Whether you’re moving to a different state or, in some cases, a different country, affordability is often a key reason for relocation.
Smaller cities and rural towns have recently become hot spots for those looking to escape high prices and overcrowding, but some still yearn for the big city.
US News & World Report evaluated 859 cities on its way to ranking the 250 best places to live, and broke out a list highlighting the best big cities to live in. US News & World Report defined big cities as those with a population of 500,000 or more.
The publication considered five indexes — quality of life, value, desirability, job market, and net migration — to determine where cities finished on the list.
Cities like Johns Creek, Georgia, and Carmel, Indiana, finished as the top two best cities to live in overall, but have a combined population under 200,000.
The big cities have the advantage of shorter commute times and a wider range of cultural attractions. Bigger cities sometimes mean bigger paychecks, but Johns Creek, Georgia, and Carmel, Indiana, both have higher median household incomes than every big city on the list, according to US News & World Report.
Texas, the second-largest state in both size and population, dominated the list with six entries in the top 15 and three — El Paso, Austin, and Fort Worth — in the top five. See what other big cities are considered the best to live in.
20. San Francisco, CA
Population: 828,732
Median home value: $1,395,300
Median monthly rent: $2,267
Median household income: $149,576
Known for: San Francisco is most notable for being a hub of the tech scene, plus its iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and historic cable cars.
19. Sacramento, CA
Population: 542,262
Median home value: $521,370
Median monthly rent: $1,604
Median household income: $89,175
Known for: The capital city of California was the birthplace of the first transcontinental railroad, when it broke ground in Sacramento in the 1860s.
18. Atlanta, GA
Population: 534,657
Median home value: $478,369
Median monthly rent: $1,659
Median household income: $88,243
Known for: Atlanta’s reputation as a city highlighted by massive highways is overblown, as about 48% of the city is covered by trees.
17. Portland, OR
Population: 646,721
Median home value: $573,677
Median monthly rent: $1,422
Median household income: $93,114
Known for: Portland, Oregon, has a strong arts culture, and is home to the world’s largest independent bookstore.
16. Phoenix, AZ
Population: 1,668,856
Median home value: $452,370
Median monthly rent: $1,554
Median household income: $82,891
Known for: Not far from another entry on the list — Mesa, Arizona — Phoenix is known as the Valley of the Sun, mainly due to its year-round sunshine.
15. San Diego, CA
Population: 1,407,749
Median home value: $905,335
Median monthly rent: $2,197
Median household income: $111,559
Known for: San Diego is known for having one of the best zoos in the country, and it famously has some of the most desirable weather.
14. Indianapolis, IN
Population: 896,614
Median home value: $242,973
Median monthly rent: $992
Median household income: $64,315
Known for: Indianapolis is known for the largest single-day sporting event in the country: the Indianapolis 500.
13. Dallas, TX
Population: 1,351,974
Median home value: $354,950
Median monthly rent: $1,404
Median household income: $71,387
Known for: The birthplace of the frozen margarita, Dallas is home to many outdoor attractions and a thriving food scene.
12. Seattle, WA
Population: 792,583
Median home value: $920,561
Median monthly rent: $1,891
Median household income: $129,054
Known for: Known for its iconic coffee culture and skyline featuring the Space Needle, Seattle is the headquarters to companies like Amazon and Starbucks.
11. Columbus, OH
Population: 935,616
Median home value: $280,117
Median monthly rent: $1,090
Median household income: $65,981
Known for: Columbus is the capital of Ohio and the most populous city in the Buckeye State. It’s also the home of the Ohio State University.
10. Houston, TX
Population: 2,513,078
Median home value: $296,056
Average monthly rent: $1,209
Median household income: $66,084
Known for: Houston is one of the closest big cities in Texas to the coasts, and is the energy capital of the world.
9. Mesa, AZ
Population: 537,369
Median home value: $429,090
Median monthly rent: $1,543
Median household income: $83,087
Known for: Mesa, Arizona, is about 20 miles east of Phoenix, but it still has art centers, museums, and other cultural attractions of its own.
8. Charlotte, NC
Population: 953,692
Median home value: $434,208
Median monthly rent: $1,498
Median household income: $83,205
Known for: Located in the south-central part of North Carolina, Charlotte is home to 19 Fortune 1000 companies, like Bank of America and Lowe’s.
7. Jacksonville, FL
Population: 1,012,031
Median home value: $313,627
Median monthly rent: $1,351
Median household income: $1,351
Known for: Jacksonville, Florida, is less than 50 miles from Georgia. It boasts stunning beaches and has the largest urban park system in the nation.
6. San Antonio, TX
Population: 1,480,641
Median home value: $255,757
Median monthly rent: $1,152
Median household income: $66,076
Known for: Most famously known for its River Walk, San Antonio also has historical and cultural significance with landmarks such as the Alamo.
5. Nashville, TN
Population: 705,540
Median home value: $437,629
Median monthly rent: $1,477
Median household income: $79,428
Known for: Nashville has become the bachelorette party capital of the US, but is mostly known for its devotion to country music.
4. Fort Worth, TX
Population: 1,012,396
Median home value: $321,586
Median monthly rent: $1,360
Median household income: $80,685
Known for: Fort Worth, Texas, still has many ties to its cowboy heritage in its historic district, with rodeos, saloons, and cattle trades.
3. Austin, TX
Population: 1,012,323
Median home value: $581,104
Median monthly rent: $1,612
Median household income: $98,624
Known for: In recent years, Austin has become a landing spot for tech companies, but it is also regarded as the live music capital of the world.
2. El Paso, TX
Population: 667,435
Median home value: $197,004
Average monthly rent: $964
Median household income: $59,999
Known for: El Paso, Texas, has a deep Spanish culture, and has over 20,000 acres of mountain peaks and canyons for nature lovers.
1. Oklahoma City, OK
Population: 721,676
Median home value: $251,522
Median monthly rent: $935
Median household income: $68,491
Known for: The state capital of Oklahoma has a diverse arts and culture scene and is the most populous city in the state.
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