The Best Place To Live In Each State For 2019


We offer you the best place to call home in each state of the Union.

Click to enlarge

Three new cities moved into the Best of the Best places to live in each state in America, according to the HomeSnacks 2019 report.

Each year we analyze what we feel are the best cities to live in each state. We take into account categories that we all agree make a city desirable: Great food, quality shopping, amazing people, and safe, clean neighborhoods.

More importantly, we looked at the places with low crime, great jobs, worthy salaries, affordable housing, and solid schools.
We even looked at short commute times.

According to the Happiness Research Institute, most people do not like where they live and wish they lived somewhere that had more to offer.
But not the folks who live in these cities.

Are you surprised by this year’s results? Pull up a chair and put a smile on your face as we look at U.S.A.’s best of the best cities.

To produce a comprehensive list of the best cities in the U.S. for 2019, we took a look at the things that matter: low cost of living, blue ribbon schools, and an above average employment rate to name a few.

To see how your city compared, we have compiled a detailed list of the the best of the best cities that the U.S. has to offer.

And if you’re already in one of the best of the best cities we’re about to highlight, odds are you don’t want to go anywhere. You should, however, scroll on down and see how your city compared.

For more reading check out:

How We Determined The Best Of The Best

Now that we have our set of cities, it’s time to rank them.

How did we do this? Easy peasy. We ranked each U.S. city across a number of criteria from one to 50, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, with the city posting the highest overall score being crowned the winner of the title “Best of the Best City to Live in the USA for 2019”.

The criteria we looked at were:

  • Median Home Values
  • Median Income
  • Population Density (Higher better)
  • Unemployment Rate
  • Commute Time
  • Crime
  • Education Levels
  • Health Insurance Coverage
  • Poverty rates

Where did we get the numbers? We consulted the New Census Data and FBI Crime Data.

After we pushed some buttons, pulled a lever or two, and cranked out the data, we determined the Best City in the U.S.A. for 2019 is West University Place, Texas.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, head on down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best cities that almost made the top ten.

Otherwise, keep on reading to see the cities that make being the best of the best seem easy.

West University Place, TX

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 15,477
Median Home Value: $987,400 (43rd best)
Median Income: $243,226 (3rd best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2% (74th best)
More on West University Place: Real Estate | Data | Photos

We all know that everything is bigger and better in Texas, so we were not surprised that the best city in the U.S. hails from the Lone Star State.

However, if you want to plant some roots in West University Place, you’re going to have to get a job that pays big time. WUP’s median home price is $987,400.

Western Springs, IL

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 13,187
Median Home Value: $553,300 (206th best)
Median Income: $150,880 (44th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9% (184th best)
More on Western Springs: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Some people knock Illinois for being the center of the midwest, but they do have the second best city in the U.S.: Western Springs.

This city in Cook County crushed our snackability scale with an emphasis on jobs and low crime. It just goes to show that busy people have less time to be naughty.

Los Altos, CA

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 30,527
Median Home Value: $2,000,000 (3rd best)
Median Income: $208,309 (7th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.8% (475th best)
More on Los Altos: Real Estate | Data | Photos

We could not have a best of the best list without a California city.
Los Altos has the best of every world: Great food, amazing people, wonderful weather, and gold star neighborhoods.

This city in Santa Clara County should be the poster city for best cities with its unemployment rate (3.8%) and poverty rate (3.2%) coming in below four percent.

Fair Haven, NJ

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 6,015
Median Home Value: $686,100 (119th best)
Median Income: $158,264 (33rd best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.2% (643rd best)
More on Fair Haven: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Our fourth best of the best U.S. cities, Fair Haven, New Jersey, does not disappoint.
It’s all in the name. Fair ‘Haven’ is a haven for highly educated, motivated individuals. Currently 98% of the residents have a high school diploma and 73% have a college diploma.

And if you live in Fair Haven, you get the added bonus of fresh bagels every day. #Score

Newton, Massachusetts

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 88,479
Median Home Value: $845,100 (69th best)
Median Income: $133,853 (76th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.7% (436th best)
More on Newton: Real Estate | Data | Photos

It might not be Boston, but that’s okay, because Newton, Massachusetts is the fifth best city in America.

Fun fact: Newton is also one of the oldest cities in the country. So, it would make sense that they are so great: they’ve had a lot of time to perfect this top ten win.

Sammamish, Washington

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 62,877
Median Home Value: $679,900 (123rd best)
Median Income: $157,271 (35th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.7% (436th best)
More on Sammamish: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Located between Lake Sammamish and Snoqualmie Valley, they put the ‘King’ in King county with their low unemployment rate (3.7%) and their percentage of adults with high school diploma (97%).

The people in Sammamish are also super active and quality shopping is a priority. Sammamish residents will probably live forever.

Huntington Woods, MI

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 6,347
Median Home Value: $321,400 (567th best)
Median Income: $125,873 (99th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.3% (294th best)
More on Huntington Woods: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Great lakes, low unemployment (3.3%), and a barely there crime rate, in our seventh best city in the U.S., Huntington Woods, Michigan, is why we’re ‘smitten with the mitten’.

