The 15 best places to live in the US, where homes are cheaper and there are lots of jobs to choose from

The 2024 list is out — and the best cities to live in are mostly in the South and the Midwest.

This year’s top spots include a few cities consistently ranked among the best places to live, including booming Boise, Idaho; sandstone-hued Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the southern banking hub of Charlotte, North Carolina. Newcomers include Austin, with its growing tech hub, and two pretty South Carolina spots: Greenville and Charleston.

In addition to the availability of jobs and housing, US News & World Report places a strong emphasis on the overall standard of living in each area.

In the beachfront city of Naples, Florida, the unemployment rate stood at 3.1% in March, according to the most recent economic data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. That’s lower than the national average — but residents also delight in a vibrant community teeming with diverse restaurants and outdoor recreational options.

“Naples is an incredible town, with a pleasant mix of kitschy beachside quirk and high-life glamor,” one person said on neighborhood-ranking site Niche. Another said, “Naples is a great place to live if you love the beach and good food.”

Here are the 15 best places to live in the US, according to US News & World Report. In these spots, residents are pretty satisfied with their lives, homes are relatively affordable, and there are plenty of jobs.