14 FL Cities Among Best Places To Live In America, U.S. News Says

FLORIDA — Fourteen cities in Florida are among the top 150 places to live, with one South Florida community named No. 1 on the list, according to a new ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

Naples, Florida, topped the list due to its strong job market and high quality of life, U.S. News said. A change in data collection, including a shift from metropolitan area-based data to city-based data — brought some new appearances in the top 25 from the Midwest and South.

The cities in Florida named to the 2024-2025 Best Places to Live in the U.S. report and their rankings include:

Naples, ranked No. 1

"Long known as a preferred retirement spot for the rich, powerful and cold-averse, the greater Naples area supplies pristine beaches, sprawling golf courses, and fine dining and shopping. … But proximity to the beach, loads of sunshine and no state income tax come with drawbacks. Continued growth and development are exacerbating a lack of affordable homes in Naples. And traffic, although nowhere near the levels seen in larger Florida metro areas, tends to choke roadways in the urban area during the winter months."

The other Florida cities on the list are:

• Sarasota, ranked No. 11
• Pensacola, ranked No. 31
• Tampa, ranked No. 35
• Fort Myers, ranked No. 37
• Melbourne, ranked No. 49
• Jacksonville, ranked No. 56
• Orlando, ranked No. 68
• Tallahassee, ranked No. 75
• Ocala, ranked No. 78
• Lakeland, ranked No. 80
• Port St. Lucie, ranked No. 83
• Daytona Beach, ranked No. 96
• Miami, ranked No. 123

“The incorporation of city-based data further localizes the Best Places to Live rankings, empowering those looking for a place to call home to consider factors directly impacting the livability and overall experiences associated with a given place,” Erika Giovanetti, a loans expert and reporter for U.S. News, said in a news release.

The top 10 places to live in the United States, according to the U.S. News methodology, are:

1. Naples, Florida
2. Boise, Idaho
3. Colorado Springs, Colorado
4. Greenville, South Carolina
5. Charlotte, North Carolina
6. Raleigh, North Carolina
7. Huntsville, Alabama
8. Virginia Beach, Virginia
9. Austin, Texas
10. Boulder, Colorado

This year, U.S. News also adjusted its scoring weights for stronger considerations of a city’s value and job market.

“Rising concerns about career prospects, housing affordability and increased cost of goods and services are reflected in this year’s rankings,” Giovanetti said. “While quality of life remains the top priority for many Americans, a city’s value and job market are becoming increasingly important for those looking for a place to live.”

U.S. News takes into consideration the city’s job market, value, quality of life and desirability. The measures were weighted in part based on a public survey of thousands of people to find out what qualities they think are important in deciding where to live.

The 2024-2025 Best Places to Live were determined based on a methodology that takes into account the city’s job market, value, quality of life and desirability. These measures were weighted in part based on a public survey of thousands of individuals throughout the U.S. to find what qualities they consider important in a place to live.

Data and information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, Sharecare, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other U.S. News rankings were also used in the rankings.