New study outlines five most livable cities in US

A new study from the data analysis company Niche has listed its top picks for the most livable cities in the United States.

The study compiles multiple factors in its rankings, including the cost of living, higher education rate, housing grade, nightlife grade, and walkability grade, all of which give scores based on a variety of subfactors. Factors have different weights on the final score. The cost of living makes up 12.5% of the cumulative final score, while the shortest commute grade only makes up 2.5% of the final grade.

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Here are the five most livable cities in the U.S., according to Niche.

5. Columbia, Maryland; Population: 105,086

Columbia was given high marks in a number of fields, getting an “A” in the public schools, good for families, jobs, outdoor activities, nightlife, diversity, and health and fitness categories. Likewise, the city was given the No. 4 spot overall in the best cities to raise a family. Reviews tout friendly neighbors, cleanliness, an immersion in nature, and walkability.

However, the city scored relatively poorly on the cost of living, receiving a “C+,” bringing it down to fifth place.

4. Naperville, Illinois; Population: 149,013

Naperville was placed in the No. 4 spot due to getting top marks in the public schools, good for families, and health and fitness categories. The jobs, outdoor activities, and diversity categories were in the “A” range as well. Though it received poor scores in the weather and cost of living categories, it received a higher percentage of top markings than Columbia, including its ranking as the No. 1 best city to raise a family.

3. The Woodlands, Texas; Population: 115,716

The Woodlands is the first city on the list to have zero grades below a “B,” including top ratings for public schools, good for families, and jobs, while housing, outdoor activities, diversity, and health and fitness were in the “A” range as well. It also takes the top spot for the best place to buy a house and receives specific praise for the quality of its public schools.

2. Arlington, Virginia; Population: 235,764

Top ratings in the public schools, good for families, nightlife, and health and fitness categories helped propel Arlington from fourth place last year to second place this year. Though it received a “C+” for housing and a “C” for the cost of living, high grades in other categories have kept Arlington in the top five of the list for the past few years. Residents praise the presence of numerous bars, coffee shops, parks, and restaurants.

As a bonus, the city offers a view of the nation’s capital.

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1. Cambridge, Massachusetts; Population: 116,892

Buoyed by its storied university, Cambridge claims the top spot as the most livable city in the U.S., getting top grades in nightlife, being good for families, health and fitness, commuting, and outdoor activities. Though getting three “C” grades in housing, cost of living, and crime and safety, being the least safe of the top five, the lower weight given to those factors helped place Cambridge in the top spot. It is also ranked as the best city for young professionals, the second healthiest city, the second healthiest place, and the second best suburb for young professionals.