The annual migration rate in the United States has seen a steady decline over the past several decades.
In 2022, only 28.2 million Americans relocated, a significant drop from the 41.1 million recorded two decades earlier, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Notably, a staggering 78% of those who did move opted to stay within the confines of their current state.
When individuals decide to make a move, their motivations often center around enhancing their overall quality of life. Factors such as climate, health considerations, employment opportunities, acquiring a better or more affordable residence, and residing in safer neighborhoods are commonly cited reasons for relocation.
For those who prefer not to traverse the country, each state harbors cities and towns renowned for offering an elevated standard of living.
By leveraging data from the Census Bureau, the FBI, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have crafted a comprehensive index encompassing 22 distinct measures to pinpoint the premier cities to reside in within each state. These measures were categorized into three broad groups: economy, community, and overall quality of life.
The study considered locations across the U.S. with ample data and populations exceeding 5,000, encompassing cities, towns, villages, boroughs, and unincorporated communities. Typically, the places featured in this list exhibit low crime rates, thriving economies, and financially stable populations.
Moreover, a majority of residents in these communities enjoy convenient access to quality healthcare, public parks, recreational facilities, as well as entertainment and cultural attractions such as bars, restaurants, theaters, and museums.
While some entries on this list represent larger cities with populations numbering in the hundreds of thousands, the majority are relatively small, with fewer than 30,000 residents.
Nevertheless, many of these smaller communities are strategically located within commuting distance of major urban centers like Chicago, Miami, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Discover the optimal cities to call home in each state:
Alabama: Mountain Brook
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- Median home value: $697,800 (state: $157,100)
- Median household income: $150,268 (state: $54,943)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 80.0% (state: 60.9%)
- Recreational establishments: 24.3 per 10,000 businesses (state: 33.3 per 10,000)
- Total population: 22,184
Alaska: Juneau
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- Median home value: $358,200 (state: $282,800)
- Median household income: $90,126 (state: $80,287)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 100.0% (state: 75.7%)
- Recreational establishments: 27.1 per 10,000 businesses (state: 50.8 per 10,000)
- Total population: 32,240
Arizona: Paradise Valley
-
- Median home value: $1,778,000 (state: $265,600)
- Median household income: $203,659 (state: $65,913)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 92.7% (state: 86.2%)
- Recreational establishments: 25.6 per 10,000 businesses (state: 32.5 per 10,000)
- Total population: 12,666
Arkansas: Fayetteville
-
- Median home value: $255,600 (state: $142,100)
- Median household income: $52,111 (state: $52,123)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 82.4% (state: 63.0%)
- Recreational establishments: 16.9 per 10,000 businesses (state: 41.4 per 10,000)
- Total population: 92,070
California: Orinda
-
- Median home value: $1,538,400 (state: $573,200)
- Median household income: $248,984 (state: $84,097)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 98.2% (state: 94.6%)
- Recreational establishments: 27.0 per 10,000 businesses (state: 26.3 per 10,000)
- Total population: 19,497
Colorado: Aspen
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- Median home value: N/A
- Median household income: $89,625 (state: $80,184)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 94.6% (state: 90.4%)
- Recreational establishments: N/A
- Total population: 7,019
Connecticut: Old Greenwich
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- Median home value: $1,444,800 (state: $286,700)
- Median household income: $234,152 (state: $83,572)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 97.5% (state: 93.5%)
- Recreational establishments: 57.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 63.8 per 10,000)
- Total population: 6,929
Delaware: Hockessin
-
- Median home value: $460,800 (state: $269,700)
- Median household income: $158,036 (state: $72,724)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 93.5% (state: 81.3%)
- Recreational establishments: 33.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 41.3 per 10,000)
- Total population: 13,464
Florida: Key Biscayne
-
- Median home value: $1,246,700 (state: $248,700)
- Median household income: $167,990 (state: $61,777)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 98.5% (state: 88.2%)
- Recreational establishments: 18.1 per 10,000 businesses (state: 32.1 per 10,000)
- Total population: 14,530
Georgia: Druid Hills
- Median home value: $698,000 (state: $206,700)
- Median household income: $137,576 (state: $65,030)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 88.5% (state: 74.6%)
- Recreational establishments: 12.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 26.4 per 10,000)
- Total population: 8,611
Hawaii: Laie
-
- Median home value: $937,000 (state: $662,100)
- Median household income: $101,011 (state: $88,005)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 97.3% (state: 93.7%)
- Recreational establishments: 33.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 43.1 per 10,000)
- Total population: 6,436
Idaho: Boise
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- Median home value: $322,300 (state: $266,500)
- Median household income: $68,373 (state: $63,377)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 86.0% (state: 74.7%)
