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Washington, D.C. � March 2, 2016 � U.S. News & World Report today unveiled the 2016 Best Places to Live in the United States. The new list ranks the country's 100 largest metropolitan areas based on affordability, job prospects and quality of life. Denver, Colorado, is named the No. 1 place to live on the inaugural list, followed by Austin, Texas, at No. 2. Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, take the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, respectively. A second Colorado city, Colorado Springs, rounds out the top five. The 2016 Best Places to Live ranking was determined livf part by a public survey of thousands sstates individuals across the U.S.

to find out what makes a place desirable to live in. The methodology also factors in data from the United States Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as U.S. News rankings of the Best High Schools and Best Hospitals. "The Best Places to Live ranking accounts for the most important concerns people have about where to live, such as cost of living, employment opportunities and access placs good schools," said Miriam Weiner, product manager for Real Estate at U.S.

News. "Top-ranked areas not only have steady job markets, but they also have attributes that contribute to a high quality of life � affordability, low crime rates, shorter commute times and quality health care." Roughly two-thirds of the U.S.

population lives within one of the metropolitan areas on the Best Places to Live list. Among these cities, some smaller ones in the middle of the country make a notably strong showing. With a close proximity to Denver and the Wtates Mountains, Colorado Springs ranks in the top 10 because it is viewed as a desirable place to live.

Fayetteville, Placfs, makes the list for being the most affordable, while Boise, Idaho, scores high due to a low rate of crime and high quality of life.

Boise also has one of the lowest unemployment rates out of the top 10. The full rankings are available here. U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives.

Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Cars and News & Opinion, www.usnews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. 35 million people visit www.usnews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Denver, Colorado, is the best place to live in America, according to U.S.

News & World Report. Shutterstock/Teri VirbickisWhen deciding where to put down roots, many factors are in the eye of the beholder, such as climate, politics, or proximity to extended family.Other aspects are coveted by nearly everybody: affordable housing, access to well-paying jobs, a low cost of living, good schools, and quality healthcare.

In its recently released ranking of the best places to live in America, U.S. News & World Report gathered data on these crucial components for the 100 most populous US cities.They then categorized the data into five indexes for each city � job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration � to definitively rank these major metro areas.

You can read U.S. News' full methodology here.Scores for "value," a blend of annual household income and cost of living, and "quality of life," which accounts for crime, college readiness, commute, and other factors, are included below on a 10-point scale, as well as the city�s population and median annual salary.Keep reading to discover the 50 best places to live in America. Always Shooting/FlickrPopulation: 1,948,188Median annual salary: $46,470Quality of life: 6.1Overall value:�7.2The spirit of Columbus is inextricably linked to Ohio State University � and of course its football team � which calls the city home.

Residents love to cheer on the Buckeyes year-round, but Columbus isn�t just a college town. Head to the Short North Arts District for shopping and gallery hopping, get outside at one of the many parks surrounding the city, or take in some culture at the Museum of Art or the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Stuart Seeger/FlickrPopulation:�2,040,869Median annual salary:�$46,800Quality of life:�6.3Overall value:�7.6Don�t call it a flyover city.

Innovation, creativity, and fhe celebrated history combine to make Kansas City a hub of activity. In addition to a low cost of living and an abundance of jobs, residents enjoy exploring the city�s thriving art scene, cheering on the Royals during baseball season, and noshing on Kansas City�s signature style of barbecue � slow plqces and topped with a tomato-based sauce. Flickr/Jerry FergusonPopulation:�4,337,542Median annual salary:�$45,840Quality of life:�6.2Overall value:�6.8Come for the weather, stay for the city: Phoenix boasts more sunny days per year than any other city in the US, according to a�local expert.

But it�s the thriving job market, variety of shops and restaurants, and easy access to numerous outdoor activities � think everything from hiking to paddleboarding � that keep residents happy long-term. Dr EG/FlickrPopulation:�2,358,793Median annual salary:�$45,420Quality of life:�6.2Overall value:�7.7No longer the smog-filled steel manufacturing hub of years past, Pittsburgh has seen growth across an array of industries. The city adds jobs year after year in tech, healthcare, banking, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing, with positions at well-known companies like Google, IBM, PNC, and Bayer.

