Best places to live in United States
Living in United States: the overview
Across the 38 United States cities we score, livability averages about 61/100 — cost 42, climate 82 and safety 62 on our 0–100 scales. The most affordable city is Las Vegas (cost 55/100), and the warmest is Phoenix (warmest-month highs around 33.0°C). Cost is anchored to United States's World Bank price level, climate to WorldClim normals, and safety blends USGS/FEMA disaster exposure with World Bank homicide rates. National averages hide big within-country gaps, so the table below lets you sort all 38 cities by whichever factor matters most to you — budget, weather or safety — rather than trusting one headline number.
The spread is real: livability runs from 51/100 in San Francisco up to 67/100 in Honolulu, a 16-point gap across United States. Warmest-month highs across these cities range roughly 17.5–33.0°C, and the leading natural-disaster exposure is flooding in the flagship city — check each city page for its own hazard breakdown before deciding.
Scores are 0–100, higher = better. Cost = affordability (higher = cheaper) · Climate = year-round comfort · Safety = natural-disaster + crime safety · Livability = the three combined.
| City | LivabilityiOverall score, 0–100 = 0.35 × Cost + 0.30 × Climate + 0.35 × Safety. | CostiAffordability, 0–100. Higher = cheaper. = 100 − (country price level vs US × a city-size premium). Source: World Bank PPP ÷ exchange rate (US = 100). | ClimateiComfort, 0–100, from WorldClim monthly temperatures. Penalises hot summers (above ~24°C), cold winters (below ~6°C) and too-cool summers (below 15°C). Higher = milder. | Safetyi0–100. Higher = safer. Blends 55% natural-disaster safety (8 hazards — earthquake from real USGS records, plus flood, storm, wildfire, heat, drought, cold, tsunami) and 45% crime safety (homicide rate). | Summer°C | Top risk |
|---|
🌪 Natural-disaster risk in United States → 🏖 Best places to retire in United States → 💻 Digital nomad guide to United States →
FAQ
What is the best place to live in United States?
Among major cities, Honolulu ranks highest for livability (67/100); smaller, cheaper towns can score higher still — sort the full table by your priorities.
How many cities in United States are ranked?
38 cities, scored on cost of living, climate and natural-disaster safety.
Is United States safe from natural disasters?
It varies by city — each city page shows the full breakdown. Honolulu scores 63/100 for safety.