- Recreational establishments: 27.7 per 10,000 businesses (state: 38.8 per 10,000)
- Total population: 231,537
Illinois: Glencoe
-
- Median home value: $1,101,200 (state: $212,600)
- Median household income: $212,132 (state: $72,563)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.3% (state: 90.4%)
- Recreational establishments: 24.6 per 10,000 businesses (state: 32.9 per 10,000)
- Total population: 8,824
Indiana: Carmel
-
- Median home value: $372,100 (state: $158,500)
- Median household income: $119,772 (state: $61,944)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 89.8% (state: 76.8%)
- Recreational establishments: 25.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 39.9 per 10,000)
- Total population: 98,137
Iowa: Iowa City
-
- Median home value: $230,700 (state: $160,700)
- Median household income: $51,925 (state: $65,429)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 89.6% (state: 79.3%)
- Recreational establishments: 23.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 66.9 per 10,000)
- Total population: 74,240
Kansas: Leawood
-
- Median home value: $498,900 (state: $164,800)
- Median household income: $159,540 (state: $64,521)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 96.7% (state: 79.7%)
- Recreational establishments: 22.0 per 10,000 businesses (state: 56.5 per 10,000)
- Total population: 33,748
Kentucky: Lexington-Fayette
-
- Median home value: $216,800 (state: $155,100)
- Median household income: $61,526 (state: $55,454)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.2% (state: 69.9%)
- Recreational establishments: 20.1 per 10,000 businesses (state: 39.6 per 10,000)
- Total population: 321,354
Louisiana: Oak Hills Place
-
- Median home value: $363,600 (state: $174,000)
- Median household income: $90,347 (state: $53,571)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 96.9% (state: 75.8%)
- Recreational establishments: 15.9 per 10,000 businesses (state: 26.8 per 10,000)
- Total population: 9,201
Maine: Portland
-
- Median home value: $341,700 (state: $212,100)
- Median household income: $66,109 (state: $63,182)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 85.1% (state: 65.7%)
- Recreational establishments: 73.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 102.3 per 10,000)
- Total population: 68,063
Maryland: Chevy Chase
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- Median home value: $999,200 (state: $338,500)
- Median household income: $207,971 (state: $91,431)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.8% (state: 92.1%)
- Recreational establishments: 21.8 per 10,000 businesses (state: 37.7 per 10,000)
- Total population: 9,889
Massachusetts: Wellesley
-
- Median home value: $1,251,800 (state: $424,700)
- Median household income: $226,250 (state: $89,026)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 94.7% (state: 94.7%)
- Recreational establishments: 31.6 per 10,000 businesses (state: 49.4 per 10,000)
- Total population: 29,365
Michigan: Ann Arbor
-
- Median home value: $366,600 (state: $172,100)
- Median household income: $73,276 (state: $63,202)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 87.8% (state: 85.2%)
- Recreational establishments: 41.7 per 10,000 businesses (state: 51.8 per 10,000)
- Total population: 122,731
Minnesota: North Oaks
-
- Median home value: $696,800 (state: $250,200)
- Median household income: $220,861 (state: $77,706)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.8% (state: 86.0%)
- Recreational establishments: 38.9 per 10,000 businesses (state: 52.7 per 10,000)
- Total population: 5,204
Mississippi: Madison
-
- Median home value: $282,600 (state: $133,000)
- Median household income: $119,662 (state: $49,111)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 81.2% (state: 57.5%)
- Recreational establishments: 24.0 per 10,000 businesses (state: 38.5 per 10,000)
- Total population: 27,459
Missouri: Fort Leonard Wood
-
- Median home value: N/A
- Median household income: $61,913 (state: $61,043)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 66.1% (state: 75.8%)
- Recreational establishments: N/A
- Total population: 15,629
Montana: Bozeman
-
- Median home value: $466,400 (state: $263,700)
- Median household income: $67,354 (state: $60,560)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 83.2% (state: 72.8%)
- Recreational establishments: 32.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 54.3 per 10,000)
- Total population: 51,574
Nebraska: Chadron
-
- Median home value: $132,700 (state: $174,100)
- Median household income: $50,363 (state: $66,644)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 89.6% (state: 83.1%)
- Recreational establishments: N/A
- Total population: 5,376
Nevada: Incline Village
-
- Median home value: $1,042,700 (state: $315,900)
- Median household income: $131,914 (state: $65,686)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 88.3% (state: 91.5%)
- Recreational establishments: 14.8 per 10,000 businesses (state: 26.8 per 10,000) T
- Total population: 9,440
New Hampshire: Lebanon
-
- Median home value: $274,400 (state: $288,700)
- Median household income: $80,619 (state: $83,449)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 84.9% (state: 84.2%)
- Recreational establishments: 113.5 per 10,000 businesses (state: 60.8 per 10,000)
- Total population: 14,316
New Jersey: Rumson
-
- Median home value: $1,309,200 (state: $355,700)
- Median household income: $239,188 (state: $89,703)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 96.0% (state: 96.1%)
- Recreational establishments: 42.9 per 10,000 businesses (state: 30.0 per 10,000)
- Total population: 7,292
New Mexico: Los Alamos
-
- Median home value: $342,000 (state: $184,800)
- Median household income: $118,293 (state: $54,020)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.3% (state: 74.3%)
- Recreational establishments: N/A
- Total population: 13,270
New York: Rye
-
- Median home value: $1,529,400 (state: $340,600)
