Each year U.S. News & World Report releases a list of the best cities to live in the USA. These top-rated locales always include a few big players, like Boston and San Francisco, as well as some surprises, like Naples, Florida, landing the number one spot. To determine the best cities, U.S. News considers a multitude of factors, including quality of life, the local job market, value for your money, and the place’s desirability. And while we agree that all these factors are important in determining where to live in America, we’d also throw access to art and design into the mix. That’s why we used the U.S. News list as a jumping off point—zeroing in on the best places for design lovers among them.
Before you read on, a little more about the methodology:
What is the most livable city in the USA?
As mentioned above, Naples, Florida earned top honors in the U.S. News list thanks to its enviable climate and inviting vibes for retirees (it nabbed the number one spot for Best Places to Retire as well). While we can appreciate a city with pristine beaches and endless putting greens, the competition was steep when we factored in design-centric amenities, so we didn’t include Naples in our list. However, fellow Florida cities Sarasota and Miami are in our top 18. Both places are only about a two-hour drive from Naples, giving residents good reason to take a weekend escape and see the celebrated Sarasota Ballet or 1920s architecture in Miami Beach’s Art Deco Historic District.
Cities with the best quality of life
U.S. News determines quality of life based on factors that matter to Americans most, including crime rates, quality of education, and quality and availability of health care. Ann Arbor, Michigan, received the highest score for quality of life with a 7.7. The next highest score is a 7.4, which three cities earned: Boise, Idaho; Boulder, Colorado; and Honolulu, Hawaii (all of which are included in our design list below). Clearly access to outdoor adventure and first-class cultural institutions is a winning combo for quality of life.
Where is the nicest place to live in the US with affordable housing?
As part of its value assessment, U.S. News examined each city’s median annual household compared to home prices in the area. As you’ll see in our list, good design and affordable real estate aren’t mutually exclusive. Housing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is lower than the national average, and as U.S. News points out, only Detroit ranked higher for the most affordable city in the US for homebuyers in large cities, according to a 2023 study. Grand Rapids, Michigan; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Savannah, Georgia, are three other places that landed on our design-centric list and also have housing costs below the national average.
What is the number one place to live in the US for design lovers?
We chose our top 18 from the U.S. News list based on access to museums, art, cultural institutions, and top-notch architecture. We also considered which cities best fuel creative energy and make the best places to live for designers, artists, and innovators.
AD’s top cities to live in the USA in 2025
Boise, Idaho
U.S. News & World Report ranking: #2
