LocationisticsLocationistics

Locationistics · 103 US metros · 14 weighted factors

Every "best places to live" list ranks someone else's priorities. Rank yours.

Start with the weighting most families pick, then drag the sliders. Schools, safety, climate, home prices, faith community, college pipeline and job market re-rank instantly — and every result shows exactly why it landed where it did.

Locationistics: the analysis of place as a life decision.

Live data: 102 of 103 metros refreshed — BLS unemployment 2026-09 · FBI crime 2025 · Census ACS ACS 2024 5-year · Zillow ZHVI 2026-09-30 · last refresh Nov 2, 2026. Sources and limits.

103 places match your limits

1

HuntsvilleAL

68.9

$314k typical home · 3.7× median income · 517k residents

Safe neighbourhoods 86Home affordability 86School academics 83weak: School sports & recruiting 15weak: Property growth 23
2

AtlantaGA

67.7

$376k typical home · 4.2× median income · 6,256k residents

Safe neighbourhoods 90Temperate climate 97College pipeline 88weak: Short commutes 3weak: Property growth 32
3

CharlottesvilleVA

65.6

$464k typical home · 4.9× median income · 224k residents

School academics 95College pipeline 95Income vs. cost 84weak: Population diversity 34weak: Home affordability 39
4

RaleighNC

65.4

$428k typical home · 4.3× median income · 1,487k residents

School academics 81Income vs. cost 100Job market 94weak: Safe neighbourhoods 6weak: School sports & recruiting 25
5

ColumbusOH

64.2

$327k typical home · 4.0× median income · 2,176k residents

School academics 78Home affordability 75Job market 81weak: Faith community 39
6

Des MoinesIA

63.8

$293k typical home · 3.4× median income · 731k residents

Safe neighbourhoods 98School academics 96Home affordability 96weak: School sports & recruiting 1weak: Population diversity 20
7

AustinTX

63.5

$414k typical home · 4.1× median income · 2,427k residents

College pipeline 95Income vs. cost 93School academics 73weak: Property growth 0weak: Short commutes 25
8

Durham-Chapel HillNC

63.4

$402k typical home · 4.8× median income · 602k residents

College pipeline 100Job market 94Temperate climate 91weak: Safe neighbourhoods 6weak: Property growth 36
9

San JoseCA

63.2

$1524k typical home · 9.4× median income · 1,969k residents

School academics 99College pipeline 95Temperate climate 87weak: Home affordability 1weak: Faith community 7
10

Ann ArborMI

62.8

$412k typical home · 4.6× median income · 370k residents

School academics 98College pipeline 98Safe neighbourhoods 76weak: Faith community 22weak: Temperate climate 34
11

Dallas-Fort WorthTX

62.5

$358k typical home · 4.0× median income · 7,986k residents

Home affordability 76College pipeline 84Income vs. cost 72weak: Property growth 16weak: Short commutes 18
12

Minneapolis-St PaulMN

61.9

$388k typical home · 3.9× median income · 3,714k residents

Safe neighbourhoods 93Home affordability 79School academics 78weak: Job market 7weak: Temperate climate 10
13

BostonMA

61.8

$726k typical home · 6.3× median income · 4,953k residents

Safe neighbourhoods 88College pipeline 98Income vs. cost 85weak: Short commutes 6weak: Home affordability 12
14

St LouisMO

61.7

$273k typical home · 3.4× median income · 2,811k residents

Home affordability 95School sports & recruiting 93Job market 69weak: School academics 36weak: Population diversity 36
15

RichmondVA

61.6

$392k typical home · 4.5× median income · 1,341k residents

School academics 92Temperate climate 78Income vs. cost 76weak: Job market 30weak: School sports & recruiting 33
16

PhiladelphiaPA

61.0

$386k typical home · 4.2× median income · 6,272k residents

Income vs. cost 82Home affordability 63Temperate climate 75weak: Short commutes 12weak: School academics 18
17

OmahaNE

60.7

$306k typical home · 3.6× median income · 982k residents

Home affordability 91Job market 95School academics 73weak: Safe neighbourhoods 19weak: Temperate climate 25
18

CincinnatiOH

60.6

$306k typical home · 3.8× median income · 2,271k residents

Home affordability 80School academics 70Income vs. cost 66weak: Population diversity 27weak: Self-employment health 39
19

LexingtonKY

59.5

$325k typical home · 4.5× median income · 523k residents

Safe neighbourhoods 100Temperate climate 70College pipeline 68weak: Income vs. cost 25weak: Self-employment health 26
20

ProvoUT

59.1

$539k typical home · 5.3× median income · 718k residents

Safe neighbourhoods 84Income vs. cost 99College pipeline 81weak: Property growth 16weak: Population diversity 17
21

FayettevilleAR

58.8

$364k typical home · 4.4× median income · 578k residents

School academics 83Job market 86Income vs. cost 83weak: Safe neighbourhoods 1weak: Healthcare access 9
22

ClevelandOH

58.7

$250k typical home · 3.5× median income · 2,172k residents

Home affordability 92Job market 100Property growth 89weak: Self-employment health 15weak: Income vs. cost 30
23

Grand RapidsMI

58.5

$356k typical home · 4.3× median income · 1,162k residents

School academics 84Safe neighbourhoods 76Home affordability 60weak: Population diversity 24weak: College pipeline 27
24

Salt Lake CityUT

58.1

$559k typical home · 5.7× median income · 1,276k residents

Income vs. cost 91Job market 85Safe neighbourhoods 64weak: Property growth 20weak: Home affordability 21
25

PittsburghPA

57.9

$228k typical home · 3.0× median income · 2,440k residents

Home affordability 100Job market 96College pipeline 77weak: Population diversity 6weak: School academics 12

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Scores are percentile-normalised across all 103 metros, then averaged using your weights. See the data sources and their limits.