We love to live the American dream. But with 50 states and a lot of cities to choose from, it can be tricky to decide where you should settle down and raise a family. How will you know which place would work for you?
Source: Pixabay
Here, we present a list of the best cities to move to in America based on data compiled by Niche. If you are thinking about moving anywhere in the USA, you definitely have to check out this list first.
Barrington, Rhode Island
Barrington is one of the wealthiest towns in Rhode Island. The quiet town is considered to be one of the best places to live in because of the location, education system, and community.
Source: Lila Delman
Barrington residents get to enjoy ocean views and lots of outdoor activities. Barrington is not just for water and nature lovers, it also offers a lot of culture and history. There are a lot of activities and sights to see that anyone of any age would enjoy.
Bentonville, Arkansas
Walmart has put Bentonville, Arkansas, on the map as its birthplace. This small town has an impressive cultural center and a bustling food scene. It is also a paradise for nature lovers.
Source: Mason Capital Group
Bentonville is also known to be the Mountain Biking Capital of the World thanks to its many beautiful biking trails. It is also a great community to live in since everything you need is just a short distance away from the residential areas.
Bozeman, Montana
Located in the Rocky Mountains, Bozeman is also known as the “Queen City of the Rockies.” Bozeman offers a lot of beautiful parks and trails, great schools, low crime rates, a tight-knit community, and a lot of opportunities to do outdoor activities.
Source: Montana406
It is not all about adventure either. The city is also a thriving arts and culture hub with cultural centers, museums, street festivals, farmer’s markets, theaters, and art galleries to feed your creative mind.
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline offers you an urban living feel without the hassles of actually living in the city. The crime rate is low, schools are good, and there is job security in the area. Brookline is also known to have one of the best public transits in America.
Source: Give It Love
Brookline is home to multiple colleges and universities giving the city a youthful vibe. It also offers plenty of nightlife activities, attracting millennials and young professionals to be residents of the area.
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
This classic seaside town is very scenic and affluent. Cape Elizabeth is a prime area for tourism and is best known for its beautiful Portland Head Light, which is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world.
Source: Fishing Booker
There are several other lighthouses in the area and beautiful beaches. It is a great area to live year-round for families who love to go swimming, boating, and fishing. Cape Elizabeth is also known for having one of the best public school systems in America.
Carmel, Indiana
Carmel has been recognized multiple times as one of the best places to raise a family and start a career. More than a hundred business have their headquarters in Carmel and there are a lot of cultural and entertainment options for everyone in the family.
Source: Living in Indianapolis
Carmel is also known for its great infrastructure and the town looks very clean. It also is home to great schools that offer academic excellence and exceptional fine arts and sports programs.
Catalina Foothills, Arizona
Referred to as the “Beverly Hills of Tucson,” Catalina Foothills is composed of posh neighborhoods, upscale retail shops, art galleries, golf courses, and a promising food scene. It is one of the best places to live in Arizona.
Source: The Tucson Foothills
Catalina Foothills is not only about the lavish and luxurious lifestyle. It also provides something for those who love nature and adventure as it has easy access to the best national parks, hiking trails, and picnic areas in the region.
Clarendon Hills, Illinois
Clarendon Hills is a small town with only a population of 8,716. It is known for its exceptional education system with a majority of the students’ test scores exceeding Illinois Learning Standards.
Source: Realty Executives
The community in Clarendon Hills is mostly composed of families and most residents own their homes. Clarendon Hills has a dense suburban vibe with lots of coffee shops, restaurants, and parks in the area.
College, Alaska
This small suburb of Fairbanks, Alaska, is a great spot to live in for outdoorsy people who love to go fishing and hiking. The cost of living is very affordable and may allow you to save up some money.
Source: Wikipedia
College is a great option for Alaska if you want the hustle, bustle, and noise of living in the city. This small town is just next to a big city so you can still enjoy the perks of being close to a city.
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a perfect place for those who want to be close enough to the city life but also go home to a laid-back neighborhood since it is just five miles away from Atlanta. It is also known to have a great food scene thanks to its multiple restaurants, breweries, and distilleries.
