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: 103 of 103 metros refreshed — BLS unemployment 2026-07 · FBI crime 2025 · Census ACS ACS 2024 5-year · Zillow ZHVI 2026-07-31 · last refresh Sep 6, 2026. Sources and limits.

103 places match your limits

1

RaleighNC

68.9

$437k typical home · 4.4× median income · 1,487k residents

School academics 81Income vs. cost 100College pipeline 93weak: Short commutes 25weak: School sports & recruiting 28
2

CharlottesvilleVA

67.7

$473k typical home · 5.0× median income · 224k residents

School academics 95College pipeline 95Safe neighbourhoods 73weak: Population diversity 34weak: Home affordability 38
3

AtlantaGA

66.9

$382k typical home · 4.2× median income · 6,256k residents

Temperate climate 97College pipeline 88Home affordability 66weak: Short commutes 3weak: Property growth 36
4

ColumbusOH

66.4

$333k typical home · 4.1× median income · 2,176k residents

Job market 98School academics 78Home affordability 75weak: Faith community 39
5

HuntsvilleAL

65.9

$317k typical home · 3.7× median income · 517k residents

Home affordability 86School academics 83Income vs. cost 92weak: School sports & recruiting 16weak: Healthcare access 23
6

Durham-Chapel HillNC

65.7

$411k typical home · 4.9× median income · 602k residents

College pipeline 100Temperate climate 91Job market 75
7

RichmondVA

64.8

$398k typical home · 4.6× median income · 1,341k residents

School academics 92Safe neighbourhoods 73Temperate climate 78weak: School sports & recruiting 34
8

OmahaNE

64.4

$311k typical home · 3.7× median income · 982k residents

Home affordability 91School academics 73Income vs. cost 87weak: Temperate climate 25weak: School sports & recruiting 33
9

HartfordCT

63.1

$405k typical home · 4.3× median income · 1,153k residents

Safe neighbourhoods 94School academics 78Home affordability 65weak: Job market 3weak: Self-employment health 39
10

CincinnatiOH

63.1

$311k typical home · 3.8× median income · 2,271k residents

Home affordability 80School academics 70Job market 80weak: Population diversity 27weak: Self-employment health 39
11

Des MoinesIA

62.8

$296k typical home · 3.4× median income · 731k residents

School academics 96Home affordability 96Safe neighbourhoods 80weak: School sports & recruiting 1weak: Population diversity 20
12

PhiladelphiaPA

61.0

$392k typical home · 4.3× median income · 6,272k residents

Safe neighbourhoods 70Income vs. cost 82Home affordability 62weak: Short commutes 12weak: School academics 18
13

Virginia BeachVA

60.2

$376k typical home · 4.6× median income · 1,787k residents

Temperate climate 99Safe neighbourhoods 73School academics 60weak: College pipeline 39
14

AustinTX

60.0

$424k typical home · 4.2× median income · 2,427k residents

College pipeline 95Income vs. cost 93School academics 73weak: Property growth 0weak: Short commutes 25
15

Minneapolis-St PaulMN

59.8

$395k typical home · 4.0× median income · 3,714k residents

Home affordability 79School academics 78Income vs. cost 96weak: Temperate climate 10weak: Property growth 10
16

Ann ArborMI

59.8

$423k typical home · 4.8× median income · 370k residents

School academics 98College pipeline 98Income vs. cost 67weak: Faith community 22weak: Property growth 26
17

BostonMA

59.7

$742k typical home · 6.4× median income · 4,953k residents

Safe neighbourhoods 82College pipeline 98Income vs. cost 85weak: Short commutes 6weak: Home affordability 12
18

Dallas-Fort WorthTX

59.3

$365k typical home · 4.1× median income · 7,986k residents

Home affordability 75College pipeline 84Income vs. cost 72weak: Property growth 16weak: Short commutes 18
19

MadisonWI

58.8

$453k typical home · 5.1× median income · 692k residents

Safe neighbourhoods 92College pipeline 88Job market 80weak: Temperate climate 14weak: Population diversity 19
20

San JoseCA

58.6

$1559k typical home · 9.6× median income · 1,969k residents

School academics 99College pipeline 95Temperate climate 87weak: Home affordability 1weak: Faith community 7
21

St LouisMO

58.6

$277k typical home · 3.5× median income · 2,811k residents

Home affordability 94School sports & recruiting 94College pipeline 68weak: Safe neighbourhoods 27weak: School academics 36
22

LincolnNE

58.6

$304k typical home · 4.1× median income · 344k residents

School academics 88Job market 96Home affordability 76weak: Population diversity 17weak: Temperate climate 19
23

ClevelandOH

58.4

$254k typical home · 3.6× median income · 2,172k residents

Home affordability 92Job market 99Safe neighbourhoods 54weak: Self-employment health 15weak: Income vs. cost 30
24

FayettevilleAR

58.4

$369k typical home · 4.5× median income · 578k residents

School academics 83Income vs. cost 83Property growth 94weak: Safe neighbourhoods 7weak: Healthcare access 9
25

Salt Lake CityUT

58.3

$566k typical home · 5.8× median income · 1,276k residents

Safe neighbourhoods 76Income vs. cost 91College pipeline 75weak: Home affordability 21weak: Property growth 22

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