Austin Named Best Place to Live in the U.S.

Colorful Austin sign filled with city-related images like the Capitol or UT Tower

There’s traffic on every street 24/7, but its sightseeing, diverse night life and authentic taco trucks help balance out the frustration.

Though heavily-congested, Austin, Texas has managed to hit No. 1 on the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Places to Live”  list for two consecutive years.

The list ranks the top 125 most populous metro areas in the U.S. by considering five factors: quality of life, affordability, desirability, net migration and job market. Data is compiled from a national public survey that details what people value most in a hometown, as well as information from government and non-government sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.

Here’s a look at this year’s cities that made the top 10:

  1. Austin, Texas
  2. Colorado Springs, Colorado
  3. Denver, Colorado
  4. Des Moines, Iowa
  5. Fayetteville, Arkansas
  6. Portland, Oregon
  7. Huntsville, Alabama
  8. Washington, D.C.
  9. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
  10. Seattle, Washington

Its authors say the list is intended to help people better decide where to relocate. We know everything’s better in Texas, but Austin’s already crowded enough. Perhaps San Antonio, Texas (#14) is a better fit for those looking to move?

Author:
Dani Matias is a student at the University of Texas. She is working toward a Bachelor's degree in Journalism with a minor in Spanish. She is an active member of Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Inc., NABJ and NAHJ.