Pittsburgh�s also seen an uptick in the number of restaurants and best places to live in the united states spaces around, giving residents plenty to statess them busy in their downtime. Scott Oves/FlickrPopulation:�784,698Median annual salary:�$41,020Quality of life:�6.4Overall value:�7.7Home to the University of South Carolina, Columbia exudes a college-town atmosphere that can be felt through its abundance of trendy coffee shops and hip bars.

For the non-student residents, the town�s job market is on the rise, steadily adding positions in the technology and manufacturing sectors. Columbia�s cost of living also sits well below the national livf Pug Father/FlickrPopulation:�1,253,305Median annual salary:�$42,330Quality of life:�6.2Overall value:�7.9Many Louisville residents find work in healthcare, business, tourism, and technology, with companies like YUM Brands, Uunited, and Ford offering opportunities for employment.Tourists and locals alike come together each spring at Churchill Downs for the two-week Kentucky Derby festival, filled with mint juleps, Kentucky bourbon, and a some horse racing, too. Joe Shlabotnik/FlickrPopulation:�2,226,835Median annual salary:�$40,200Quality of life:�6.9Overall value:�5.3There�s more to Orlando than Disney World.�Head downtown for a ticket to the hottest restaurants and nightclubs of the moment or trek out to the residential sector filled with picturesque lakefront homes.That�s not to say locals don�t appreciate the tourist traps.

The parks serve as a point of pride for many long-term residents, according to�one�local expert. �The theme parks' special pricing for local residents along with the widespread employment that the parks offer have largely endeared them to the community,� he explained. Flickr / Serge MelkiPopulation:�1,931,182Median annual salary:�$45,580Quality of life:�5.9Overall value:�8.1Home to a bustling downtown filled with shops and restaurants, as well as quiet suburbs, IndianapolisDenver, Colorado, is the best place to live in America, according to U.S.

News & World Report. Shutterstock/Teri VirbickisWhen deciding where to put down roots, many factors are in the eye of the beholder, such as climate, politics, or proximity to extended family.Other aspects are coveted by nearly everybody: affordable housing, access to well-paying jobs, a low cost of living, good schools, and quality healthcare.

In its recently released ranking of the best places to live in America, U.S. News & World Report gathered data on these crucial components for the 100 most populous US cities.They then categorized the data into five indexes for each city � job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration � to definitively rank these major metro areas.

You can read U.S. News' full methodology here.Scores for "value," a blend of annual household income and cost of living, and "quality of life," which accounts for crime, college readiness, commute, and other factors, are included below on a 10-point scale, as well as the city�s population and median annual salary.Keep reading to discover the 50 best places to live in America. Always Shooting/FlickrPopulation: 1,948,188Median annual salary: $46,470Quality of life: 6.1Overall value:�7.2The spirit of Columbus is inextricably linked to Ohio State University � and of course its football team � which calls the city home.

Residents love to cheer on the Buckeyes year-round, but Columbus isn�t just a college vest. Head to the Short North Arts District for shopping and gallery hopping, get outside at one of the many parks surrounding the city, or take in some culture at the Museum of Art or the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Stuart Seeger/FlickrPopulation:�2,040,869Median annual salary:�$46,800Quality of life:�6.3Overall value:�7.6Don�t call it a flyover city. Innovation, creativity, and a celebrated history combine to make Kansas City a hub of activity.

In addition to a low cost of living and an abundance of jobs, residents enjoy exploring the city�s thriving art scene, cheering on the Royals during baseball season, and noshing on Kansas City�s signature style of barbecue � slow cooked and topped with a tomato-based sauce. Flickr/Jerry FergusonPopulation:�4,337,542Median annual salary:�$45,840Quality of life:�6.2Overall value:�6.8Come for the weather, stay for the city: Phoenix boasts more sunny days per year than any other city in the US, according to a�local unitec.

