The Best Counties to Live In

New York County is coterminous with the Manhattan borough of New York City. The area ranks among the best places to live in the United States for its well educated population and average life expectancy. Just over 61% of adults in New York County have a bachelor’s degree or higher, nearly double the 32.1% national average. Additionally, life expectancy at birth in Manhattan is nearly 85 years — about six years longer than the national average.

Longer life expectancy is linked to higher income, and in New York County, most households earn over $86,500 annually. Meanwhile, the typical American household earns about $62,800 per year.

Albemarle County, located in northern Virginia, ranks among the best places to live partially because of its well-educated population. In the county, which includes the University of Virginia, an estimated 55.1% of local adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

A college education reduces the likelihood of unemployment and financial hardship — and in Albemarle County, the monthly unemployment rate stands at 4.8%, and just 9.1% of the local population live below the poverty line. Nationwide, 6.8% of the labor force are unemployed and 13.4% of the population live below the poverty line.

Norfolk County, located in western Massachusetts, just south of Boston, ranks among the best U.S. counties to live in. The Boston area is host to a high concentration of colleges and universities, and in Norfolk County, 53.6% of the adult population have a bachelor’s degree or higher — well above the 32.1% national bachelor’s degree attainment rate.

Across broad populations, both income and life expectancy tend to rise with educational attainment. In Norfolk, only 6.3% of the population live below the poverty line — less than half the national poverty rate — and life expectancy at birth is 81.7 years, about two and a half years longer than the national average.

Collin County, Texas, located just north of Dallas, is one of the best educated counties in the state, and one of the best places to live in the country. Just over 52% of the adult population have a bachelor’s degree or higher — well above the 32.1% national bachelor’s degree attainment rate.

Quality of life in the county is further bolstered by the relative absence of serious financial hardship. Just 6.3% of the local population live below the poverty line, less than half the 13.4% share of Americans nationwide who do.

Forsyth County, Georgia, located northeast of Atlanta, is one of the best places to live in the United States. The local poverty rate of 5.7% is well below the national poverty rate of 13.4%. Poverty can greatly reduce an individual’s ability to make healthy lifestyle choices and receive medical care, and it can also contribute to stress that can have adverse health effects. With a low poverty rate, Forsyth County also has a high life expectancy, which, at 82.1 years, exceeds the national average by three years.

Greater educational attainment can reduce the likelihood of poverty and improve health outcomes across broad populations. In Forsyth County, 53.1% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 32.1% share of adults nationwide who do.