 3,266 square miles Median Home Price: $195,508 Average Annual Salary: $56,830
In Rochester affording a home is more achievable than many other parts of the U.S. – the median home price for the metro area is just $195,000, compared with the national average of $383,883. Rochester also ranks ninth out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. for quality of life, with particularly high scores for extreme weather resilience, crime rates and commute time.
20.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 38 Metro Population: 587,411 Metro Size: 1,621.8 square miles Median Home Price: $223,842 Average Annual Salary: $54,370
The capital of Pennsylvania is much smaller than major Keystone State metro areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but its affordability and quality of life help to make it one of the 25 Best Places to Live for Families in the U.S. Harrisburg area residents spend just 21.6% of the local median household income on housing costs, including mortgage payments, rent, property taxes and utilities.
19.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 7 Metro Population: 547,792 Metro Size: 2,081.4 square miles Median Home Price: $501,164 Average Annual Salary: $57,060
In the Sharecare Community Well-Being Index, which surveys residents in metro areas across the U.S. about their sense of security, overall happiness and community pride, Portland ranked 28th out of the 150 metro areas on the Best Places to Live list. Portland also has consistently low rates of property crime, violent crime and murder, according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The average annual salary in Portland is just shy of the national average of $58,260.
18.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 3 Metro Population: 2,034,246 Metro Size: 4,408.6 square miles Median Home Price: $434,741 Average Annual Salary: $61,759
Families living in the Raleigh and Durham metro area benefit from a high average annual salary of $61,759. The average morning commute time in the Raleigh and Durham area is 26.3 minutes. Residents can expect to spend 23.24% of the area’s median annual household income on housing expenses – higher than some metro areas on this list but still much less than other parts of the country.
17.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 27 Metro Population: 1,162,523 Metro Size: 1,565.1 square miles Median Home Price: $217,767 Average Annual Salary: $56,140
Near the U.S. border with Canada, Buffalo offers affordability you won’t find in New York City or many other parts of the U.S. Residents of the Buffalo area can expect to spend 21.31% of the median household income on housing costs. In addition, Buffalo ranks 28th out of the 150 metro areas on the Best Places to Live list for overall quality of life.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 14 Metro Population: 372,428 Metro Size: 706 square miles Median Home Price: $405,142 Average Annual Salary: $61,010
Ann Arbor takes the No. 13 spot out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. for proximity to quality health care. College readiness among Ann Arbor’s high school students is fifth out of the 150 metro areas on the list as well. Both those scores help contribute to it ranking as the No. 1 metro area for quality of life. Ann Arbor is also a spot to consider for those whose kids have left the nest, as it ranks No. 8 on the Best Places to Retire list.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 25 Metro Population: 364,877 Metro Size: 1,639.5 square miles Median Home Price: $219,950 Average Annual Salary: $44,470
Families placing an emphasis on affordable living can’t go wrong with Hickory, which is the most affordable place to live out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. Residents spend just 18.95% of the area’s median household income on housing costs, and the cost of goods and services in the area are the fifth cheapest in the U.S.
14.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 46 Metro Population: 959,306 Metro Size: 4,346.3 square miles Median Home Price: $298,971 Average Annual Salary: $54,980
With a short average commute of 20.7 minutes and a cost of living requiring just 21.8% of the area’s median annual household income, Omaha parents spend little time getting to work and keep more of the money they earn for their family. The average annual salary, at $54,980, is below the national average of $58,260, however.
13.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 47 Metro Population: 2,366,544 Metro Size: 5,282.9 square miles Median Home Price: $203,150 Average Annual Salary: $56,060
At No. 47 on the overall Best Places to Live list, Pittsburgh is another metro area that is particularly attractive for families because of the low cost of living – residents need just 20.1% of the median household income for housing. Additionally, Pittsburgh’s rates of property crime, violent crime and murder are low – ranking No. 30 out of the 150 places on the list in that category.
12.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 22 Metro Population: 661,106 Metro Size: 2,384.8 square miles Median Home Price: $190,129 Average Annual Salary: $57,990
Families looking to put down roots in upstate New York have a few options on this list. Syracuse residents spend 21.84% of the median household income to cover housing costs, which makes the metro area one of the more affordable options in the Northeast. With an average morning commute of just 21.3 minutes, working parents also get to spend a bit more time at home than those in many other parts of the country.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 11 Metro Population: 674,506 Metro Size: 3,308.8 square miles Median Home Price: $398,096 Average Annual Salary: $59,510
Madison residents spend a bit more on housing than other metro areas on the list, but the benefits may outweigh the cost. Low crime rates compared to the national average, high scores among high school students showing college readiness and an average morning commute of just 21.9 minutes make many families happy to call Madison home. Plus, the average annual salary is slightly above the national average at $59,510.