Source: DecaturGA
Decatur also has a thriving art and festival scene. It hosts a lot of events that the whole family can enjoy all year round. Plus, Decatur also has a lot of historic structures that residents and tourists can enjoy.
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Eden Prairie is a great place to raise a family and start a career. It has attractive and affordable housing options and has more than 2,000 businesses, municipal and regional parks, community gardens, multi-use trails, lakes, and beaches.
Source: PODS
Eden Prairie has an urban vibe but it is not as fast-paced as bigger cities. It’s just the right place if you want something laidback but modern. It consistently ranks well when it comes to education, cost of living, diversity, and safety.
Fort Thomas, Kentucky
If you plan to move to Kentucky, Fort Thomas is considered to be the best place to settle down in the state. The cost of living in Fort Thomas is 5% less expensive than the national average.
Source: Everything Fort Thomas Kentucky via Facebook
Job stability is also available in Fort Thomas. The highest paying industries in the area are real estate, finance, insurance, and public administration. The education system is also known for its diversity and high test scores.
Holly Hills, Colorado
Niche gave Holly Hills the triple crown as it is named the best place to live, the best place to raise a family, and the best place to retire in Colorado. It just hit the right numbers when it comes to the cost of living, education, local housing, walkability, and diversity.
Source: k99
The area is mostly composed of residential homes, most of which date back to the 1960s. If you are looking for a rural feel this is the perfect spot for you. The community is mostly composed of families and retirees.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii and it is a very popular international tourist and surfing destination. It is also well-loved for its tropical climate, paradise-like environment, and beaches.
Source: Give It Love
It is almost impossible to feel bored in Honolulu. There are a lot of things to do, new places to see, and a lot of culinary offerings. Honolulu is in fact, considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Incline Village, Nevada
Incline Village is home to Lake Tahoe’s most stunning mountain retreats. So, you can expect that it is not the cheapest place to find a home. In fact, a lot of billionaires own a home in the area.
Source: Travel Lens
If you have the cash, this is definitely a great place to live in. Incline Village is a paradise for nature, water, and snow lovers. You get access to a lot of ski slopes, hiking trails, bike paths, and waterfront activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Jericho, New York
Jericho is considered to be the safest place to live in New York. The crime rate is 73% lower than the national average. Jericho has some of the top public high schools in the country too, which makes it a nice place to raise a family.
Source: Give It Love
The Milleridge Inn is one of the most popular landmarks in Jericho. This small town offers a lot of parks, coffee shops, and restaurants in the area. It is definitely a far cry from the city that never sleeps.
Madison, Alabama
Madison may be one of the wealthiest cities in Alabama but it is surprisingly affordable to live there. The small city has one of the best school systems in Alabama, making it a great place for starting a family.
Source: Matt Curtis Real Estate
Aside from the high-quality schools, the city is well known for its southern hospitality. It is a family-friendly community that is perfect for those who want to raise a family in a small town.
Madison, Mississippi
Madison has experienced an increase in population over the last decade but it has managed to retain its small-town charm. The community is big on family values and aside from being the best city in the state to live in, it is also recognized to be the best place to retire in all of America.
Source: Realtor
Madison is deemed to be one of the safest cities in the USA as well thanks to its very low crime rate. The weather is almost perfect – snowfall is minimal and it is mostly sunny for the rest of the year.
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is home to the University of Idaho, making it a college town filled with a youthful vibe with lots of bars and coffee shops. There is plenty to do in this small town. Not only that but it is also a good suburb area to raise a family.
Source: SAH Archipedia
Moscow is known to be the heart of arts and is one of the best small art towns in America. Moscow is the home of the Renaissance Fair, Artwalk and the Prichard Art Gallery, the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, and Rendezvous in the Park.
Mount Vernon, Iowa
Mount Vernon is known for its rolling hills, historic homes, and quirky shopping district. With a population of only 4,527, it is considered to be one of the coolest small towns in the country.
Source: Give It Love
Mount Vernon is also home to the famous and historic liberal arts institution, Cornell College. It is also famous for its sidewalk chalk festival, Chalk the Walk which takes place every May.
