The annual migration rate in the United States has seen a steady decline over the past several decades. 

In 2022, only 28.2 million Americans relocated, a significant drop from the 41.1 million recorded two decades earlier, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Notably, a staggering 78% of those who did move opted to stay within the confines of their current state.

When individuals decide to make a move, their motivations often center around enhancing their overall quality of life. Factors such as climate, health considerations, employment opportunities, acquiring a better or more affordable residence, and residing in safer neighborhoods are commonly cited reasons for relocation. 

For those who prefer not to traverse the country, each state harbors cities and towns renowned for offering an elevated standard of living.

By leveraging data from the Census Bureau, the FBI, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have crafted a comprehensive index encompassing 22 distinct measures to pinpoint the premier cities to reside in within each state. These measures were categorized into three broad groups: economy, community, and overall quality of life. 

The study considered locations across the U.S. with ample data and populations exceeding 5,000, encompassing cities, towns, villages, boroughs, and unincorporated communities. Typically, the places featured in this list exhibit low crime rates, thriving economies, and financially stable populations. 

Moreover, a majority of residents in these communities enjoy convenient access to quality healthcare, public parks, recreational facilities, as well as entertainment and cultural attractions such as bars, restaurants, theaters, and museums.

While some entries on this list represent larger cities with populations numbering in the hundreds of thousands, the majority are relatively small, with fewer than 30,000 residents. 

Nevertheless, many of these smaller communities are strategically located within commuting distance of major urban centers like Chicago, Miami, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Discover the optimal cities to call home in each state:

Alabama: Mountain Brook

• • Median home value: $697,800 (state: $157,100) 
  • Median household income: $150,268 (state: $54,943) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 80.0% (state: 60.9%)
  • Recreational establishments: 24.3 per 10,000 businesses (state: 33.3 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 22,184

Alaska: Juneau

• • Median home value: $358,200 (state: $282,800) 
  • Median household income: $90,126 (state: $80,287) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 100.0% (state: 75.7%)
  • Recreational establishments: 27.1 per 10,000 businesses (state: 50.8 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 32,240

Arizona: Paradise Valley

• • Median home value: $1,778,000 (state: $265,600) 
  • Median household income: $203,659 (state: $65,913) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 92.7% (state: 86.2%)
  • Recreational establishments: 25.6 per 10,000 businesses (state: 32.5 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 12,666

Arkansas: Fayetteville

• • Median home value: $255,600 (state: $142,100) 
  • Median household income: $52,111 (state: $52,123) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 82.4% (state: 63.0%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 16.9 per 10,000 businesses (state: 41.4 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 92,070

California: Orinda

• • Median home value: $1,538,400 (state: $573,200) 
  • Median household income: $248,984 (state: $84,097) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 98.2% (state: 94.6%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 27.0 per 10,000 businesses (state: 26.3 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 19,497

Colorado: Aspen

• • Median home value: N/A 
  • Median household income: $89,625 (state: $80,184) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 94.6% (state: 90.4%)
  • Recreational establishments: N/A 
  • Total population: 7,019

Connecticut: Old Greenwich

• • Median home value: $1,444,800 (state: $286,700) 
  • Median household income: $234,152 (state: $83,572) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 97.5% (state: 93.5%)
  • Recreational establishments: 57.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 63.8 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 6,929

Delaware: Hockessin

• • Median home value: $460,800 (state: $269,700) 
  • Median household income: $158,036 (state: $72,724) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 93.5% (state: 81.3%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 33.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 41.3 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 13,464

Florida: Key Biscayne

• • Median home value: $1,246,700 (state: $248,700) 
  • Median household income: $167,990 (state: $61,777) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 98.5% (state: 88.2%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 18.1 per 10,000 businesses (state: 32.1 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 14,530

Georgia: Druid Hills

• Median home value: $698,000 (state: $206,700) 
• Median household income: $137,576 (state: $65,030) 
• Population with access to exercise opportunities: 88.5% (state: 74.6%) 
• Recreational establishments: 12.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 26.4 per 10,000) 
• Total population: 8,611

Hawaii: Laie

• • Median home value: $937,000 (state: $662,100) 
  • Median household income: $101,011 (state: $88,005) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 97.3% (state: 93.7%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 33.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 43.1 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 6,436

Idaho: Boise

• • Median home value: $322,300 (state: $266,500) 
  • Median household income: $68,373 (state: $63,377) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 86.0% (state: 74.7%)
  • Recreational establishments: 27.7 per 10,000 businesses (state: 38.8 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 231,537