10.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 32 Metro Population: 337,906 Metro Size: 1,409 square miles Median Home Price: $261,535 Average Annual Salary: $51,970
The capital of Nebraska takes the No. 10 spot with a cost of living that requires just 21.77% of the area’s median annual household income. Lincoln also ranks 39th out of the 150 metro areas on the list in the Sharecare Community Well-Being Index for overall happiness among residents. One contributing factor to that happiness may be the fact that the average morning commute is the shortest on the list at just 19.5 minutes.
9.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 33 Metro Population: 415,887 Metro Size: 992.9 square miles Median Home Price: $216,538 Average Annual Salary: $50,330
Fort Wayne ranks 26th out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. for its low risk of extreme weather and natural disasters, and high resilience to those that do occur, according to FEMA. It also has the 25th-shortest commute of the metro areas on the Best Places to Live list, with an average morning commute of just 22 minutes.
8.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 20 Metro Population: 1,081,665 Metro Size: 2,689.1 square miles Median Home Price: $338,977 Average Annual Salary: $52,660
Grand Rapids residents spend just 20.72% of the area’s median annual household income on housing. Additionally, Grand Rapids ranks 14th for quality of life on the overall Best Places to Live list – in part for its low crime, college readiness score among high school students and average morning commute of just 21.9 minutes.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 17 Metro Population: 898,265 Metro Size: 2,811.8 square miles Median Home Price: $286,267 Average Annual Salary: $61,560
Albany’s average annual salary, at $61,560, is more than $3,000 above the national average. Albany also scores well for low rates of property crime, violent crime and murder, according to FBI data. Families will breathe easier too, as Albany ranks No. 20 out of 150 places for air quality, according to the U.S. Environmental Agency's Air Quality Index, which measures the amount of pollutants in the air that could cause harm to the general population.
6.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 19 Metro Population: 702,036 Metro Size: 3,612.4 square miles Median Home Price: $297,826 Average Annual Salary: $57,210
Ranking No. 19 on the overall Best Places to Live list, Des Moines is the sixth-best place to live for families in 2023-2024. The low cost of living in this Midwestern metro area ensures just 20.99% of the median household income is required for housing needs. While college readiness is a weak spot for the metro area, ranking 114th out of 150 in that category, a relatively strong job market and a short average commute lead to Des Moines taking the sixth spot.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 35 Metro Population: 3,659,156 Metro Size: 7,047.7 square miles Median Home Price: $361,058 Average Annual Salary: $63,990
Families considering a move to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area can expect to find many quality high school options and a low cost of living. Residents spend 22.63% of the median annual household income on housing costs. Additionally, the average annual salary is high at $63,990. Minneapolis-St. Paul high school students rank 33rd among those in the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. for college readiness.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 10 Metro Population: 538,063 Metro Size: 2,623.4 square miles Median Home Price: $369,179 Average Annual Salary: $51,590
A low cost of living is easy to find in this northwest Arkansas metro area. With residents spending just 20.44% of the area’s median household income on housing, Fayetteville is the 13th most affordable place to live out of the 150 metro areas in the Best Places to Live ranking. Another bonus: More spare time can be spent at home before and after work, as the average commute is just 20.7 minutes.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 1 Metro Population: 326,590 Metro Size: 1,870 square miles Median Home Price: $278,558 Average Annual Salary: $51,510
In Green Bay, families are able to save more money for other needs, as the cost of living requires just 19.92% of the area’s median household income. The Wisconsin metro area also ranks No. 18 out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. for its low rates of property crime, violent crime and murder. On top of that, the average morning commute is just 19.9 minutes.
2.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 13 Metro Population: 1,995,351 Metro Size: 2,679.7 square miles Median Home Price: $1,524,907 Average Annual Salary: $99,430
If quality education is a priority, you can’t go wrong living in the San Jose metro area, which ranks No. 1 out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. for college readiness among high school students. However, the good schools come at a cost, with residents spending a larger share of the median annual household income on the cost of living at 26.14%. Plus, the median home price is more than $1.5 million. The average salary is well above the national average of $58,260, though.
Read:
The 25 Best Affordable Places to Live in the U.S. in 2023-2024
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 2 Metro Population: 483,366 Metro Size: 1,361.6 square miles Median Home Price: $349,778 Average Annual Salary: $61,140
Not only is Huntsville's median annual salary, at $61,140, above the national average of $58,260, but residents spend just 19.62% of the median annual household income on the cost of living. Combine those statistics with how the cost of goods and services compare with other metro areas, Huntsville's the fourth most affordable metro area out of the 150 places on the list. Huntsville also ranks No. 25 for its relatively low risk of extreme weather or natural disasters, and higher resilience to those that could occur.
