Taking your quality of life into account
Multiple factors play into truly loving where you live. Affordability and career opportunities certainly contribute, but you’ll also want to consider your daily commute, access to quality education and health care, crime rates and general well-being. As part of the Best Places to Live in the U.S. 2017 rankings, U.S. News compiled information on these important aspects of a solid place to live (find out more about the categories). Read on for the 25 metro areas that scored highest across all five categories.
25. Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 7
Median Home Price: $219,466
Median Annual Salary: $51,150
College Readiness Ranking: 48
Health Ranking: 50
Well-Being Ranking: 12
Crime Ranking: 28
Average Commute Time: 24.8 minutes
Of all its scores contributing to the Quality of Life ranking, the Raleigh and Durham area most notably comes in 12th of the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S. in the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, which measures residents’ satisfaction with where they live, plus their physical health and the area’s economic stability. Gallup assesses well-being by interviewing 500 people per day throughout the world — and about 175,000 people per year.
24. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 17
Median Home Price: $223,995
Median Annual Salary: $53,450
College Readiness Ranking: 22
Health Ranking: 77
Well-Being Ranking: 50
Crime Ranking: 17
Average Commute Time: 25.1 minutes
It may have the second-longest average commute of the 25 Best Places for Quality of Life, but Minneapolis-St. Paul maintains a morning commute that’s shorter than the national average of 25.9 minutes.
23. Salt Lake City
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 10
Median Home Price: $247,052
Median Annual Salary: $44,752
College Readiness Ranking: 45
Health Ranking: 94
Well-Being Ranking: 57
Crime Ranking: 10
Average Commute Time: 22.3 minutes
While Salt Lake City doesn’t score well for ample access to quality health care — ranking No. 94 of the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S. — Utah’s capital makes up for it with a short average commute and low property crime and murder rates.
22. Milwaukee
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 47
Median Home Price: $190,479
Median Annual Salary: $48,170
College Readiness Ranking: 10
Health Ranking: 27
Well-Being Ranking: 33
Crime Ranking: 82
Average Commute Time: 23.2 minutes
Milwaukee achieves its highest score in the Quality of Life index for college readiness among high school students, which is calculated for the U.S. News Best High Schools rankings using Advanced Placement participation rate and subsequent scores on those tests.
21. Albany, New York
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 30
Median Home Price: $197,213
Median Annual Salary: $50,880
College Readiness Ranking: 49
Health Ranking: 18
Well-Being Ranking: 52
Crime Ranking: 18
Average Commute Time: 22.8 minutes
New York’s capital city receives excellent marks for the area’s short average morning commute. Albany residents and those in the immediate suburbs commute 20 minutes or less on average, with the maximum commute for the outer suburbs still under 40 minutes.
20. Rochester, New York
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 39
Median Home Price: $131,152
Median Annual Salary: $47,590
College Readiness Ranking: 14
Health Ranking: 23
Well-Being Ranking: 83
Crime Ranking: 49
Average Commute Time: 21.1 minutes
Another Upstate New York metro area, Rochester rounds out the top 20 with an average morning commute of just 21.1 minutes.
19. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 34
Median Home Price: $83,500
Median Annual Salary: $46,520
College Readiness Ranking: 75
Health Ranking: 2
Well-Being Ranking: 51
Crime Ranking: 24
Average Commute Time: 22.5 minutes
With a relatively short morning commute, Harrisburg is also second among the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S. for access to quality health care.
18. Syracuse, New York
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 28
Median Home Price: $82,500
Median Annual Salary: $47,330
College Readiness Ranking: 41
Health Ranking: 17
Well-Being Ranking: 41
Crime Ranking: 40
Average Commute Time: 21 minutes
Ranking 17th for its access to quality health care, Syracuse also boasts an average morning commute of just 21 minutes.
17. New Haven, Connecticut
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 81
Median Home Price: $211,796
Median Annual Salary: $53,680
College Readiness Ranking: 39
Health Ranking: 7
Well-Being Ranking: 34
Crime Ranking: 31
Average Commute Time: 24.4 minutes
While New Haven is No. 81 in the overall Best Places to Live ranking, it receives its highest score for Quality of Life. Most notably, the coastal Connecticut city ranks close to the top for its access to quality health care, where it stands at No. 7 of the 100 largest metro areas.
16. Madison, Wisconsin
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 18
Median Home Price: $219,429
Median Annual Salary: $49,030
College Readiness Ranking: 32
Health Ranking: 9
Well-Being Ranking: 87
Crime Ranking: 8
Average Commute Time: 21.7 minutes
Madison scores particularly well for its low property crime and murder rates as well as its access to quality health care — ranking eighth and ninth, respectively.
15. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 41
Median Home Price: $176,138
Median Annual Salary: $42,150
College Readiness Ranking: 62
Health Ranking: 1
Well-Being Ranking: 67
Crime Ranking: 4
Average Commute Time: 22.9 minutes
Lancaster takes the No. 1 spot for access to quality health care despite being a largely rural area, plus it’s No. 4 for its low rates of property crime and murder.
14. El Paso, Texas
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 76
Median Home Price: $113,400
Median Annual Salary: $36,980
College Readiness Ranking: 52
Health Ranking: 99
Well-Being Ranking: 6
Crime Ranking: 3
Average Commute Time: 23.2 minutes
Located along the Texas-Mexico border, El Paso ranks No. 3 for its low property crime and murder rates, and it ranks No. 6 on the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index.
