Wondering where in the US you could live to lead an exceptional life? From small towns to big cities, a number of locations are ideal if you are considering a move. Or, perhaps you live somewhere and don’t know what your locale is best known for. Great places to live are ranked and evaluated on a number of factors, such a walkability, nightlife, health and more. Many cities are in the ranks on several factors or are within a reasonable drive of large metropolitan areas that offer many lifestyle options, making them a great choice for all stages of life. Check out some of these options to see where you should consider living if you want to be an insider in the best life you can lead.
Best Places for Young Families
Starting a family or have a young family? Then you are probably interested in cities that feature low crime, good schools, and access to childcare. Plano, Texas ranks high for affordable housing to purchase, community involvement and education. Plano schools spend a decent $11,521 per student and boast a 15/1 ratio of student to teacher.
Just over 200 miles to Washington DC, Virginia Beach is consistently listed among the country’s safest cities with exceptionally violent crime rates. Virginia Beach is home to significant concentrations of military personnel and also has a vibrant tourism industry. Ten of Virginia Beach’s high schools rank in the top nine percent of high schools nationwide.
Best Cities of Night Life
Looking for a vibrant nightlife and singles scene? In cities that are most appealing to singles, residents get out of the house and do things – from art to nightlife to movies. For a city that offers a highly condensed and walkable bar scene, Chicago can’t be beat. Streets of bars and nightclubs line the perimeter of Wrigley Field, called “Wrigleyville” and the city also features some of the most outstanding steak houses in the country.
San Marcos, Texas is just 35 minutes from Austin, two of the best locations for single life. San Marcos’ number of singles compared to married people under 35 outrank most cities. In Austin, singles frequent the famous 6th street bars and clubs, and, like Chicago, food is a major theme for Austin ranking among the best cities for everything from burgers to BBQ to vegetarian. Plano, Texas also ranks high for singles, making Texas a singles trifecta.
Best Suburbs
Want to live in a suburb of a top ranking city? Consider Washington DC and some of its surrounding suburbs. Washington DC offers plenty to do and see and believe it or not, some greats schools with an average teacher to student ratio of 12/1. With everything in the city within walking distance, it’s no wonder Washington DC also has one of the highest walkability scores in the country, with a score of 99/100.
Bethesda, Maryland, just eight miles away from the heart of DC, is consistently ranked as one of the most secure cities. When it comes to median income, job growth, median home price and rents, property taxes and schools, four other DC suburbs also rank high — North Laurel, Maryland; Damascus, Maryland; Urbana, Maryland; and Vienna, Virginia.
Across to the west coast, if you are looking for a great suburb within a close proximity of a great city, Seattle is your city and a number of its suburbs are the way to go. Known for a vibrant tech and IT employment, high average incomes, and a small town in a big city feel, Seattle’s suburbs such as Cottage Lake, Maple Valley, and Bellevue are among many that rank high. While rents and mortgages in King County, Seattle’s hub, topped at over $500k last year, many of the suburbs are much more affordable. In Maple Valley, for example, the median home price is almost half of its big city counterpart at $279,200. Maple Valley borders Lake Wilderness Park, which makes this suburb appealing for outdoor enthusiasts and families alike.