Boston, MA - October 7: A fiery sky as the sun rises over downtown Boston skyline viewed from the Charles River Cambridge, MA on Oct. 8, 2021. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Where are the best places to live in the United States? Everyone has their own opinions and it’s always based on different factors. Thanks to U.S. News & World Report, we now have actual factual statistics to back this information up. They have released its rankings of the 150 Best Places to Live in the U.S. for 2023 and 2024 and they’ve basing it on a number of factors. The first is good value. Meaning, where are you getting the best bang for your buck? Is the cost of living worth the value of what’s around you for the price? Next factor is, it has to be a desirable place to live. Desirable definitely has different meaning for different people. For some, desirable may mean good schools. For others it may mean good night life. It just depends on your perspective and where you are in your life. The next factor is: strong job market. How many jobs are available for people in the area? Is the pay enough to keep them living there comfortably? And finally, the last factor is quality of life. This again is another factor that can have different meanings for different people. Some people may consider safety, walkability and food options and others may consider active community factors, family friendly and just having things to do in general. Either way, you may or may not be surprised at where Boston lands on this list. We will mention the top 15 and we will list Boston at the very end.

U.S. News & World report took each of those four factors and gave them a percentage. Then there was a whole mathematical equation involved that you can see HERE. The purpose of this list is to help people narrow down where they want to live in retirement. So choose wisely! Good luck.

  • Melbourne, FL #15 in Best Places to Live

    A great place to see shuttle launches, there is also a historic downtown area and LOTS of entertainment. Not to mention the Indian River Lagoon.

    Melbourne is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Troves of urbanites, families, professionals and retirees enjoy Melbourne, Florida, one of the Space Coast's most populated metro areas. It's no accident that residents here love anything that produces lift. On clear days, you can see sky-rumbling satellite launches and spacecrafts containing cargo en route to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral.

  • Ann Arbor, MI #14 in Best Places to Live

    A college town with a charming and historic Main Street. The school system and fast drive to Detroit make it a place with a variety of things to do and be proud of.

    Ann Arbor is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    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. It is best known as the home of the University of Michigan, and locals here enjoy all the trappings of a stereotypical Midwestern college town: a charming, historic main street lined with bookstores, gift shops and taverns; a healthy mix of longtime residents and shorter-term passers-through; and plentiful cultural destinations and events.

  • San Jose, CA #13 in Best Places to Live

    Labeled a diverse area with a lot of spirit, San Jose is a great place to call home. You have oceans and vineyards in driving distance.

    San Jose is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Nicknamed the capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose is a diverse area with an innovative spirit. While it has a distinct downtown, San Jose is a sprawling metro area that is as much defined by its suburban neighborhoods and large tech campuses as it is by the high-rises in its business district.

  • Boise, ID #12 in Best Places to Live

    Outdoor living is rampant here. If you love mountains, canyons, deserts and lakes, you’ll LOVE it here.

    Boise is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Boise is a recreationalist's paradise. If you value the outdoors and time spent among rivers, mountains, canyons, deserts and lakes - and all the activities encapsulated therein - it's worth a serious look. Downtown Boise is booming. New construction is all over the area.

  • Madison, WI #11 in Best Places to Live

    Madison is bustling with award winning restaurants and entertainment. Its small town appeal is a big factor for many people.

    Madison is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Against a backdrop of high-tech businesses and acclaimed academic institutions, Madison, Wisconsin, exudes the casual, down-to-earth feel you'd expect in the capital of America's Dairyland. On a given night, Madisonians can dine on food prepared by award-winning chefs and take in performances by national and international musicians and actors.

  • Fayetteville, AR #10 in Best Places to Live

    The birthplace of Walmart and Tyson Foods, Fayetteville has a lot of charm. There are so many ways to get involved in the community as well.

    Fayetteville is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Located in a region experiencing drastic growth, Fayetteville - together with Bentonville, Rogers and Springdale - has transformed from a small town to a center of higher education, culture, commerce and entrepreneurialism. The area known as Northwest Arkansas is the birthplace of Walmart, the headquarters of Tyson Foods and the home of the University of Arkansas, the flagship campus of the U of A system.

  • Colorado Springs, CO #9 in Best Places to Live

    From its eateries to shops to friendly people, Colorado Springs is a great place to live.

