Carmel, Indiana just beat every major city in America for the No. 1 spot on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live list. Its neighbor, Fishers, landed at No. 2.
Two small Indiana suburbs. Back to back. That’s never happened before in the ranking’s history.
So what do they have in common? Affordability.
U.S. News & World Report surveyed thousands of Americans to weigh the ranking’s four factors, and value came out on top, ranking higher than desirability or the local job market.
That means people are making decisions based on what they can actually afford, and the cities rising to the top of this list reflect exactly that. The rest of the top 10 shows the same pattern.
Here’s which metros made the cut and why.
How the Rankings Work
U.S. News builds this list by measuring four factors for each city: job market, value, quality of life, and desirability. The weights come from a public survey of thousands of Americans who were asked what matters most when choosing where to live.
The 2026-2027 rankings also pulled in U.S. News Best States data on economy and infrastructure, adding another layer to how each city was evaluated.
Data sources included:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Affordability sitting at the top of that priority list is what shaped this year’s results more than anything else, and you can see exactly how when you look at who made the top 10.
Best Places to Live in 2026-2027
Texas had a strong showing this year, placing four cities in the top 10 for the first time. All four were new to the list and all four ranked on affordability.
- Carmel, IN: high scores in desirability, affordability, and job market
- Fishers, IN: high scores in affordability and quality of life; strong job market
- Flower Mound, TX: strong job market, desirability, and affordability; Dallas suburb
- Ankeny, IA
- Johns Creek, GA
- Hoover, AL
- Rochester Hills, MI
- Leander, TX: strong desirability and job market scores
- Frisco, TX: strong desirability and quality of life; Dallas suburb
- Sugar Land, TX: jumped 8 spots; driven by high desirability scores
The top 10 gets most of the attention, but the next 10 metros on the list are worth a look, too. Several of them are showing up on multiple U.S. News lists this year, which tells you something about where momentum is building.
- Cary, NC
- Troy, MI
- League City, TX
- Parkland, FL
- Buffalo Grove, IL
- Pearland, TX
- McKinney, TX
- Noblesville, IN
- Broken Arrow, OK
- Apex, NC
Takeaway: Suburban markets in the South and Midwest are pulling buyers who want affordability without giving up access to jobs and good schools. If your market fits that profile, lean into it.
Cheapest & Most Expensive Places to Live in 2026-2027
Affordability looks different depending on which end of the spectrum your clients are on.
For buyers who are priced out of their preferred market, the cheapest cities on this list represent real opportunities to get into homeownership.
For buyers coming from expensive markets, understanding where costs are highest helps frame how far their money can go somewhere else.
Top 10 Cheapest Places to Live
- Eagle Pass, TX
- Enid, OK
- Weirton, WV
- Midland, MI
- Decatur, IL
- Bay City, MI
- Mission, TX
- Harlingen, TX
- Springfield, IL
- Laredo, TX
At the other end of the list, California dominates the most expensive metros, claiming seven of the top 10 spots.
Top 10 Most Expensive Places to Live
- Westminster, CA
- Newport Beach, CA
- San Rafael, CA
- Spring Valley, NY
- El Cajon, CA
- Atlantic City, NJ
- Huntington Park, CA
- Lawrence, MA
- Inglewood, CA
- Glendale, CA
Takeaway: Agents in high-cost markets should be ready to have honest conversations about value and long-term appreciation. Agents in affordable markets have a clear opening with relocation buyers who are done stretching their budgets.
Safest Places to Live in 2026-2027
Safety is one of those factors buyers bring up early in the conversation, and it’s not lost on us that several of the safest cities on this list also appear in the overall top 10. Johns Creek, Georgia and Fishers, Indiana both made the cut on safety and overall livability, which reinforces the idea that the best places to live are affordable as well as stable, well-run communities.
Top 10 Safest Places to Live
- Johns Creek, GA
- Centreville, VA
- Newton, MA
- Buffalo Grove, IL
- Rochester Mills, MI
- Homosassa Springs, FL
- Fishers, IN
- Sammamish, WA
- Flower Mound, TX
- Weston, FL
Takeaway: If your market ranks well on safety, that’s a data point worth sharing with relocation buyers. It’s one of the first questions they ask and one of the harder ones to answer without numbers behind you.
Best Places to Live for Quality of Life in 2026-2027
Quality of life and affordability ranked close in the U.S. News consumer survey. A few of these metros carry high price tags, which is a reminder that quality of life means something different to every buyer.
Part of your job is helping clients figure out which tradeoffs they’re actually willing to make.
Top 10 Best Places to Live for Quality of Life
- Tamarac, FL
- Palo Alto, CA
- Doral, FL
- Bethesda, MD
- Carrolton, TX
- Passaic, NY
- McKinney, TX
- Cupertino, CA
- New York City, NY
- Kendall, FL
Takeaway: Quality of life is subjective, and that’s exactly why it’s a conversation starter. Use this list to help buyers get specific about what they actually want out of a community, not just what they can afford.
Fastest Growing Places to Live in 2026-2027
Growth is another signal worth paying attention to. The fastest-growing metros on this list are places where people are actively choosing to relocate, which tends to drive demand and keep markets competitive.
Leander, Texas appears here and in the overall top 10, making it one of the more compelling markets to watch this year.
Top 10 Fastest-Growing Places to Live
- Wildwood, FL
- Hilton Head Island, SC
- Leander, TX
- Palm Desert, CA
- Naples, FL
- Casa Grande, AZ
- Zephyrhills, FL
- San Marcos, TX
- Conroe, TX
- Bonita Springs, FL
Takeaway: Growth markets mean rising demand, new construction, and long-term investment potential. If your market is on this list or adjacent to one that is, that’s a story worth telling your clients.
Best Places to Retire in 2026-2027
Retirement relocation is one of the biggest drivers of housing demand in certain markets right now, and the U.S. News retirement rankings factor in many of the same criteria as the overall list. If you work with clients who are approaching retirement or helping aging parents make a move, these metros are worth knowing.
Affordability runs through this list too. Michigan, Texas, and Florida each claim multiple spots, and most of these cities sit well below the national cost-of-living average.
Top 10 Best Places to Retire
- Midland, MI
- Weirton, WV
- Homosassa Springs, FL
- The Woodlands, TX
- Spring, TX
- Rio Rancho, NM
- Spring Hill, FL
- Altoona, PA
- Palm Coast, FL
- Lynchburg, VA
Takeaway: Retiree migration is reshaping demand in affordable Sun Belt and Midwest markets. Agents who specialize in downsizing or second-home buyers should know this list well.
What This Means for Buyers
U.S. News’ consumer survey found that quality of life and affordability were close in importance to most Americans, but when it came down to it, cost-of-living concerns pushed affordability to the top.
If you’re working with buyers right now, you’re probably already hearing this. Clients want to know what they can actually get for their money, and where.
Many of the cities climbing this list are those where buyers can actually make a move.
