The Best Places to Live in the U.S.: 25 Small to Mid Size Cities with It All

[{"selector":"#anim-dca71f01-aae7-4305-b277-10d6ab92a24b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9eb95aa1-773a-4a64-be9d-0285a3c06e4b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.92356%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4d2e2c9-ba7e-4e51-9189-674e9be7c510 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(6.809860504776106%, 6.896551201037846%) scale(0.8620689655172413)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

Over the past 18 months, almost half of Americans either moved or thought about it. If you look into your options, you’ll find that the most livable places in the U.S. aren’t necessarily the biggest, and sometimes they’re surprising.

[{"selector":"#anim-20729272-6004-4231-bee5-63e847601fec [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-15.034965034965037%, 14.991259164974943%) scale(0.6993006993006993)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65e91f4e-5d51-44de-8001-c5d23f3ef298","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7963577-0d3a-4221-80ba-e3e1ac5ba702","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(132.15688%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

So if you’re one of the millions of people contemplating moving and you’re looking for a small or mid-sized town that has it all, this list of the best places to live is for you.

[{"selector":"#anim-3e7fff4d-b8be-49d0-b0f4-c1f1ffcb4286 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(5.143802750730415%, 15.517240960830252%) scale(0.6896551724137931)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-823389ca-cf6a-4813-bbc4-d968f70688fc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2fb18416-4836-4bfd-995e-7732acfef77c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(128.46153%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

1. Madison, Wisconsin

[{"selector":"#anim-e03ddc92-6eb2-4b63-b683-26f26d28cd76","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-197f18c2-6d70-4e34-9b78-d867e500798c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cb43865b-f945-415a-b329-337724f80d2c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.17808%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] One of the best college towns in the country, Madison, Wisconsin, is much more than meets the eye. Located between Lake Mendota and Monona, it also has a strong economy. Learn more

2. Ann Arbor, Michigan

[{"selector":"#anim-1c801c4a-6372-45bf-bdd2-665a0953a37a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-394d926a-cba3-43b7-ac22-134a09fdf1e4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-22ce337b-dcc2-45fa-a73b-a8e0667ef0c8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.17808%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Known mainly as the home of the University of Michigan, this college town is buzzing with culture, green vistas, and innovation, making it one of the best places to live in the U.S. Learn more

3. Overland Park, Kansas

[{"selector":"#anim-c46cc7c2-f621-4185-a570-cc602d7f1cde","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef93d94b-acca-418c-a822-701299aa377b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(99.72603%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ea5818a-2903-4712-a5bb-ca034829df65","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] If you’re looking for a suburb with peaceful scenery, look into Overland Park. With excellent schools, affordable houses, and plenty of theatres, this nearby city to St. Louis received high marks. Learn more

4. Frederick, Maryland

[{"selector":"#anim-bd1ea276-e46e-4594-8e32-1b9c08386d12","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15b16fa9-e9d3-49f3-a02d-5cedca9b5aa2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(99.17809%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73911204-8481-461a-a347-f3fbe8968c34","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] If you had to describe Frederick in one word, it would be charming. With countryside wineries, beautiful architecture, and rich history, this little city is truly one of the best places to live in the U.S. Learn more

5. Charlottesville, Virginia

[{"selector":"#anim-83128806-e8ac-4fcd-a70a-429fe98aa1f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f90323b2-598d-4eba-a01c-db5a036cc6d3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-331f3df4-072e-4047-ba3f-35f833612e1b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(99.17809%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Another college town, Charlottesville, has grown from the creativity and energy of the prestigious public college, The University of Virginia. Learn more

SWIPE UP FOR MORE!

[{"selector":"#anim-328dcb3c-0153-43f4-9c42-70852aef02c5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ec6cbb1-007d-4045-8c23-038386bf59c9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 320.61897%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

More Stories

[{"selector":"#anim-a1273654-01c2-49f9-8216-18042d6c756f","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.05)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.995)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":3}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d67dbf1-8ef5-45e8-8961-a8aa47439a47","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-244.37084%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93e4caab-1059-4071-a47d-23b3b3991293","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c2938bc3-033c-4f60-a334-78b2ea3f16ce","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dabb3848-fb89-4258-a373-1d66488cb790","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dce05e6b-cf2e-484a-915e-5819e5f2d8a8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-16cc79fe-5297-409b-8000-15211bd1bb1a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-285da222-48e0-4c95-ac64-5cd17445e046","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec825b62-937c-4e7a-9dc7-7676df8f3953","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4960504-1b0e-49ad-b221-942e2b03b89c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":700,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9628c2c-a8ef-4c8d-9c54-c74b8a8e5a66","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-253.52112%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-03261b89-290e-473e-a802-4f81b17cdb89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4ec124f-1c49-4432-99a4-13930e0d243c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]