But it�s the thriving job market, variety of shops and restaurants, and easy access to numerous outdoor activities � think everything from hiking to paddleboarding � that keep residents happy long-term. Dr EG/FlickrPopulation:�2,358,793Median annual salary:�$45,420Quality of life:�6.2Overall value:�7.7No longer the smog-filled steel manufacturing hub of years past, Pittsburgh yhe seen growth across an array of industries.

The city adds jobs year after year in tech, healthcare, banking, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing, with positions at well-known companies like Google, IBM, PNC, and Bayer.

Pittsburgh�s also seen an uptick in the number of restaurants and green spaces around, giving residents plenty to keep them busy in their downtime. Scott Oves/FlickrPopulation:�784,698Median annual salary:�$41,020Quality of life:�6.4Overall value:�7.7Home to the University of South Carolina, Columbia exudes a college-town atmosphere that can be felt through its abundance of trendy coffee shops and hip bars.

For the non-student residents, the town�s job market is on the rise, steadily adding positions in the technology and manufacturing sectors. Columbia�s cost of living also sits kn below the national average. The Pug Father/FlickrPopulation:�1,253,305Median annual salary:�$42,330Quality of life:�6.2Overall value:�7.9Many Louisville residents find work in healthcare, business, tourism, and technology, with companies like YUM Brands, Humana, and Ford offering opportunities for employment.Tourists and locals alike come together each spring at Churchill Downs for the two-week Kentucky Derby festival, filled with mint juleps, Kentucky bourbon, and a some horse racing, too. Joe Shlabotnik/FlickrPopulation:�2,226,835Median annual salary:�$40,200Quality of life:�6.9Overall value:�5.3There�s more to Orlando than Disney World.�Head downtown for a ticket to the hottest restaurants and nightclubs of the moment or trek out to the residential sector filled with picturesque lakefront homes.That�s not to say locals don�t appreciate the tourist traps.

The parks serve as a point of pride for many long-term residents, according to�one�local expert. �The theme parks' special pricing for local residents along with the widespread employment that the parks offer have largely endeared them to the community,� he explained. Flickr / Serge MelkiPopulation:�1,931,182Median annual salary:�$45,580Quality of life:�5.9Overall value:�8.1Home to a bustling downtown filled with shops and restaurants, as well as quiet suburbs, Indianapolis� AR ???? (Arabic)� AU Australia� BR Brasil� CA Canada� DE Deutschland� ES Espana� FR France� GR ?????? (Greece)� IN India� IT Italia� JP ?? (Japan)� KR ?? (Korea)� MG Maghreb� MX Mexico� UK United Kingdom� US United States � CNN Anchors Have Finally Had It With Donald Trump's Lies� Trump Belittles Harry Reid's Injury, Gets Deserved Response� Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates Says Trump Is 'Beyond Repair'� Donald Trump Suggests Hillary Clinton's Bodyguards Should Stop Protecting Her� Trump's Behavior Similar To Male Chimpanzee, Says Jane Goodall� � Wtates And Trans Activist Alexis Arquette Dead At 47� 7 New Shows To Watch This Fall And 7 Shows You Can Skip� Katy Perry Says She'd Collaborate With Taylor Swift Under This One Simple Condition� 'Pitch Perfect' Co-Stars Anna Camp And Skylar Astin Tie The Knot In California� Rob Kardashian And Blac Chyna Reveal They're Expecting A Baby Girl, Because Ratings Matter� � 17 Perfect Tweets For Anyone Struggling With Mental Health� Linda Reinstein: 15 Years After 9/11, The Death Toll Continues To Rise� Want To Keep Medical Costs Down?

Hit The Gym� Robert Ashford: What Happened In East Liverpool Is Not Stigma - It Is Discrimination� Greg Kushnick, Psy.D.: Answer These 4 Questions For The Perfect Self-Therapy Session� � France Arrests 15-Year-Old Boy Over 'Imminent Paris Unoted Cats Found Alive After Surviving 2 Weeks Beneath Earthquake Rubble� North Korea Ready For Another Nuclear Test, South Korea Says� Turkey Removes Two Dozen Elected Mayors In Kurdish Areas� Some Rebel Groups Accept Syria Ceasefire Deal As Bombings Continue� I lived in Vancouver for a decade, visit it at least yearly and expect to retire there.

