The Best City To Live In Every State

Of the 14 cities and towns in South Dakota with sufficient data, the city of Brandon, located just outside of Sioux Falls, ranks as the best place to live. An average of only 1.6% of the labor force have been unemployed in the last five years, less than half the comparable state average of 3.4%. Also, the area’s median household income stands at $87,250 a year. Meanwhile, the median household income in South Dakota is $58,275, and the state poverty rate stands at 13.1%.

Brandon is also a safe community. The local violent crime rate of 68 incidents reported for every 100,000 people is well below the 399 per 100,000 rate across South Dakota.

The Nashville suburb of Brentwood ranks as the best place to live in Tennessee. Local residents benefit from 14 parks and other public amenities such as pedestrian and bicycle trails. The city and surrounding county also have a relatively high per capita concentration of restaurants, hotels, gyms, golf courses, and gyms. Brentwood is also a safe place. The local violent crime rate of 88 reported incidents for every 100,000 people is well below the comparable 595 per 100,000 rate across Tennessee.

The area’s high quality of life is also partially due to a strong job market. An average of only 2.6% of the labor force have been unemployed in the last five years, less than half the comparable state average of 5.3%.

Highland Park, an affluent town just north of Dallas, ranks as the best place to live in Texas. Favorable economic conditions, such as low unemployment and poverty, contribute to overall quality of life in the area. An average of only 1.4% of the labor force have been unemployed in the last five years, and just 2.3% of the local population live below the poverty line. Meanwhile, Texas’ five-year jobless rate stands at 5.1%, and 14.7% of the state population live below the poverty line.

Highland Park is also a safe place. The local violent crime rate of 97 reported incidents for every 100,000 people is well below the 419 per 100,000 rate across Texas.

South Jordan, a city of over 71,000 located just south of Salt Lake City, ranks as the best place to live in Utah. Quality of life in the area is improved by safe streets, as the local violent crime rate of 94 incidents per 100,000 people is the lowest in Salt Lake County and less than half the 236 per 100,000 rate across the state. South Jordan also has a strong job market. An average of only 1.6% of the labor force have been unemployed in the last five years, less than half the comparable state average of 3.6%.

Like many communities with similarly strong socioeconomic measures, South Jordan is growing rapidly. Over the last five years, the local population has grown by 26.0%, more than three times faster than Utah’s 8.4% growth rate over the same period.

Of the six cities and towns in Vermont with sufficient data, the city of South Burlington, located on the shore of Lake Champlain, ranks as the best place to live. Multiple parks, public spaces, and a 24 mile path for cyclists and pedestrians contribute to quality of life in the city. Residents of South Burlington and surrounding Chittenden County also have access to a higher than average per capita concentration of restaurants, bars, hotels, gyms, marinas, golf courses, museums, theater companies, and movie theaters.

South Burlington is also the safest city, with available data, in Vermont. According to the FBI, there were 112 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in the city in 2019, compared to 202 for every 100,000 across Vermont.