Nocatee, Florida
Nocatee is one of the most affordable coastal communities to settle down in America. The location of the neighborhoods was so planned out carefully that they are all minutes away from shopping centers, beaches, restaurants, and other amenities.
Source: Nocatee News
The residents of Nocatee have a strong sense of community so it is no surprise that there are a lot of community events that allow everyone to get to know each other. It is a great option if you want to move to a place with an active community.
Okemos, Michigan
With Michigan State University as its neighbor, Okemos is a fantastic place to start a family. The cost of living there is also known to be affordable. It is lower than the national average.
Source: Coldwell Banker Hubbell BriarWood
Okemos also has lower poverty and crime rates. It is a great option if you are looking for a safe place to stay in Michigan. The city is mostly occupied by young adults and starting families.
Pike Creek, Delaware
Pike Creek is home to numerous parks, hiking trails, and bike paths making it a paradise for nature lovers and outdoorsy people. It also has a lot of restaurants, retail shops, and golf courses in the area.
Source: Regency Centers
Pike Creek is also known to be a very safe community with only 1.6% of its population living below the poverty line. The community is mostly made up of families and young professionals.
Prairie Village, Kansas
If you are looking for something laidback with lots of beautiful scenery, you should check our Prairie Village in Kansas. The city is known for its great education system, safe neighborhoods, and employment opportunities.
Source: SAH Archipedia
Prairie Village also has multiple recreational activities and parks for outdoor lovers. There are also several bars and restaurants. During Christmas, Prairie Village also does the Candy Cane Lane tradition.
Prairieville, Louisiana
Baton Rouge residents have been migrating to Prairieville over the past years thanks to its lower crime rate and great educational system. Today, it is one of the fastest-developing areas in the state of Louisiana.
Source: The Houk Group
Prairieville has a suburban but modern vibe with lots of sports bars, restaurants, and shopping centers. It also offers a lot of nature-filled activities for those who love the great outdoors.
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is most famous for Princeton University, one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the whole world. But Princeton has more to offer than just being home to an ivy league school.
Source: Jersey’s Best
Princeton has a lot of beautiful architecture, quirky shops, churches, museums, parks, and delicious restaurants. It is also home to a lot of historic sites like the Albert Einstein House, and the Jugtown Historic District.
Richmond Heights, Missouri
Niche recommends Richmond Heights as the best place to live in Missouri. It got high scores for school performance, family friendliness, and nightlife. It also has a very decent shopping area.
Source: Wikipedia
Richmond Heights has a population of only 8,500, which makes it a good place to raise a family for those who are looking for a small community. The housing market is also affordable in the area.
Santa Monica, California
Location is everything when looking for a place to settle and it is not hard to see why this beachfront city is one of the most coveted locations in California. You get to be close to the beach, a theme park on the pier, and restaurants.
Source: Pixabay
The quality of living in Santa Monica is quite high so living here will not be cheap. But if you desire a more relaxed lifestyle and first-rate amenities, moving here will be totally worth it. Santa Monica is also home to a lot of celebrities.
South Kensington, Maryland
This small town of South Kensington has a population of 8,763 residents. Add the fact that the graduation rates are high and the crime rate is low makes it an ideal place to start a family.
Source: Bigger Equity
For residents, South Kensington has a suburban vibe. There are a lot of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and parks for everyone to enjoy. There are also numerous outdoor activities to do around towns such as hiking, biking, and fishing.
West Hartford, Connecticut
The public high schools in West Hartford are recognized to be among the best in America. This diverse and dynamic town offers both urban and suburban experiences for its residents.
Source: Wikipedia
There is always something to do in West Hartford. It is home to the Mark Twain House and Museum, the Elizabeth Park Conservancy, Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society, the Connecticut Historical Society Museum and Library, and of course, the West Hartford Reservoir.
A big decision
Moving to a new city is a major decision – there are a lot of factors to consider. But you should also keep in mind that what makes a city great is usually subjective. What works for others may not work for you.
Source: Give It Love
Some would prefer a small and tight-knit community while others want the accessibility of large cities. The important thing to keep in mind is that you choose a city that can provide what you need and want.