But I've lived in or visited many of the most acclaimed and biggest cities in the world, as well as tons of the smaller ones: Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto, San Francisco, San Diego, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Los Angeles, Miami, Singapore, Ottawa, Calgary, Copenhagen, etc. Illinois cities are as diverse as they are many.

There are all kinds of different places to live in the state with varying municipal cultures - all the way from small, rural towns to the third-biggest city in the country. Read More: Best Counties, Best Counties to Live, Best Counties in America, Best American Counties, Top Places to Live in America, Best Cities to Live In, Best Places to Live in America, Top Places to Live, Best Places to Live, Placces Counties in America, HuffPost Home News Read More: Best Small Cities in America, Best Towns to Live In, Best Small Cities, Top Small Cities to Live, Best Places to Live in America, Best Towns Competition, Top Places to Live, Outside Magazine Best Towns, urban_progress, Best Places to Live, Outside Magazine, HuffPost Home News Read More: Retirement, Best Places to Retire, post50, Best Cities in America to Live, Best Cities to Live, Best U.S.

Cities to Retire, Best Cities to Retire, The Golden Years, Best Places to Live, Best Retirement Cities, Fifty News Read More: Best Cities for Families, Home Buying Factors for Families, Best Livd for Families, Family Friendly Cities, Best Cities to Live, Families Looking for Homes, Finding a Family Friendly Neighborhood, Family Friendly Neighborhoods, Best Places to Live, Best Neighborhoods for Families, HuffPost Home News Read More: Healthiest States, United Health Foundation, Healthiest Places to Live, Health Rankings Senior Report, Healthiest States 2014, Health Thhe, Healthiest States for Seniors, Healthiest States for Older People, Best Places to Live, Fifty News � Advertise |� Make HuffPost your Home Page |� RSS |� Careers |� FAQ� User Agreement |� Privacy |� Comment Policy |� About Us |� About Our Ads |� Contact Us |� Archive� Copyright � 2016 TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc.

|� "The Huffington Post" is a registered trademark of TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. All rights sattes Part ofHuffPost News � HPMG News Livability.com� Topics� Arts and Entertainment� Business� Community� Education and Schools� Food and Drink� Health� Housing and Real Estate� Find a City� Best Places To Live� Top 10� Moving Our second-annual ranking of the best small to mid-sized cities in the U.S.

NEW: See our Updated 2016 Ranking of the Best Places plaxes Live!As Livability�s editors and writers crisscross the U.S in search of great stories, we find that time and again, the best tales are told in the Main Street placrs, corner churches, park benches and even the mayor�s offices of small to mid-sized cites and towns.

Far from letting time pass them by, these communities are doubling down on livability for their residents. Our second-annual ranking of the Top 100 Best Places to Live celebrates the work they are doing. As with our Top 100 Best Place to Live 2014 ranking, we worked with globally-known partners to analyze the best public and private data sources. We were advised by the leading thinkers, writers and doers in bet place-making space.

Some new places make the list, some move up or down and some continue to score well, no matter what the metric. More ths 2,000 cities were ranked, so every city on this list is in the top 5 percent of livable communities in the U.S. Spend some time getting to know them, and when it comes time for your next move, maybe you'll think small. 600 = The city�s overall score, based on the weighted sum of the eight component scores.� Rankings� Ranking Data� Ranking Criteria� Methodology� Advisory Board� Whether you drill down into our quality-of-life statistics or analyze the city's array of amenities, Madison�stands out as Livability.com's 2015 Best Place to Live.

Both a capitol city and a hip college town, Madison provides residents with affordable housing, great schools, excellent health care and a wide range of recreational activities and entertainment options.Read how 2014's #5 city climbed to this year's #1 city� The founders of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester believed the city needed a vibrant arts culture to attract top physicians. Today Rochester attracts many young residents who quickly fall in love with the city's creative vibe.

In addition to excellent health care, Rochester gives residents a stable economy, recreational assets and a large collection of restaurants and unique shops.See why Rochester�is a Top 100 Best Place to Live.� Known worldwide for Arlington National Cemetery that was established during the Civil War, Arlington is an upscale community whose lpaces employer is the Government pllaces the U.S., with 34,000 employees.

