ICYMI: Tampa Bay Scores In Best Places To Live Rankings

LAKELAND, FL — U.S. News & World Report is telling folks across the country something many residents in the Tampa Bay area know: it’s a great place to live. Three cities in the region, in fact, were called out as being among the Top 100 best places to live in the country.

It is 2017 Best Places to Live report, U.S. News recognized Lakeland, Sarasota and Tampa. While none of the three earned top 10 honors, they all appeared in the list’s top 75.

U.S. News’ annual rankings are based in part on surveys of thousands of people across the country to determine important elements in making a great home town. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Labor Statistics is also used. U.S. News also pulls information from its annual Best High Schools and Best Hospitals listings to make ranking determinations. Cities included in the ranking are measured based on such metrics as job market, value, quality of life and net migration, among other factors.

"When considering a move people are concerned about finding a job in their field, earning enough to afford a home, sending their kids to good schools and feeling like a part of their community," Kim Castro, executive editor at U.S. News, said in announcing this year's rankings. "The Best Places to Live ranking takes all of that into account – the metro areas that do well are the ones with strong job markets and high quality of life."

First-place honors in the 2017 Best Places to Live rankings went to Austin, Texas, followed Denver, Colorado, in second.

As for the Tampa Bay area, here’s how towns ranked:

• Sarasota, 24th place – This was down from last year’s 14th place. The website pointed out that “Sarasota has elements of what many consider paradise, mixed with some hints of reality.”
• Tampa, 35th place – This was up from last year’s ranking of 42nd. “Living in the Tampa Bay area is like being on vacation all year long,” U.S. News reported.
• Lakeland, 64th place – This is up from last year’s ranking of 70th. “Lakeland is infused with Old Flordia history and natural beauty,” the ranking's authors pointed out. Other standout qualities include its parks, lakes and proximity to major attractions.

Other Florida towns included in the rankings were:

• Orlando, 40th place
• Jacksonville, 45th place
• Melbourne, 49th place
• Fort Myers, 70th place
• Daytona Beach, 82nd place
• Miami, 92nd place

To read the full rankings report, visit U.S. News & World Report online.

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