Best places to live in western us

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From superb suburbs to quaint small towns, our 35th annual list highlights the places where job growth is rising, home prices are affordable, and the quality of life shines.
By Samantha Sharf, Aly J. Yale, Daniel Bortz, Leslie Cook, Julia Glum, Mallika Mitra and Ana Lucía Murillo
Best Places 2021 #1-5
Best Places 2021 #6-16
Best Places 2021 #17-27
Best Places 2021 #28-38
Best Places 2021 #39-50
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Where's the best place to live on the West Coast?
What is the #1 Best place to Live in the US?
Which US city has the best quality of life?
Which is the best place to settle down in USA?

From superb suburbs to quaint small towns, our 35th annual list highlights the places where job growth is rising, home prices are affordable, and the quality of life shines.

By Samantha Sharf, Aly J. Yale, Daniel Bortz, Leslie Cook, Julia Glum, Mallika Mitra and Ana Lucía Murillo

Best Places 2021 #1-5

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HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew MexicoSouth DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas

Best Places 2021 #6-16

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Click your state to see Money’s recommended mortgage lender in your area

HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew Mexico South DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas

Best Places 2021 #17-27

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Click your state to see Money’s recommended mortgage lender in your area

HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew Mexico South DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas

Best Places 2021 #28-38

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Click your state to see Money’s recommended mortgage lender in your area

HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew Mexico South DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas

Best Places 2021 #39-50

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Where's the best place to live on the West Coast?

Best Places to Live on the West Coast.

Portland, OR..

San Clemente, CA..

San Diego, CA..

San Francisco, CA..

Santa Barbara, CA..

Seattle, WA..

Tacoma, WA..

Thousand Oaks, CA..

What is the #1 Best place to Live in the US?

Its 2022 ranking for the best places to live looked at five metrics: job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration. The best place to live in America is Huntsville, Alabama, followed by Colorado Springs, Colorado.