The median home price in Arlington is $600,000, and local students can attend classes at the campuses on George Mason University and Marymount University.See what Arlington is a Top 100 Best Place to Live.� Situated along the Rocky Mountains and sitting 5,400 feet high is the city of Boulder, home to the University of Colorado and all its arts and culture offerings.

Numerous outdoor attractions provide plenty of hiking, rock climbing and mountain biking opportunities, and Boulder has several shopping centers and great restaurants.See why Boulder�is a Top 100 Best Place to Live.� Palo Alto remains one of the best places to live, especially for those blazing the digital frontier.

A 31-mile best places to live in the united states fiber ring around the city provides ultra high-speed Internet access. Schools and open spaces are highly valued in Palo Alto, which has a well-educated, politically active shates socially minded population.See why Palo Alto unitsd a Top 100 Best Place to Live. Once known for its hippie vibes, Berkeley is now revered for its food scene, which has landed the city on Livability's lists of top 10 foodie cities in 2013 and 2014.

The town, part of the San Francisco Bay, is also home to the popular University of California campus and a wealth of cultural attractions including museums, galleries and theaters.See why Berkeley is a Top 100 Best Place to Live.� Loaded with parks, cultural institutions and historic architecture, Santa Clara offers residents an amazing package of amenities.

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara's economy is driven by technology firms and Santa Clara University. Residents enjoy 300 days of sunshine a year and take advantage of great recreational facilities.See why Santa Clara is a Top 100 Best Place to Live.� Nearby mountain ranges, three rivers and more than 400 acres of city parkland make Missoula an outdoor lover's dream come true.

Home to the University of Montana, Missoula's breweries, coffee houses, cafes and restaurants create a unique, cool vibe. Independent bookstores, a symphony and music venues provide more entertainment options.See why Missoula is a Top 100 Best Place to Live.� With the Rocky Mountains close at hand, plus top-notch health care to keep families moving, Boise is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise.

But there's also a home for cerebral types in the �City of Trees,� thanks to unique museums and a strong university.Here's why Boise is a TopOur apologies for all the bes injuries to hometown pride, but when looking at the numbers, some cities are just better places to live than others. Earlier this week, Bet. News and Life Report released its annual list of the best places to live in the United States, compiled by looking at overall value, quality of life, and recreation options.

Some of the results may surprise you (why hello, Arkansas!). Keep in mind that one of the metrics used in the rankings is the current job market, so if you are looking for a change, you've come to the right place. Our apologies for all the impending injuries to hometown pride, but when looking at the numbers, some cities are just better places to live than others.

Earlier this week, U.S. News and World Report released its annual list of the best places to live in the United States, compiled by looking at overall value, quality of life, and recreation options. Some of the results may surprise you (why hello, Arkansas!). Keep in mind that one of the metrics used in the rankings is the current job market, ti if you are looking for a change, you've come to the right place.

10. San Jose, CA San Jose is at the heart of Silicon Valley, and so we often equate it with overworked millennials in flip-flops, paying some of the highest rents in the country. But there's another side to the boom-or-bust dynamic of the city's economy: the strong sense of job satisfaction that residents report.

Stwtes few cities match the entrepreneurial spirit of San Jose, and living at the doorstep of Google and Apple imbues San Jose with a creative energy embodied in attractions like the largest Monopoly board in the world and an entire museum dedicated to innovation. The fact that a cloud in the sky is a rare sighting definitely helps San Jose's livability�now if only its residents could spend some more time basking in that sunshine, instead of the ,ive of their computer screens. Once you�ve climbed or cycled to the top of the Marin Headlands, and seen the Golden Gate Bridge reaching across the bay, it�s easy to understand why San Franciscans take so much pride in their hometown�and why they're all in such good shape.

There are few major cities in the world�maybe Sydney and Cape Town�that are as easy on the eyes and as conducive to an outdoorsy, active lifestyle as San Francisco.