    Colorado Springs is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Pikes Peak, inspiration for the song "America the Beautiful," is the backdrop for Colorado Springs. Here, you'll find a city that blends colorful nature with rugged history and metropolitan spoils.

  • Charlotte, NC #8 in Best Places to Live

    It’s the second largest banking hub and just a short drive to North Carolina’s beaches. Southern charm is very much alive here.

    Charlotte is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    A charming yet sprawling Southern city, Charlotte is a pleasant urban area nestled in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, within a few hours' drive of both the Appalachian Mountains and North Carolina's white sand beaches . The city has a strong economic identity - it's the second-largest banking hub in the U.S.

  • Portland, ME #7 in Best Places to Live

    The only New England town in the top 10, Portland is beautiful and quiet. With amazing art and farm to table dining options, Portland living is very laid back.

    Portland, ME is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    For the people of Maine, there is only one Portland. Maine's largest metro area and economic hub features cobblestone streets and ships sheltered within the island-specked waters of Casco Bay. Artful living and farm-to-table dining are not just trends in Portland - they have been a way of life for years.

  • Naples, FL #6 in Best Places to Live

    This area is considered a great retirement place for the rich. It has beautiful golf courses and amazing dining options.

    Naples is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Nestled between the edges of the Everglades and the shores of the Gulf of Mexico sits Collier County, home to Naples, Immokalee and Marco Island, as well as a range of distinctly Florida flavors. Long known as a preferred retirement spot for the rich, powerful and cold-averse, the greater Naples and Marco Island area supplies pristine beaches, sprawling golf courses, and fine dining and shopping.

  • Sarasota, FL #5 in Best Places to Live

    From its beaches to rooftops to opera houses, Sarasota is growing. Seaside ambience is a big factor to living here.

    Sarasota is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Sarasota has a distinct vibe that's different from Florida's relative coastal cities, with its own vibrant arts scene,beachy atmosphereand burgeoning food culture.People who choose Sarasota as their home are generally called by its unique charm.This metro area of just over 800,000 people has a renowned opera house, a number of rooftop barsand the popular beach of Siesta Key.

  • Boulder, CO #4 in Best Places to Live

    From sight seeing and its historic mountains, there is plenty to do here. It is relaxing and free from stress.

    Boulder is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Snug against the foothills where the Great Plains give rise to the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is nothing if not a looker. This city reveals its spectacle at the crest of a hill on U.S. Route 36 from Denver with its iconic sandstone slabs rising from the mountains, prefaced by pine-clad mesas and cradled within the backdrop of the snow-capped Indian Peaks.

  • Raleigh & Durham, NC #3 in Best Places to Live

    Strong job growth and quality of life are very high here. Not to mention recreation and entertainment is very high. Things like museums and art scenes are growing and very positive.

    Raleigh & Durham are some of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill are known for their research/technology roots and collegiate rivalries. This tri-city region (known as the Triangle) is luring new residents every day with strong job growth and high quality of life. Many people who call the Raleigh and Durham metro areas home are young, friendly, diverse and educated.

  • Huntsville, AL #2 in Best Places to Live

    Considered one of the fastest growing metro areas, Huntsville is now considered a mecca of shopping dining and recreation.

    Huntsville is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Once a sleepy farming town, Huntsville gained national recognition during the Space Race of the 1960s and is now consistently among the fastest-growing metro areas in Alabama. In the past, the U.S. government relocated a team of German rocket scientists to the area and opened a NASA center that would design the Saturn V, the rocket that sent Apollo astronauts to the moon.

  • Green Bay, WI #1 in Best Places to Live

    Green Bay is notorious for its sports. There are plenty of activities including biking and snow shoeing. They mention live entertainment AND the fact that the cost of living is super low.

    Green Bay is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Home to one of the most storied football franchises in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers, Green Bay has the perfect mix of big-city amenities complemented with a Midwestern, small-town feel. This city boasts a thriving entertainment and arts scene, revitalized downtown, and two college campuses, creating an energy that may appeal to young families as well as retirees.

  • Boston, MA #44 in Best Places to Live

    Boston gives you a small town feel with a LOT of things to do. HOWEVER, the cost of living brings Boston’s ranking down.

    Boston is one of the Best Places to Live in America.

    Boston often feels like a small town with all the perks of city life. It is historic but ever-evolving. The metro area features a diverse culinary scene, access to cultural institutions, and proximity to world-class schools, employers and health care.

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