13. Springfield, Massachusetts
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 67
Median Home Price: $196,921
Median Annual Salary: $49,570
College Readiness Ranking: 37
Health Ranking: 6
Well-Being Ranking: 36
Crime Ranking: 47
Average Commute Time: 22.8 minutes
Ranking No. 6 for nearby access to quality health care, Springfield residents also enjoy a short average morning commute of just 22.8 minutes.
12. Hartford, Connecticut
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 31
Median Home Price: $220,015
Median Annual Salary: $56,870
College Readiness Ranking: 16
Health Ranking: 13
Well-Being Ranking: 58
Crime Ranking: 26
Average Commute Time: 23.5 minutes
With ample access to quality health care (ranking No. 13), Hartford also receives excellent marks for college readiness among high school students, coming in at No. 16 in the category.
11. Austin, Texas
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 1
Median Home Price: $262,182
Median Annual Salary: $49,560
College Readiness Ranking: 9
Health Ranking: 78
Well-Being Ranking: 1
Crime Ranking: 25
Average Commute Time: 26.2 minutes
The No. 1 Best Place to Live in the U.S. in 2017, Austin is also No. 1 on the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, no doubt partially due to the metro area’s strong job market, low cost of living compared with other major cities and growing population due to net migration.
10. Melbourne, Florida
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 49
Median Home Price: $163,042
Median Annual Salary: $45,470
College Readiness Ranking: 5
Health Ranking: 41
Well-Being Ranking: 44
Crime Ranking: 35
Average Commute Time: 24.2 minutes
This coastal Florida metro area located southeast of Orlando is a popular spot for retirees, with a median age of 46.6 years. Meanwhile, Melbourne‘s high school students are well-prepared for higher education, as the area ranks fifth for college readiness.
9. Boise, Idaho
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 12
Median Home Price: $228,567
Median Annual Salary: $42,180
College Readiness Ranking: 63
Health Ranking: 84
Well-Being Ranking: 18
Crime Ranking: 1
Average Commute Time: 21.5 minutes
Boise has the lowest crime rate of the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S. Its residents also spend little time in the car, as the area boasts an average morning commute of just 21.5 minutes.
8. San Diego
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 22
Median Home Price: $484,625
Median Annual Salary: $54,210
College Readiness Ranking: 8
Health Ranking: 62
Well-Being Ranking: 38
Crime Ranking: 11
Average Commute Time: 25 minutes
One of the most desirable places to live, San Diego also manages to maintain low crime rates and ranks No. 8 for college readiness among high school students.
7. Santa Rosa, California
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 52
Median Home Price: $499,513
Median Annual Salary: $50,540
College Readiness Ranking: 27
Health Ranking: 16
Well-Being Ranking: N/A
Crime Ranking: 5
Average Commute Time: 25 minutes
Located at the heart of California wine country, Santa Rosa ranks No. 5 for its low property crime and murder rates.
6. Fayetteville, Arkansas
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 5
Median Home Price: $182,508
Median Annual Salary: $43,570
College Readiness Ranking: 31
Health Ranking: 40
Well-Being Ranking: N/A
Crime Ranking: 13
Average Commute Time: 21.2 minutes
Ranking fifth on the overall Best Places to Live in the U.S. list, Fayetteville has a particularly low average morning commute of 21.2 minutes.
5. Sarasota, Florida
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 21
Median Home Price: $224,613
Median Annual Salary: $40,600
College Readiness Ranking: 19
Health Ranking: 44
Well-Being Ranking: 10
Crime Ranking: 22
Average Commute Time: 23.5 minutes
Sarasota‘s residents skew older — with a median age of 50.7 years — and they appear to be satisfied with living in the area, which ranks 10th on the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index.
4. Portland, Maine
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 26
Median Home Price: $219,658
Median Annual Salary: $46,520
College Readiness Ranking: 29
Health Ranking: 12
Well-Being Ranking: N/A
Crime Ranking: 2
Average Commute Time: 24.6 minutes
Second behind Boise for its low crime rate, Portland also ranks 12th for access to quality health care.
3. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 19
Median Home Price: $155,256
Median Annual Salary: $42,950
College Readiness Ranking: 17
Health Ranking: 19
Well-Being Ranking: 49
Crime Ranking: 12
Average Commute Time: 21.8 minutes
With an average commute of just 21.8 minutes, Grand Rapids also ranks 12th for its low property crime and murder rates.
2. McAllen, Texas
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 94
Median Home Price: $120,300
Median Annual Salary: $33,810
College Readiness Ranking: 4
Health Ranking: 74
Well-Being Ranking: N/A
Crime Ranking: 27
Average Commute Time: 22.1 minutes
McAllen comes in second on this list, particularly for its short commute time — 22.1 minutes — and excellent marks for college readiness among high school students.
1. San Jose, California
Best Places 2017 Ranking: 3
Median Home Price: $829,792
Median Annual Salary: $78,620
College Readiness Ranking: 1
Health Ranking: 42
Well-Being Ranking: 16
Crime Ranking: 21
Average Commute Time: 26.5 minutes
Taking the top spot on the list of Best Places to Live for Quality of Life, San Jose has the highest score for college readiness among high school students and ranks No. 16 in the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index.
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The Best Places to Live in the U.S. for Quality of Life in 2017 originally appeared on usnews.com