This Oakland County city has many great amenities. It’s located just outside the big city of Detroit, minutes from Lake St. Clair, and commute times are at a minimum. #Winning

So, we’re pretty sure you’ll be happy with any home that you find in “The City of Homes”.

Whitefish Bay, WI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 14,099
Median Home Value: $365,500 (428th best)
Median Income: $111,069 (152nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2% (74th best)
More on Whitefish Bay: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Our eighth best city in the US, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, has one of the lowest unemployment rates (2.2%) on our list.

With a median income close to $112,000, you are sure to find a great job with a great company.

And if you’re lucky, maybe you can find an amazing home and job close to the bay and work.

Rye, New York

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 16,004
Median Home Value: $1,094,500 (32nd best)
Median Income: $172,422 (22nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.6% (393rd best)
More on Rye: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Why Rye? The data doesn’t lie. This New York city is our ninth best city in the US for 2019.

Rye crushed our snackability scale with an emphasis on number of residents who have health insurance as well as those who have secondary degrees.

Now don’t let that so called New York attitude scare you, the people in Rye are super friendly, too.

Key Biscayne, FL

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 13,074
Median Home Value: $1,137,100 (30th best)
Median Income: $128,563 (89th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.3% (693rd best)
More on Key Biscayne: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Our tenth best city hails from East Coast of the Sunshine State.

Key Biscayne, Florida scored strong across all criteria on our snackability scale, but they made the most magic happen with percentage of educated residents.

Key Biscayne proves that when you live on your own private peninsula, you get the job done.

Putting A Bow On The Best Of The Best

There you have it, folks. HomeSnacks has done it again with our comprehensive list of the Top 10 Best Cities to Live in America for 2019.

To see what city made the best of the best list in your state, take a look below.

For more reading about America, check out:

Best Places To Live In Each State In America

State City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value
Texas West University Place, TX 15,477 2.2% $987,400
Illinois Western Springs, IL 13,187 2.9% $553,300
California Los Altos, CA 30,527 3.8% $2,000,000
New Jersey Fair Haven, NJ 6,015 4.2% $686,100
Massachusetts Newton, MA 88,479 3.7% $845,100
Washington Sammamish, WA 62,877 3.7% $679,900
Michigan Huntington Woods, MI 6,347 3.3% $321,400
Wisconsin Whitefish Bay, WI 14,099 2.2% $365,500
New York Rye, NY 16,004 3.6% $1,094,500
Florida Key Biscayne, FL 13,074 4.3% $1,137,100
Ohio Powell, OH 12,658 3.0% $359,400
Virginia Vienna, VA 16,474 2.8% $687,000
Colorado Cherry Hills Village, CO 6,542 2.9% $1,269,000
Kansas Leawood, KS 34,195 2.8% $431,000
Oregon Lake Oswego, OR 38,212 4.4% $559,100
Indiana Carmel, IN 88,595 3.0% $320,400
Missouri Ladue, MO 8,591 1.2% $798,500
Pennsylvania Swarthmore, PA 6,243 5.2% $387,800
Utah Kaysville, UT 30,328 3.4% $293,800
Minnesota Edina, MN 50,603 3.3% $438,300
North Carolina Davidson, NC 12,325 4.3% $406,000
Alabama Vestavia Hills, AL 34,003 2.7% $360,800
Arizona Paradise Valley, AZ 13,961 2.6% $1,406,700
Georgia Johns Creek, GA 83,397 6.2% $366,200
Tennessee Nolensville, TN 7,119 2.6% $386,500
Iowa Clive, IA 17,134 2.5% $243,200
Kentucky Fort Thomas, KY 16,254 4.1% $214,000
South Carolina Tega Cay, SC 9,464 5.6% $306,600
Maryland Bowie, MD 58,290 5.8% $315,900
North Dakota West Fargo, ND 33,089 1.5% $217,400
Connecticut Milford, CT 52,331 5.9% $302,200
New Mexico Corrales, NM 8,463 5.2% $442,500
Louisiana Harahan, LA 9,367 2.1% $224,600
Arkansas Maumelle, AR 17,967 3.8% $220,600
Idaho Meridian, ID 91,917 3.3% $221,300
Oklahoma Jenks, OK 20,836 3.5% $197,100
Vermont South Burlington, VT 18,773 3.0% $280,800
Rhode Island Warwick, RI 81,218 5.9% $199,000
Wyoming Cody, WY 9,826 1.5% $214,500
New Hampshire Nashua, NH 87,642 5.5% $248,200
Montana Whitefish, MT 7,070 3.8% $326,100
South Dakota Brookings, SD 23,471 3.6% $169,400
Nevada Henderson, NV 284,817 7.2% $266,200
Maine Saco, ME 19,127 4.0% $228,700
Mississippi Byram, MS 11,660 3.9% $135,400
Alaska Sitka, AK 8,810 5.0% $350,900
West Virginia Charles Town, WV 5,766 3.2% $232,000
Nebraska McCook, NE 7,622 5.8% $88,000
Delaware Dover, DE 37,109 6.2% $174,900

Best Places To Live Around America

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.