Settling on a place to live is a big decision with a number of variables. To cut out some of the headache, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the 550 areas measured by the U.S. Census Bureau with populations of 65,000 or more. 24/7 Wall St. took into account all the factors we consider when buying a home — including crime rate, employment growth, and quality of school systems — and identified the country’s top 50 cities to live in.
None of America’s largest cities made the cut, as a result of high crime rates that automatically eliminated them from consideration. No surprise there. Additionally, more than half of them had poverty rates 33 percent above the national average. The research did, however, conclude that many of its top places to live were located in close proximity to major cities because residents were able to delve into the best of both worlds: good local schools and amenities, like tourist attractions, of larger cities nearby. According to USA Today, the following top five cities are 24/7 Wall St.’s crèmee de la crème when it comes to places to live!
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5. Evanston, Illinois
Median Household Income: $68, 169
Unemployment Rate, 2013: 7.20%
Median Home Value: $360, 900
Violent Crime per 100,00 Residents: 304.7
Average Commuter Travel Time: 28.4 minutes
More than two-thirds of Evanston residents have at least a bachelor’s degree, which is among the highest educational attainment rates in the U.S. In 2013, secondary school students performed above average on math and language arts standardized tests. Northwestern University, one of the country’s best, is also in Evanston. With nearly 9,000 restaurants and 900 bars in the county, residents will never go hungry or be bored!
4. Pleasanton, California
Median Household Income: $112,665
Unemployment Rate, 2013: 3.70%
Median Home Value: $694,300
Violent Crime per 100,00 Residents: 68.2
Average Commuter Travel Time: 28.9 minutes
Pleasanton is considerably safe with less than 70 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2012. Students also receive quality education, and secondary students excelled in math, language arts, and science in 2013. The cost of living is very expensive. The typical home value of almost $695, 000 was more than all, but six of the 50 cities reviewed!
3. Mountain View, California
Median Household Income: $91, 422
Unemployment Rate, 2013: 5.00%
Median Home Value: $749,000
Violent Crime per 100,00 Residents: 204.1
Average Commuter Travel Time: 20.4 minutes
Like any ideal city, Mountain View had low crime rates, excellent schools, well educated residents, and a thriving job market. It is in Santa Clara County, home to many well-known technology centers like Cupertino and Palo Alto. The city features the San Francisco 49ers’ new stadium, and offers more than 3,000 restaurants and 216 gyms as of 2012. The cost of living is very high, as expected. Not only do residents have to pay California’s 7.5 percent sales tax, but the city also has a 1.25 percent sales tax.
2. Bellevue, Washington
Median Household Income: $91.449
Unemployment Rate, 2013: 4.70%
Median Home Value: $507,600
Violent Crime per 100,00 Residents: 127.8
Average Commuter Travel Time: 22.6 minutes
Bellevue sits across Lake Washington from Seattle and is home to a well-educated population. More than 64 percent of adults there hold a college degree, and youth have access to excellent schools. There was a 5 percent employment rise from 2011 to 2013, and only a 4.7 percent unemployment rate last year. T-Mobile USA, Expedia, Microsoft, and Nordstrom are among some of the city’s major employers.
1. Newton, Massachusetts
Median Household Income: $125, 642
Unemployment Rate, 2013: 4.80%
Median Home Value: $689,900
Violent Crime per 100,00 Residents: 87.6
Average Commuter Travel Time: 26.4 minutes
Newton is a suburb of Boston and ranked number one for best cities to live in! Crime rates are a mere fraction of 2012 national numbers, and unemployment remained below 5 percent between 2011 and 2013. Almost half of all children attend private schools, and test scores in the suburb’s public schools were notably higher than other public schools in the state. More than three-fourths of adults 25 years of age and older have a bachelor’s degree, the second highest rate in the U.S. Residents are privy to the county’s 49 golf courses, nearly 3,000 restaurants, 24 museums, and three ski resorts. The cost of living is more than most cities in the nation and in its state.