Illinois: Glencoe

• • Median home value: $1,101,200 (state: $212,600) 
  • Median household income: $212,132 (state: $72,563) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.3% (state: 90.4%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 24.6 per 10,000 businesses (state: 32.9 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 8,824

Indiana: Carmel

• • Median home value: $372,100 (state: $158,500) 
  • Median household income: $119,772 (state: $61,944) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 89.8% (state: 76.8%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 25.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 39.9 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 98,137

Iowa: Iowa City

• • Median home value: $230,700 (state: $160,700) 
  • Median household income: $51,925 (state: $65,429) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 89.6% (state: 79.3%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 23.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 66.9 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 74,240

Kansas: Leawood

• • Median home value: $498,900 (state: $164,800) 
  • Median household income: $159,540 (state: $64,521) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 96.7% (state: 79.7%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 22.0 per 10,000 businesses (state: 56.5 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 33,748

Kentucky: Lexington-Fayette

• • Median home value: $216,800 (state: $155,100) 
  • Median household income: $61,526 (state: $55,454) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.2% (state: 69.9%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 20.1 per 10,000 businesses (state: 39.6 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 321,354

Louisiana: Oak Hills Place

• • Median home value: $363,600 (state: $174,000) 
  • Median household income: $90,347 (state: $53,571) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 96.9% (state: 75.8%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 15.9 per 10,000 businesses (state: 26.8 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 9,201

Maine: Portland

• • Median home value: $341,700 (state: $212,100) 
  • Median household income: $66,109 (state: $63,182) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 85.1% (state: 65.7%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 73.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 102.3 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 68,063

Maryland: Chevy Chase

• • Median home value: $999,200 (state: $338,500) 
  • Median household income: $207,971 (state: $91,431) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.8% (state: 92.1%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 21.8 per 10,000 businesses (state: 37.7 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 9,889

Massachusetts: Wellesley

• • Median home value: $1,251,800 (state: $424,700) 
  • Median household income: $226,250 (state: $89,026) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 94.7% (state: 94.7%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 31.6 per 10,000 businesses (state: 49.4 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 29,365

Michigan: Ann Arbor

• • Median home value: $366,600 (state: $172,100) 
  • Median household income: $73,276 (state: $63,202) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 87.8% (state: 85.2%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 41.7 per 10,000 businesses (state: 51.8 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 122,731

Minnesota: North Oaks

• • Median home value: $696,800 (state: $250,200) 
  • Median household income: $220,861 (state: $77,706) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.8% (state: 86.0%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 38.9 per 10,000 businesses (state: 52.7 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 5,204

Mississippi: Madison

• • Median home value: $282,600 (state: $133,000) 
  • Median household income: $119,662 (state: $49,111) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 81.2% (state: 57.5%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 24.0 per 10,000 businesses (state: 38.5 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 27,459

Missouri: Fort Leonard Wood

• • Median home value: N/A 
  • Median household income: $61,913 (state: $61,043) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 66.1% (state: 75.8%)
  • Recreational establishments: N/A 
  • Total population: 15,629

Montana: Bozeman

• • Median home value: $466,400 (state: $263,700) 
  • Median household income: $67,354 (state: $60,560) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 83.2% (state: 72.8%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 32.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 54.3 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 51,574

Nebraska: Chadron

• • Median home value: $132,700 (state: $174,100) 
  • Median household income: $50,363 (state: $66,644) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 89.6% (state: 83.1%) 
  • Recreational establishments: N/A 
  • Total population: 5,376

Nevada: Incline Village

• • Median home value: $1,042,700 (state: $315,900) 
  • Median household income: $131,914 (state: $65,686) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 88.3% (state: 91.5%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 14.8 per 10,000 businesses (state: 26.8 per 10,000) T
  • Total population: 9,440

New Hampshire: Lebanon

• • Median home value: $274,400 (state: $288,700) 
  • Median household income: $80,619 (state: $83,449) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 84.9% (state: 84.2%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 113.5 per 10,000 businesses (state: 60.8 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 14,316

New Jersey: Rumson

• • Median home value: $1,309,200 (state: $355,700) 
  • Median household income: $239,188 (state: $89,703) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 96.0% (state: 96.1%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 42.9 per 10,000 businesses (state: 30.0 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 7,292

New Mexico: Los Alamos

• • Median home value: $342,000 (state: $184,800) 
  • Median household income: $118,293 (state: $54,020) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.3% (state: 74.3%) 
  • Recreational establishments: N/A 
  • Total population: 13,270

New York: Rye

• • Median home value: $1,529,400 (state: $340,600) 
  • Median household income: $207,930 (state: $75,157) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.6% (state: 93.2%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 42.6 per 10,000 businesses (state: 58.3 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 16,459

