RentCafe Ranks Most Livable Metro Areas

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RentCafe, Santa Barbara, Calif., released a report ranking 149 U.S. metro areas on quality of life across 17 metrics.

The top metro is Washington, D.C., the report found, but the Midwest beats out all other regions on overall livability. Six of the top 20 metros can be found there.

RentCafe graded the spots on 17 metrics across three categories–socioeconomics, quality of life and location and community.

The nation’s capital took the top spot, after ranking seventh next year. It scored well on diverse health care providers, a high share of well-educated residents, a high number of social clubs and community organizations and arts and entertainment venues.

No. 2 is Portland, Me., which was No. 1 in 2024. It scored top points on access to fresh, local food sources, higher education opportunities, an extensive health care network and sports facilities.

No. 3 is Kansas City, Mo., followed by Des Moines, Iowa, and Ann Arbor, Mich.

Rounding out the top 10 are Albany, N.Y., Columbus, Ohio, Asheville, N.C., Harrisburg, Pa., and Boise, Idaho.

The Midwest’s accomplishment of six metro areas in the top 20 is followed closely by the Northwest, with five metro areas, and the Northeast, also with five. The South has four, but is home to the top spot in Washington, D.C.