NYC Is Only 124th-Best City To Live In America, Study Says

NEW YORK CITY — Sorry, Eric Adams — New York City may be your pick for "the greatest city on the globe," but it doesn't crack a new ranking's top 100 in America.

The Big Apple ranked 124th on U.S. News & World Report's list of 150 best places to live released this week.

The entry gives hat tips to the city's cultural impact and opportunities, but otherwise provides faint praise to what it calls a "relentless metropolis."

"New York City is known for its fast-paced, around-the-clock lifestyle, which may be overwhelming for newcomers," the ranking states.

And where in the U.S. is better to live, or presumably less relentless?

Buffalo not only bested New York City, it ranked 34th on the list — the highest that an Empire State city reached.

While New York City's hustle and bustle was deemed "overwhelming," the ranking brushed off Buffalo's notorious snowy weather.

"As for those long winters, there's excellent skiing less than an hour from downtown," Buffalo's entry states.

So, what are the top 10 places to live in the U.S., at least according to the ranking?

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

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.

New York City, it should be noted, was named the best city of 2024 by TimeOut.

Related coverage: 5 NY Cities Among Best Places To Live In America, U.S. News Says