Cradle of Country Music sculpture installation in Downtown Knoxville
Workers are putting the finishing touches on the art installation designed by THEVERYMANY on Thursday, November 14, 2024 in Downtown Knoxville.
Knoxville has been named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the most desirable cities to live in the country.
The annual “Best Places to Live in the U.S.” list highlights cities that have a strong job market and high quality of life. Knoxville came in at No. 29 behind Seattle, Washington.
U.S. News and World Report applauded Knoxville for its lower-than-average cost of living, shopping options and natural beauty. Knoxville obtained a 6.4 quality of life score and an overall score of 6.5. The Scruffy City also ranked at No. 57 in “Best Places to Retire.”
The city outranked both Nashville and Memphis, coming in at No. 50 and No. 122 respectively. At No. 27, Chattanooga ultimately claimed the top rank as the best city to live in Tennessee coming in two places ahead of Knoxville.
The top 20 best cities in the country to live in, according to U.S. News and World Report
- Naples, Florida
- Boise, Idaho
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Greenville, South Carolina
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Huntsville, Alabama
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Austin, Texas
- Boulder, Colorado
- Sarasora, Florida
- Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Asheville, NC
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Fort Wayne, Indiana
Methodology
In order to determine the best cities in the U.S. to live, U.S. News and World Report used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. News’ own internal resources.
The data was then categorized into four indexes, weighted based on a February 2024 public survey in which people from across the country voted for what they believed was the most important factor to consider when choosing where to live.
- Quality of Life Index (32%): Measured residents’ satisfaction with daily life and life-impacting factors.
- Value Index (27%): Assessed how affordably residents can live within their means.
- Desirability Index (19%): Evaluated whether people want to live in the city.
- Job Market Index (22%): Gauged the strength of the city’s job market.