The 10 Best Cities To Live In The United States, 2018 Ranking

Thanks to its relatively low cost of living compared with its booming job market and higher incomes, Dallas suburb Frisco, Texas has become the best city to live in the U.S. for 2018, according to Money Magazine’s annual best places to live list.

Amazingly, many of the best cities to live in America are probably places you’ve never heard of.

Ashburn, Virginia, ranked No. 2; followed by Carmel (Indiana), No. 3; Ellicott City (Maryland), No. 4; and Cary (North Carolina), No. 5. The magazine considers a long list of criteria in ranking its best places to live list, with the greatest weight on cost of living, crime, diversity, economic health, housing, local amenities, public schools, and other factors.

Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is the eighth best place to live in the country, behind Franklin, Tennessee, at #6 and Dublin, California, at #7.

The top ten best cities to live in the United States in 2018

10. Woodbury, Minnesota
Population: 70,072
Clear Days per Year: 196
Median Family Income: $120,976
High School Graduation Rate: 91.6%
Median Home Price: $275,000
Average Commute: 23 minutes
Projected Job Growth 2017–2022: 4.67%
Home Price/Income: 2.3x

9. Sammamish, Washington
Population: 52,304
Clear Days per Year: 140
Median Family Income: $165,064
High School Graduation Rate: 91.4%
Median Home Price: $932,250
Average Commute: 28 minutes
Projected Job Growth 2017–2022: 7.54%
Home Price/Income: 5.6x

8. Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Population: 106,802
Clear Days per Year: 245
Median Family Income: $126,404
High School Graduation Rate: 90.0%
Median Home Price: $480,000
Average Commute: 26 minutes
Projected Job Growth 2017–2022: 7.41%
Home Price/Income: 3.8x

7. Dublin, California
Population: 67,839
Clear Days per Year: 260
Median Family Income: $141,471
High School Graduation Rate: 96.9%
Median Home Price: $794,000
Average Commute: 30 minutes
Projected Job Growth 2017–2022: 7.86%
Home Price/Income: 5.6x

6. Franklin, Tennessee
Population: 78,376
Clear Days per Year: 208
Median Family Income: $109,231
High School Graduation Rate: 95.0%
Median Home Price: $477,145
Average Commute: 22 minutes
Projected Job Growth 2017–2022: 10.44%
Home Price/Income: 4.4x

5. Cary, North Carolina
Population: 162,025
Clear Days per Year: 217
Median Family Income: $113,831
High School Graduation Rate: 87.0%
Median Home Price: $360,000
Average Commute: 22 minutes
Projected Job Growth 2017–2022: 9.60%
Home Price/Income: 3.2x

4. Ellicott City, Maryland
Population: 73,236
Clear Days per Year: 213
Median Family Income: $136,339
High School Graduation Rate: 93.0%
Median Home Price: $390,000
Average Commute: 28 minutes
Projected Job Growth 2017–2022: 7.36%
Home Price/Income: 2.9x

3. Carmel, Indiana
Population: 94,854
Clear Days per Year: 187
Median Family Income: $130,044
High School Graduation Rate: 96.0%
Median Home Price: $322,630
Average Commute: 23 minutes
Projected Job Growth 2017–2022: 9.92%
Home Price/Income: 2.5x

2. Ashburn, Virginia
Population: 53,190
Clear Days per Year: 197
Median Family Income: $134,057
High School Graduation Rate: 92.0%
Median Home Price: $456,000
Average Commute: 30 minutes
Projected Job Growth 2017–2022: 12.44%
Home Price/Income: 3.4x

1. Frisco, Texas
Population: 179,067
Clear Days per Year: 232
Median Family Income: $129,118
High School Graduation Rate: 98.0%
Median Home Price: $349,000
Average Commute: 30 minutes
Projected Job Growth 2017–2022: 14.91%
Home Price/Income: 2.7x