The idea of moving to a new city for a better life can be appealing, and there are clear winners in the rating.
This is the city ranked No. 1 for quality of life in America — and why people love it
It’s not New York. It’s not Los Angeles. What makes a place feel like home isn’t always about size or glamour. For some, it’s the simple mix of safety, good schools, a short commute, and a nearby park. Each year, U.S. News & World Report crunches that mix of factors into its Best Places to Live for Quality of Life rankings... and the 2025–26 edition offers a fresh look at where Americans are happiest
What the Best Places to Live rankings measure
The ‘quality of life’ score doesn’t come down to one number. It combines:
- Healthcare access: proximity to top hospitals and medical centers.
- Education quality: strength of local schools and college readiness.
- Safety: crime data compared across hundreds of cities.
- Commute time: how long it takes to get from door to door.
- Environmental factors: air quality and risks from extreme weather.
These categories were weighted – the methodology is rather complex – based on a national survey asking Americans what matters most in choosing where to live.
America’s top ‘quality of life’ city
After analyzing 859 cities, one stood out above the rest. The No. 1 city for quality of life in the U.S. is Brookline, Massachusetts.
Nestled just outside Boston, Brookline blends small-town character with world-class amenities. Residents highlight leafy parks, historic neighborhoods, and a strong sense of safety. Families also praise its highly rated public schools and easy access to Boston’s top-ranked hospitals.
Other top contenders
If Brookline doesn’t fit your lifestyle, the rest of the top seven offer a range of choices:
- Brookline, MA
- Newton, MA
- Bethesda, MD
- Bellevue, WA
- Malden, MA
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Cambridge, MA
Each of these cities is said to balance ease of living with access to jobs, culture, and education, though housing costs remain a challenge in several of them.
Whether you’re planning a move or just curious, the rankings pull together data from the Census Bureau, FBI, hospitals, and local sources to paint a picture of where daily life feels best. Which would you choose?
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