This U.S. City Ranks No. 1 for Quality of Life

Hint: it’s in Michigan.

Michigan may be known for its lakes and stunning natural landscapes, but it has also been making waves as a great place to live. One city, in particular, has been highlighted for its excellent standard of living that exceeds any other American community.

Ann Arbor, which was recently named among the most peaceful cities in the country, has the best quality of life in the nation, according to U.S. News’ annual report on the best places to live. The company considers factors like crime rates, well-being, quality of education, health care, air quality, and average commute times to calculate each city’s quality of life index. With an overall score of 7.7 out of 10, Ann Arbor came out on top before Boulder, Colorado, and Boise, Idaho.

“Ann Arbor is a city of contrasts. It is at once rural and urban, sporty and smart, outdoorsy and high-tech, counterculture and high society,” U.S. News stated in its report, highlighting the city’s “increasingly diverse job market, a robust public parks system, and low crime rates.”

Ann Arbor is located on Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and is known for being home to the University of Michigan, one of the top public higher education institutions in the country with over 50,000 enrolled students. As a result, the city has become a magnet for young people. In 2023, Ann Arbor had the highest percentage of people between 18 and 24 moving in, and three out of 10 adult residents had a graduate degree, according to data by Smart Asset.

Once settled, Ann Arbor residents also enjoy excellent access to health care and better economic security, according to the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, which places the city first among the top 15 largest metro areas in Michigan.

Trust of Public Land data shows that 92 percent of residents live within a 10-minute walk from one of the city’s 172 parks. Some of the most popular spots for relaxation are places like Gallup Park, a 69-acre green haven along the banks of the Huron River, and Fuller Park, with an Olympic-size pool, picnic tables, and a play area.

U.S. News also pointed out that the average commuting time for city workers is 24 minutes, less than the national average, and that “the growing population of downtown Ann Arbor enjoys the same level of walkability as its peers in the densest areas of Manhattan, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.”

You can read the full report on usnews.com.

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