BEST PLACES TO LIVE FOR US FAMILIES IN 2023

Moving to a new area can be difficult, especially if you are planning to relocate your entire family. To help you find the right urban area for your children and the whole family, we share information about the ranking of the best places to live in the United States for the period 2023-2024. Then you can consider affordability, quality of life and the job market in equal measure.

These scores combine to create the best places to live for families, considering not only the cost of living and average annual salary but also the quality of secondary education, average commute time , crime rates, overall regional prosperity and access to top-notch healthcare.

Here are the best places to live for families in the United States:

20. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Population: 587,411
Size: 1,621.8 square miles
Median home price: $223,842
Median household income: $54,370

The capital of Pennsylvania is much smaller than the major metropolitan areas of Keystone State such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but its affordability and quality of life make it one of the 20 Best Places to Live for Families in the United States. Residents of the Harrisburg area spend only 21.6% of their total spending on housing, including mortgage payments, rent, property taxes, and utilities.

19. Portland, Maine

Population: 547,792
Size: 2,081.4 square miles
Median home price: $501,164
Median household income: $57,060

In the Sharecare Community Happiness Index, a survey of residents of metropolitan areas across the United States about their sense of safety, overall happiness, and community pride, Portland ranks 28th among 150 metropolitan areas in the list of the best places to live. According to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Portland also has consistently low rates of property crime, violent crime, and homicide. The median household income in Portland is just below the national average of $58,260.

18. Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina

Population: 2,034,246
Size: 4,408.6 square miles
Median home price: $434,741
Median household income: $61,759

Families living in the Raleigh and Durham metropolitan area benefit from a high median household income of $61,759. The average commute time in the Raleigh and Durham area is 26.3 minutes. Residents may have to spend 23.24% of the median annual household income in the area on housing costs, which is higher than some of the larger metropolitan areas on this list but still much lower than other parts of the country.

17. Buffalo, New York

Population: 1,162,523
Size: 1,565.1 square miles
Median home price: $217,767
Median household income: $56,140

Located near the United States-Canada border, Buffalo offers affordability that you won't find in New York City or many other parts of the United States. Residents of the Buffalo area may have to spend 21.31% of the median household income on housing costs. Additionally, Buffalo ranks 28th among 150 metropolitan areas in the list of the best places to live for overall quality of life.

16. Ann Arbor, Michigan

Population: 372,428
Size: 706 square miles
Median home price: $405,142
Median household income: $61,010

Ann Arbor ranks 13th among 150 metropolitan areas in the United States in terms of proximity to quality healthcare. The college readiness of Ann Arbor high school students also ranks fifth among 150 metropolitan areas on the list. Both of these scores contributed to the city's ranking as the number one metropolitan area for quality of life. Ann Arbor is also a place to consider for those who have grown children, as it ranks eighth on the list of the best places to retire.

15. Hickory, North Carolina

Population: 364,877
Size: 1,639.5 square miles
Median home price: $219,950
Median household income: $44,470

Families focused on an affordable lifestyle can't go wrong with Hickory, the most affordable place to live in the United States among 150 metropolitan areas with a population of at least 100,000. Residents spend only 18.95% of the median household income in the area on housing costs, and the cost of goods and services in this area is the fifth cheapest in the United States.

14. Omaha, Nebraska

Population: 959,306
Size: 4,346.3 square miles
Median home price: $298,971
Median household income: $54,980

With a short commute time of 20.7 minutes and a cost of living that is just 21.8% of the area's median annual household income, parents in Omaha spend very little time commuting and keep more money for their families. However, the median annual income is at $54,980, lower than the national average of $58,260.

13. Pittsburgh

Population: 2,366,544
Size: 5,282.9 square miles
Median home price: $203,150
Median household income: $56,060

Pittsburgh is another metropolitan area that is particularly attractive to families because of its low cost of living - residents need only 20.1% of the median household income to buy a home. Additionally, Pittsburgh's rates of property crime, violent crime, and murder are low - ranking 30th out of the 150 locations on the list in that category.

12. Syracuse, New York

Population: 661,106
Size: 2,384.8 square miles
Median home price: $190,129
Median household income: $57,990

Families looking to settle in upstate New York have a few options on this list. Syracuse residents spend 21.84% of their median household income on housing costs, making the metropolitan area one of the more affordable options in the Northeast. With a median morning commute of just 21.3 minutes, working parents can also spend a little more time at home than parents in many other parts of the country.

11. Madison, Wisconsin

Population: 674,506
Size: 3,308.8 square miles
Median home price: $398,096
Median household income: $59,510

Residents of Madison spend a little more on housing than other metropolitan areas on the list, but the benefits may outweigh the costs. Low crime rates compared to the national average, high scores among high school students showing college readiness, and a median morning commute of just 21.9 minutes make many families happy to call Madison home. Plus, the median annual income is a little higher than the national average at $59,510.

