(NEXSTAR) \u2013 U.S. News & World report has released its ranking of the 250 best places to live in the United States for 2026-2027, and most of the top cities are far from the coasts.<\/p>\n
The study\u2019s authors looked at affordability, desirability, job market and quality of life to determine the winner<\/a>, which was the suburban city of Carmel, Indiana.<\/p>\n Carmel was followed by its neighbor \u2013 Fishers, Indiana \u2013 which was a first for the annual report. Both cities got top marks as places that \u201coffer residents a good quality of life without breaking the bank,\u201d Erika Giovanetti, consumer lending analyst at U.S. News & World Report, said in a statement.<\/p>\n Social Security COLA for 2027 expected to jump \u2013 here\u2019s how much <\/a><\/p>\n Indeed, high-priced coastal cities like San Francisco and New York didn\u2019t make the Top 10, which was dominated by Texas, which took places 3, 8, 9 and 10.<\/p>\n The Lone Star State\u2019s popularity was also evident in 2024 Census Bureau data released earlier this year, which shows that Texas welcomed the the second-most movers from outside states<\/a> (556,156), while losing only 483,476 residents who moved out of state.<\/p>\n Iowa, Georgia, Alabama and Michigan cities rounded out the Top 10 \u201cbest places to live\u201d ranking:<\/p>\n See the full ranking<\/a> and complete methodology<\/a> on the U.S. News & World Report site.<\/p>\n \u201cAs prices of everyday goods continue to rise, consumers are considering affordability as a top priority when choosing a place to live,\u201d said Giovanetti. \u201cWhile U.S. News\u2019 consumer survey indicated that quality of life and affordability were close in importance, cost-of-living concerns resulted in many Americans putting what they can afford above their aspirations.\u201d<\/p>\n Of those making a move to a new state, nearly three quarters rent, according to the National Association of Realtors<\/a> (NAR).<\/p>\n \u201cNationally, affordability pressures are still very real,\u201d Nadia Evangelou, principal economist and director of real estate research at NAR, writes<\/a>. \u201cFor many households, especially younger movers or those facing higher borrowing costs, renting provides flexibility, time to learn a new market, or an opportunity to save.\u201d<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ol>\n