The best places to live, ranked your way

Ranked by the Citytistics Index (CTX) by default. Move the sliders to weigh what matters to you and the list re-ranks.

The formula

Score = the Citytistics Index (CTX): affordability 20%, economy 20%, safety 20%, amenities 15%, education 10%, commute 10%, growth 5%, turned into a percentile across every place we rate. Full method.

Your weights

Affordability4

Economy4

Education2

Safety4

Commute2

Income growth0

Amenities3

Paycheck stretch0

Pay vs rent0

Family fit0

Growth1

2030 affordability0

Home value outlook0

State

Top 25 places. Places in the top 1% show their national rank.

#	Place	CTX	Affordability	Economy	Education	Safety	Commute	Amenities	Growth
01	Verona, WIComposite 84.9 / 100	#1	71	91	91	95	90	78	76
02	Elm Grove, WIComposite 83.3 / 100	#2	80	95	97	91	84	62	56
03	Parkville, MOComposite 82.8 / 100	#3	82	94	96	82	71	70	81
04	Camp Hill, PAComposite 82.6 / 100	#4	90	89	91	90	77	60	63
05	Forest Hills, MIComposite 82.4 / 100	#5	80	97	95	n/a	82	58	n/a
06	East Grand Rapids, MIComposite 81.5 / 100	#6	83	90	99	87	90	61	30
07	La Crescent, MNComposite 81.4 / 100	#7	83	77	66	97	91	82	37
08	Gretna, NEComposite 81.0 / 100	#8	87	89	79	n/a	75	72	71
09	Polk City, IAComposite 80.8 / 100	#9	95	79	72	91	54	68	99
10	Sioux Center, IAComposite 80.6 / 100	#10	85	82	68	92	99	58	71
11	Orange City, IAComposite 80.3 / 100	#11	84	72	72	94	100	77	31
12	Grimes, IAComposite 80.0 / 100	#12	93	89	81	n/a	83	43	96
13	Eldridge, IAComposite 79.9 / 100	#13	82	75	84	91	83	61	88
14	Hudson, OHComposite 79.8 / 100	#14	83	98	97	89	40	69	39
15	Monticello, ILComposite 79.7 / 100	#15	89	80	67	98	62	66	70
16	Hampden, MEComposite 79.6 / 100	#16	93	78	77	96	67	53	n/a
17	Upper Arlington, OHComposite 79.5 / 100	#17	73	95	99	86	84	63	20
18	Duvall, WAComposite 79.5 / 100	#18	68	96	88	98	18	85	76
19	Fairport, NYComposite 79.3 / 100	#19	92	62	90	86	77	79	56
20	Troy, ILComposite 79.3 / 100	#20	95	83	73	94	46	56	92
21	Zionsville, INComposite 79.2 / 100	#21	79	93	96	93	65	42	74
22	Okemos, MIComposite 79.2 / 100	#22	74	81	96	n/a	83	70	n/a
23	Solon, OHComposite 78.9 / 100	#23	88	92	92	85	64	60	28
24	Libertyville, ILComposite 78.8 / 100	#24	85	92	95	86	44	70	34
25	Clive, IAComposite 78.6 / 100	#25	87	79	89	70	77	75	71

CTX is the Citytistics Index: better than that share of the places we rate. It tops out at 99, so the top 1% show their national rank (#1 is best). Change any weight to rank on your own mix. How the CTX is built

6,645 places eligible. Data as of 2026-11-14.