- Median household income: $207,930 (state: $75,157)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.6% (state: 93.2%)
- Recreational establishments: 42.6 per 10,000 businesses (state: 58.3 per 10,000)
- Total population: 16,459
North Carolina: Chapel Hill
-
- Median home value: $454,300 (state: $197,500)
- Median household income: $77,037 (state: $60,516)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 83.3% (state: 74.5%)
- Recreational establishments: 15.0 per 10,000 businesses (state: 35.1 per 10,000)
- Total population: 60,920
North Dakota: Grand Forks
-
- Median home value: $215,900 (state: $209,900)
- Median household income: $53,611 (state: $68,131)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 88.0% (state: 72.5%)
- Recreational establishments: 36.9 per 10,000 businesses (state: 57.2 per 10,000)
- Total population: 58,867
Ohio: The Village of Indian Hill
-
- Median home value: $918,800 (state: $159,900)
- Median household income: $194,643 (state: $61,938)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 96.9% (state: 83.8%)
- Recreational establishments: 33.6 per 10,000 businesses (state: 40.8 per 10,000)
- Total population: 6,017
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
- Median home value: $168,900 (state: $150,800)
- Median household income: $59,679 (state: $56,956)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 93.8% (state: 71.3%)
- Recreational establishments: 21.3 per 10,000 businesses (state: 34.7 per 10,000)
- Total population: 673,183
Oregon: Portland
- Median home value: $462,800 (state: $362,200)
- Median household income: $78,476 (state: $70,084)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.5% (state: 87.9%)
- Recreational establishments: 39.1 per 10,000 businesses (state: 37.7 per 10,000)
- Total population: 647,176
Pennsylvania: Merion Station
-
- Median home value: $693,800 (state: $197,300)
- Median household income: $233,340 (state: $67,587)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 96.4% (state: 85.8%)
- Recreational establishments: 38.7 per 10,000 businesses (state: 52.7 per 10,000)
- Total population: 5,369
Rhode Island: Newport
-
- Median home value: $529,900 (state: $292,600)
- Median household income: $77,092 (state: $74,489)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 92.9% (state: 95.5%)
- Recreational establishments: 129.3 per 10,000 businesses (state: 74.5 per 10,000)
- Total population: 25,322
South Carolina: Mount Pleasant
-
- Median home value: $499,600 (state: $181,800)
- Median household income: $106,216 (state: $58,234)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 89.8% (state: 70.3%)
- Recreational establishments: 43.8 per 10,000 businesses (state: 42.7 per 10,000)
- Total population: 88,900
South Dakota: Vermillion
-
- Median home value: $169,500 (state: $187,800)
- Median household income: $47,920 (state: $63,920)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 85.5% (state: 70.6%)
- Recreational establishments: N/A
- Total population: 11,506
Tennessee: Brentwood
-
- Median home value: $711,900 (state: $193,700)
- Median household income: $165,948 (state: $58,516)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 81.9% (state: 67.6%)
- Recreational establishments: 11.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 39.0 per 10,000)
- Total population: 44,354
Texas: University Park
-
- Median home value: $1,380,600 (state: $202,600)
- Median household income: $247,045 (state: $67,321)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 96.7% (state: 81.7%)
- Recreational establishments: 20.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 27.8 per 10,000)
- Total population: 25,029
Utah: Summit Park
-
- Median home value: $814,900 (state: $339,700)
- Median household income: $156,200 (state: $79,133)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 95.1% (state: 84.2%)
- Recreational establishments: 22.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 22.7 per 10,000)
- Total population: 8,406
Vermont: Middlebury
-
- Median home value: $332,200 (state: $240,600)
- Median household income: $65,050 (state: $67,674)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 64.0% (state: 70.6%)
- Recreational establishments: 26.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 96.6 per 10,000)
- Total population: 7,191
Virginia: McLean
-
- Median home value: $1,102,100 (state: $295,500)
- Median household income: $242,610 (state: $80,615)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.7% (state: 83.4%)
- Recreational establishments: 14.8 per 10,000 businesses (state: 35.4 per 10,000)
- Total population: 49,310
Washington: Mercer Island
-
- Median home value: $1,504,500 (state: $397,600)
- Median household income: $170,000 (state: $82,400)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 98.0% (state: 86.0%)
- Recreational establishments: 30.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 34.0 per 10,000)
- Total population: 25,506
West Virginia: Cheat Lake
-
- Median home value: $305,000 (state: $128,800)
- Median household income: $99,656 (state: $50,884)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 74.7% (state: 57.8%)
- Recreational establishments: 20.8 per 10,000 businesses (state: 40.8 per 10,000)
- Total population: 10,187
Wisconsin: Mequon
-
- Median home value: $402,900 (state: $200,400)
- Median household income: $135,425 (state: $67,080)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 97.3% (state: 83.5%)
- Recreational establishments: 64.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 54.2 per 10,000)
- Total population: 24,814
Wyoming: Jackson
-
- Median home value: $836,300 (state: $237,900)
- Median household income: $83,289 (state: $68,002)
- Population with access to exercise opportunities: 97.7% (state: 77.5%)
- Recreational establishments: 51.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 49.8 per 10,000)
- Total population: 10,728
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