A new report has just named this the most livable city in America. Not Camden, Ohio. No. I’ll tell you the city in a minute.
So, just where is it?
That depends on who you ask. It think.
Some people want affordable housing. Others care about health care, schools, jobs, parks, or entertainment. What makes one city perfect for a retiree might not appeal to a young family. We are all different, and we know it. And we know what we need and like.
But. A recent study by RentCafe tried to answer the question by analyzing 139 metropolitan areas with populations over 300,000. Researchers looked at 17 factors, including “cost of living, health care, education, community involvement, recreation, unemployment, and quality of life.”
After all of that figuring, the most livable metro area in the United States turned out to be Portland, Maine. My oldest sister lives there, but I have never been.
Anyway, Portland is known for its ocean views, walkable neighborhoods, excellent health care, and thriving local food scene. It earned high marks for both quality of life and community. But it is cold in the wintertime and snowy.
The top five included:
1. Portland, Maine
2. Lincoln, Nebraska
3. Des Moines, Iowa
4. Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota
5. Ann Arbor, Michigan
I’ve been to Minneapolis and Ann Arbor. Several years ago.
Lincoln scored well thanks to its strong job market, active community organizations, and a cost of living below the national average.
Des Moines ranked first for community and location. It boasts a lively festival scene, plenty of healthy food options, and one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing economies.
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul offer hundreds of parks, lakes, cultural attractions, colleges, and major employers. Residents enjoy both outdoor recreation and city life.
Ann Arbor is known for its natural beauty, high quality of life, and relatively affordable living despite above-average incomes.
I always find lists like this interesting. They remind me that there is no perfect place for everyone. We all want the things we love. For some of us, it might be a place by the ocean. Other people want to hike in the mountains, or put their hands in the soils of farmland. Many people love the hustle and bustle of city life.
Our homes are so important to us. And with that, “home” is a funny thing. Sometimes the most livable place on a list is not where we want to be at all. Sometimes, the most livable place is simply wherever the people we love happen to live.
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“Home is the nicest word there is.” — Laura Ingalls Wilder
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“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.” — Confucius
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“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” — Jane Austen
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