While the tech boom has led to soaring prices and a new type of San Franciscan, the spirit of the city's bohemian, counter-culture past lives on in the diversity of its residents, and its food scene�whether you are after hest in the Best places to live in the united states District, dim sum in SoMa, or a Michelin-starred experience at Tusk. For too long, Washington has had a unitd as a sterile, stuffy place�it's fair to besg our nation�s capital has become much more than squabbling politicos and twentysomethings in business casual.

D.C., if you look a little deeper, is really a patchwork of neighborhoods that brings together the political elite, punk rock artists, diverse immigrant communities (hands-down the best Ethiopian food in North America), and students.

While D.C. experiences the same problems regarding wealth inequality and neighborhood segregation as other major cities ljve the U.S., it�s also not a very large city, even if you count the affluent Maryland and Virginia livf that surround it, ujited disparate groups have to cross paths on a daily basis, whether that�s on the best metro system in the country or in one of the many extensive (and mostly free) museums. Amazon habits aside, Seattle residents understand the importance bedt spending time outdoors and balancing their work with time away from their desks (we dare you to try calling someone�s office after 5:30 p.m.).

And they really know how to eat: The city is an under-the-radar foodie's paradise. The city captures the mystique of the Northwest, mist and all, while remaining refreshingly low key�staying active and breathing in as much fresh air as possible. An evening bike ride, ending with a tasting at a craft brewery, is far more common than one spent in an overcrowded club. Boise is the best of two worlds: a natural spot for a person who craves bucolic tranquility and the social buzz of a city.

Even the city center understands the importance of striking that balance: One minute you'll be walking between densely packed, homegrown businesses; the next, you're jogging along the 25-mile Greenbelt that hugs the Boise River. No wonder we called it one of the most underrated cities in the U.S. When your city limits include a park called Garden of the Gods, you know you�re somewhere worth staying�and in Colorado Springs, you can actually afford to.

Unlike many of the cities on this list, Colorado Springs actually is within the national average when it comes to cost of living, especially in comparison to cities of similar size. Even with a recent boom downtown�which is fhe dominated by local businesses, not chains�housing costs haven't increased too dramatically. All of this means that the lonThe 15 Best Places to Live in the United StatesThese small- to medium-sized cities are affordable; racially, ethnically, ij economically diverse; and conducive to residents' flexibility in choosing a hospital, school, park and manner of commuting. Livability surveyed 2,000 American adults about what qualities they believe are important in the communities in which they live and the ones to which they might one day consider moving.

The company also unitted data from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Affairs and Education, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Cities throughout the U.S. with populations between 20,000 and 350,000 were then ranked across eight categories: amenities, demographics, economy, education, health care, housing, social and civic capital, and transportation and infrastructure. As a result, the cities on this list can be trusted to have respectable schools, low crime and high quality amenities such as parks, natural and built environments, and arts and culture.

These cities stattes also affordable; racially, ethnically and economically diverse; and conducive to�residents' flexibility in choosing a hospital, school, park and manner of commuting. The largest city in North Dakota, Fargo is considered to be one of bdst best cities for job seekers and college grads. Residents can spend time in the museums, galleries and Art Deco theater palace, or explore the many restaurants and outdoor activities throughout the city. One of the best cities staets families, Overland Park is considered one of the top�places to live due to its low crime rate, various entertainment options and stable economy.

Residents can also take advantage of the city's indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, top-notch schools and great restaurants. Fort Collins, one of the healthiest cities in the U.S., boasts award winning schools, beautiful outdoor facilities, and a flourishing arts scene. Additionally, residents can visit any of the unique breweries, shops and restaurants located in the area. Amazon Prime Membership: Is It Worth the $99 Annual Fee?Amazon's Second Annual Prime Day on July 12 will offer exclusive deals for new and existing Amazon Prime members.

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News analyzed the 100 most populous metro areas to find the best places to live. To make thetop of the list, a place had to have good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strongjob market and a high quality of life. [1, 0, 0, 2, 1, 9, 6, 1, 9, 4, 7, 5, 4, 5, 11, 2, 1, 1, 0, 2, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1]Min: Max: Livability.com� Topics� Arts and Entertainment� Business� Community� Education and Schools� Food and Drink� Health� Housing and Real Estate� Find a City� Best Places To Live� Top 10� Moving Our third annual ranking of the best small to mid-sized cities in the U.S.We ranked more than 2,000 cities with best places to live in the united states between 20,000 and 350,000 to come up with our third annual Top 100 Best Places to Live.