10. Lincoln, Nebraska

Population: 337,906
Size: 1,409 square miles
Median home price: $261,535
Median household income: $51,970

The capital of Nebraska ranks 10th with a cost of living that is just 21.77% of the area's median annual household income. Lincoln also ranks 39th out of 150 metropolitan areas in the Sharecare Community Happiness Index for the overall happiness of residents. One factor contributing to that happiness may be the shortest average morning commute on the list, just 19.5 minutes.

9. Fort Wayne, Indiana

Population: 415,887
Size: 992.9 square miles
Median home price: $216,538
Median household income: $50,330

According to FEMA, Fort Wayne ranks 26th out of 150 most populous metropolitan areas in the United States for its low risk of severe weather and natural disasters, as well as its high ability to recover from those events. It also has the 25th shortest commute among metropolitan areas on the Best Places to Live list, with a median morning commute of just 22 minutes.

8. Grand Rapids, Michigan

Population: 1,081,665
Size: 2,689.1 square miles
Median home price: $338,977
Median household income: $52,660

Residents of Grand Rapids spend only 20.72% of their median annual household income on housing. In addition, Grand Rapids ranked 14th for quality of life in the Best Places to Live list - in part because of its low crime rates, high school readiness scores, and a median morning commute of just 21.9 minutes.

7. Albany, New York

Population: 898,265
Size: 2,811.8 square miles
Median home price: $286,267
Median household income: $61,560

Albany's median annual income is $61,560, which is more than $3,000 higher than the national average. According to FBI data, Albany also scores well for its low rates of property crime, violent crime, and murder. Families will also breathe easier knowing that Albany ranked 20th out of 150 locations for air quality, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index, which measures the amount of pollutants in the air that can be harmful to the general public.

6. Des Moines, Iowa

Population: 702,036
Size: 3,612.4 square miles
Median home price: $297,826
Median household income: $57,210

Ranked 19th on the overall best places to live list, Des Moines is the sixth-best place to live for families in 2023-2024. The low cost of living in this Midwestern metropolitan area ensures that only 20.99% of median household income is needed for housing needs. While the high school readiness is a weak point for the metropolitan area, ranking 114th out of 150 in that category, the relatively strong job market and the short average commute helped Des Moines earn the sixth spot.

5. Minneapolis-St. Paul

Population: 3,659,156
Size: 7,047.7 square miles
Median home price: $361,058
Median household income: $63,990

Families considering moving to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area can expect to find many quality high school options and low cost of living. Residents spend 22.63% of their average annual household income on housing costs. Additionally, the median annual income is high at $63,990. Minneapolis-St. Paul high school students rank 33rd out of 150 most populous metropolitan areas in the United States for college readiness.

4. Fayetteville, Arkansas

Population: 538,063
Size: 2,623.4 square miles
Median home price: $369,179
Median household income: $51,590

You can easily find low cost of living in this northwestern Arkansas metropolitan area. With residents spending just 20.44% of the area's median household income on housing, Fayetteville is the 13th most affordable place to live among the 150 metropolitan areas on the Best Places to Live rankings. Another perk: You can spend more leisure time at home before and after work because the average commute is just 20.7 minutes.

3. Green Bay, Wisconsin

Population: 326,590
Size: 1,870 square miles
Median home price: $278,558
Median household income: $51,510

In Green Bay, families can save more money for other needs because the cost of living is only 19.92% of the area's median household income. The Wisconsin metropolitan area also ranks 18th out of 150 most populous metropolitan areas in the United States for its low rates of property crime, violent crime, and murder. On top of that, the average morning commute is just 19.9 minutes.

2. San Jose, California

Population: 1,995,351
Size: 2,679.7 square miles
Median home price: $1,524,907
Median household income: $99,430

If quality education is a top priority, you can't go wrong living in the San Jose metropolitan area, which ranks first among the 150 most populous metropolitan areas in the United States for the college readiness of high school students. However, good schools come at a price, as residents must spend a larger portion of their median annual household income on living costs at 26.14%. In addition, the median home price is over $1.5 million. However, the median income is still higher than the national average of $58,260.

1. Huntsville, Alabama

Population: 483,366
Size: 1,361.6 square miles
Median home price: $349,778
Median household income: $61,140

Huntsville's median annual income is not only at $61,140, which is higher than the national average of $58,260, but residents only spend 19.62% of their median annual household income on living costs. Combining those statistics with the cost of goods and services compared to other metropolitan areas, Huntsville is the fourth most affordable metropolitan area out of the 150 locations on the list. Huntsville also ranks 25th because of its relatively low risk of extreme weather or natural disasters and its higher ability to recover from such events.