North Carolina: Chapel Hill

• • Median home value: $454,300 (state: $197,500) 
  • Median household income: $77,037 (state: $60,516) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 83.3% (state: 74.5%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 15.0 per 10,000 businesses (state: 35.1 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 60,920

North Dakota: Grand Forks

• • Median home value: $215,900 (state: $209,900) 
  • Median household income: $53,611 (state: $68,131) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 88.0% (state: 72.5%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 36.9 per 10,000 businesses (state: 57.2 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 58,867

Ohio: The Village of Indian Hill

• • Median home value: $918,800 (state: $159,900) 
  • Median household income: $194,643 (state: $61,938) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 96.9% (state: 83.8%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 33.6 per 10,000 businesses (state: 40.8 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 6,017

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City

• Median home value: $168,900 (state: $150,800) 
• Median household income: $59,679 (state: $56,956) 
• Population with access to exercise opportunities: 93.8% (state: 71.3%) 
• Recreational establishments: 21.3 per 10,000 businesses (state: 34.7 per 10,000) 
• Total population: 673,183

Oregon: Portland

• Median home value: $462,800 (state: $362,200) 
• Median household income: $78,476 (state: $70,084) 
• Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.5% (state: 87.9%) 
• Recreational establishments: 39.1 per 10,000 businesses (state: 37.7 per 10,000) 
• Total population: 647,176

Pennsylvania: Merion Station

• • Median home value: $693,800 (state: $197,300) 
  • Median household income: $233,340 (state: $67,587) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 96.4% (state: 85.8%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 38.7 per 10,000 businesses (state: 52.7 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 5,369

Rhode Island: Newport

• • Median home value: $529,900 (state: $292,600) 
  • Median household income: $77,092 (state: $74,489) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 92.9% (state: 95.5%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 129.3 per 10,000 businesses (state: 74.5 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 25,322

South Carolina: Mount Pleasant

• • Median home value: $499,600 (state: $181,800) 
  • Median household income: $106,216 (state: $58,234) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 89.8% (state: 70.3%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 43.8 per 10,000 businesses (state: 42.7 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 88,900

South Dakota: Vermillion

• • Median home value: $169,500 (state: $187,800) 
  • Median household income: $47,920 (state: $63,920) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 85.5% (state: 70.6%)
  • Recreational establishments: N/A 
  • Total population: 11,506

Tennessee: Brentwood

• • Median home value: $711,900 (state: $193,700) 
  • Median household income: $165,948 (state: $58,516) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 81.9% (state: 67.6%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 11.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 39.0 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 44,354

Texas: University Park

• • Median home value: $1,380,600 (state: $202,600) 
  • Median household income: $247,045 (state: $67,321) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 96.7% (state: 81.7%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 20.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 27.8 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 25,029

Utah: Summit Park

• • Median home value: $814,900 (state: $339,700) 
  • Median household income: $156,200 (state: $79,133) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 95.1% (state: 84.2%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 22.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 22.7 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 8,406

Vermont: Middlebury

• • Median home value: $332,200 (state: $240,600) 
  • Median household income: $65,050 (state: $67,674) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 64.0% (state: 70.6%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 26.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 96.6 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 7,191

Virginia: McLean

• • Median home value: $1,102,100 (state: $295,500) 
  • Median household income: $242,610 (state: $80,615) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 99.7% (state: 83.4%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 14.8 per 10,000 businesses (state: 35.4 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 49,310

Washington: Mercer Island

• • Median home value: $1,504,500 (state: $397,600) 
  • Median household income: $170,000 (state: $82,400) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 98.0% (state: 86.0%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 30.4 per 10,000 businesses (state: 34.0 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 25,506

West Virginia: Cheat Lake

• • Median home value: $305,000 (state: $128,800) 
  • Median household income: $99,656 (state: $50,884) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 74.7% (state: 57.8%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 20.8 per 10,000 businesses (state: 40.8 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 10,187

Wisconsin: Mequon

• • Median home value: $402,900 (state: $200,400) 
  • Median household income: $135,425 (state: $67,080) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 97.3% (state: 83.5%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 64.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 54.2 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 24,814

Wyoming: Jackson

• • Median home value: $836,300 (state: $237,900) 
  • Median household income: $83,289 (state: $68,002) 
  • Population with access to exercise opportunities: 97.7% (state: 77.5%) 
  • Recreational establishments: 51.2 per 10,000 businesses (state: 49.8 per 10,000) 
  • Total population: 10,728

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