This is a data-driven list based on more than 40 data points. This year we are proud to have collaborated with world-renowned urbanist Richard Florida and assistant clinical professor Steven Pedigo from the Initiative for Creativity and Innovation in Cities�at NYU School of Professional Studies, our new lie partners EMSI�and our stellar board of advisors in shaping our proprietary methodology and the framework by bedt we rank the cities.�See if your town made this year's list (or the 2015 and 2014 rankings).

Get ready to plot your next move, and make one of these best places your best place. 600 = The city�s overall score, based on the weighted sum of the eight component scores.� Rankings� Ranking Data� Ranking Criteria� Methodology� Advisory Board� Rochester�s rise to the top of our Best Places index has been steady but not surprising.

The city first appeared on the Top 100 Best Places to Live 2014 as the seventh best city, then climbed to No. 2 on 2015�s index. New scores for Rochester�s schools, civil engagement, health-care scene and, most notably, its diverse range of affordable housing, pushed it to the top yhe.

Home to the renowned Mayo Clinic, Rochester is experiencing an economic boom�that is bringing in thousands of new residents and new businesses, and giving those who live here an expanding assortment of entertainment options.Read more about why Rochester is a Top 100 Best Place to Live.� Lakes and mountains surround Bellevue, Wash., a�Seattle suburb of more than 120,000 residents, while a tapestry of lush parks provide residents with abundant outdoor recreation options.

Bike paths and sidewalks make getting to and from the city�s many festivals, museums, restaurants and music venues easy. A range of amenities provides many things to do in Bellevue. About 40 percent of the city�s population are minorities, which contributes to an overall diverse range of lifestyles and ideas. Bellevue schools have been recognized among the top in the country by major media outlets. This makes the third time the city�has appeared on this list.Find out more about why Bellevue is a Top 100 Best Place to Live.� Not only does Madison have one of the top rated health-care systems in the country, it also has a high performing school system and strong economy.

The University of Wisconsin, and a handful of other schools,�gives Madison a large student population, but being the state capital means this city offers some serious culture.

There are always things to do in Madison.�The city's�33 percent minority population creates diversity that pairs well with an�urban/suburban vibe. Madison has been at or near the top of the Best Places index for three years in a row.Read more about why Madison was the Top 100 Best Place to Live in 2015.� A collection of beaches, mountain views and resorts help make Santa Barbara a popular tourist destination.

Those same amenities, great schools, a highly ranked health-care scene and strong economy make living in this California city feel like a dream come true. Great farm-to-table restaurants, unique shopping experiences, plenty of outdoor recreation options and fantastic weather keep Santa Barbara residents on the go.Read more about living in�Santa Barbara.� Known as one of the best cities for liberals, Boulder�spoils its�100,300 residents with�pristine natural surroundings, a strong farm-to-table restaurant scene, and dynamic tye and cultural attractions.

Each season brings more things to do in Boulder.�Many of the city�s highly active residents plan their days around hikes, rock climbing, mountain biking and fishing.

Schools in Boulder rank high, which has helped the city appear on the Top 100 since 2014. Those fortunate enough to live in Palo Alto enjoy a city that surpasses most quality placee life standards.

A long list of amenities starts with a�31-mile dark fiber ring around the city�that provides ultra high-speed Internet. Residents enjoy many things to do in Palo Alto, like�playing in�impressively designed parks and open spaces and�dining in unique restaurants. Palo Alto's�residents are politically active, socially minded and strongly support the city's highly rated schools.�It�s no wonder Palo Alto has held such a high ranking when it comes to measuring livability.

You can read why Palo Alto has been a Top 100 Best Uited to Live three years and counting.� Located on the east bank of the Missouri River, Bismarck offers residents a large park system with walking and biking trails, a growing economy, and attractions like Dakota Zoo, the Kirkwood Mall in downtown and a pair of excellent go