10 Best Cities To Live Based on Quality of Life — How Much Does It Cost To Live There?
There’s no one perfect place that has everything — but some cities are undeniably more appealing than others.
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Clever Real Estate polled a thousand Americans on how different cities ranked based on nine factors. They then tallied the cumulative scores to rank the top 50 largest cities on overall quality of life.
If you’re thinking about moving, check out the top ten all-around cities from Clever’s list. The cost of living varies widely, so median rent and median home price data from Zillow can also be found below.
Nashville, Tennessee
Median Rent: $2,196
Median Home Price: $426,719
Nashville ranked first for “nicest residents” and scored well generally across the board to snag first place as the best quality of life.
The city boasts strong natural beauty, an incredible food scene, a strong job market and an attractive waterfront. Plus, Tennessee doesn’t charge income tax, which helps keep the cost of living more manageable.
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Denver, Colorado
Median Rent: $2,100
Median Home Price: $545,849
Denver ranked first for “prettiest place.” With outstanding hiking and skiing within minutes, Denver attracts plenty of outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
The sun cooperates for all that outdoor fun as well, with Clever noting that the Colorado city averages over 300 sunny days each year.
With all that sunshine and a fun-loving crowd, it’s also no surprise that Denver ranked well on the niceness scale. Residents also enjoy a vibrant entertainment scene and quality schools.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Median Rent: $1,885
Median Home Price: $435,276
Raleigh often flies under the radar and was ranked fourth for “most underrated city.”
But it also strikes a great balance across the board, ranking sixth for “nicest residents” and sixth for “most desirable city” as well.
A thriving job market, quality schools, affordable cost of living and beautiful outdoor recreation all come together to make it a great place to live.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Median Rent: $1,950
Median Home Price: $392,211
Raleigh ranked well for “most underrated city” — but Charlotte took number one in that category.
It also beat Raleigh in the “nicest residents” and “prettiest city” categories. A solid job market and affordability help round out this southern belle of a town.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Median Rent: $2,100
Median Home Price: $402,503
Charlotte has to share the honors of “most underrated city” with Virginia Beach, as they came in at a deadlocked tie.
Virginia Beach remains unpretentious but with plenty to brag about. In fact, with its sprawling beaches, it also tied with Denver for “prettiest place.” Its job market, strong entertainment scene and friendly residents all combine for a fantastic place to live.
Orlando, Florida
Median Rent: $2,000
Median Home Price: $377,840
While Orlando remains an entertainment hub of the U.S., it also scored well on the “prettiness” scale, with its endless sunny days and easy access to the beach.
The Florida city scored fifth on overall desirability and also scored well on friendliness.
Memphis, Tennessee
Median Rent: $1,295
Median Home Price: $142,488
Tennessee seems to be punching above its weight, with Memphis also landing in the top ten.
It remains a music capital of the US, and residents and tourists alike love the food scene. While Memphis didn’t take top honors in any one category, it remains a well-rounded city, with plenty of southern hospitality.
Jacksonville, Florida
Median Rent: $1,615
Median Home Price: $289,286
Jacksonville ranked as the 12th most underrated city in the country, with its beaches, balmy weather, friendly residents, and strong job market.
It also remains affordable, especially for a large coastal city. Just don’t look too closely at the homeowners’ insurance premiums.
New Orleans, Lousiana
Median Rent: $1,750
Median Home Price: $231,407
It’s no spoiler that The Big Easy took the number two rank for “best food.” Influences range from French to Spanish to Caribbean and beyond, culminating in a world-class culinary scene.
Cultural amenities don’t end at the food scene either. The city boasts plenty of museums, music, festivals, architecture, sports and more. Just watch out for high crime rates and hurricane damage.
Austin, Texas
Median Rent: $1,999
Median Home Price: $514,193
Ranked the third most “underrated city,” it also ranked the 11th “most desirable city.”
From food to nature, art to music, nightlife to friendly natives, Austin has plenty to offer. You can still rent there affordably, but home prices spiked during the pandemic. Fortunately for first-time homebuyers, prices have since corrected — even if they remain higher than most of the other cities on the top ten list.
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