Madison, Wisconsin has reached the top of Livability’s 2015 list of the top 100 places to Live, which ranks small- to mid-size cities throughout the United States.
Rochester, Minnesota came in as the No. 2 best place to live. Arlington, Virginia was No. 3, Boulder, Colorado was No. 4 and Palo Alto, California was No.5. More than 2,000 cities throughout the country were evaluated in the study — with populations between 20,000 and 350,000 residents.
The listing celebrates Madison as “a picturesque city that provides residents with affordable housing, great schools, excellent health care and a wide range of recreational activities and entertainment options.”
Madison, Wisconsin ranked 5th on the list last year.
The website’s editors said they studied a host of factors, grouped into 8 categories —
1) Amenities
2) Demographics
3) Economy
4) Education
5) Health Care
6) Housing
7) Social and Civic Capital
8) Social and Civic Capital
( The city’s overall score, based on the weighted sum of the eight component scores = 600)
The Top 25 Places To Live In America: 2015 List
1. Madison Wisconsin (Overall score = 705)
Population: 234,586
Med. Household Income: $53,958
Med. Home Price: $217,50
2. Rochester Minnesota (Overall score = 685)
Population: 106,903
Med. Household Income: $63,490
Med. Home Price: $165,300
3. Arlington Virginia (Overall score = 680)
Population: 209,077
Med. Household Income: $102,459
Med. Home Price: $577,300
4. Boulder Colorado (Overall score = 679)
Population: 99,177
Med. Household Income: $56,206
Med. Home Price: $489,500
5. Palo Alto California (Overall score = 679)
Population: 64,514
Med. Household Income: $122,482
Med. Home Price: $1,000,000
6. Berkeley California (Overall score = 672)
Population: 112,662
Med. Household Income: $63,505
Med. Home Price: $707,700
7. Santa Clara California (Overall score = 671)
Population: 116,301
Med. Household Income: $92,198
Med. Home Price: $618,600
8. Missoula Montana (Overall score = 668)
Population: 66,982
Med. Household Income: $39,076
Med. Home Price: $238,300
9. Boise Idaho (Overall score = 665)
Population: 208,332
Med. Household Income: $49,182
Med. Home Price: $188,200
10. Iowa City Iowa (Overall score = 665)
Population: 68,364
Med. Household Income: $42,220
Med. Home Price: $181,000
11. Bozeman Montana (Overall score = 664)
Population: 37,619
Med. Household Income: $44,818
Med. Home Price: $259,000
12. Asheville North Carolina (Overall score = 663)
Population: 83,796
Med. Household Income: $42,333
Med. Home Price: $195,500
