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Best Overall Cities

Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions.

Top 100 Cities

  1. #1
    A

    Rochester, MN

    Best Overall Cities score 92 · MoveScore 92

  2. #2
    A

    Delaware, OH

    Best Overall Cities score 87 · MoveScore 87

  3. #3
    A

    Provo, UT

    Best Overall Cities score 83 · MoveScore 83

  4. #4
    A

    Aurora, IL

    Best Overall Cities score 82 · MoveScore 82

  5. #5
    A

    Rogers, AR

    Best Overall Cities score 82 · MoveScore 82

  6. #6
    A

    Cincinnati, OH

    Best Overall Cities score 81 · MoveScore 81

  7. #7
    A

    Grand Island, NE

    Best Overall Cities score 81 · MoveScore 81

  8. #8
    A

    Missoula, MT

    Best Overall Cities score 81 · MoveScore 81

  9. #9
    A

    Olathe, KS

    Best Overall Cities score 81 · MoveScore 81

  10. #10
    A

    Fayetteville, AR

    Best Overall Cities score 80 · MoveScore 80

  11. #11
    A

    Green Bay, WI

    Best Overall Cities score 80 · MoveScore 80

  12. #12
    A

    Madison, WI

    Best Overall Cities score 80 · MoveScore 80

  13. #13
    A

    Chula Vista, CA

    Best Overall Cities score 80 · MoveScore 80

  14. #14
    A

    Elkhart, IN

    Best Overall Cities score 80 · MoveScore 80

  15. #15
    A

    Mount Pleasant, SC

    Best Overall Cities score 80 · MoveScore 80

  16. #16
    B

    Omaha, NE

    Best Overall Cities score 79 · MoveScore 79

  17. #17
    B

    Rapid City, SD

    Best Overall Cities score 79 · MoveScore 79

  18. #18
    B

    Spokane Valley, WA

    Best Overall Cities score 79 · MoveScore 79

  19. #19
    B

    San Jose, CA

    Best Overall Cities score 78 · MoveScore 78

  20. #20
    B

    Arlington, VA

    Best Overall Cities score 78 · MoveScore 78

  21. #21
    B

    Cary, NC

    Best Overall Cities score 78 · MoveScore 78

  22. #22
    B

    Denton, TX

    Best Overall Cities score 78 · MoveScore 78

  23. #23
    B

    Reno, NV

    Best Overall Cities score 78 · MoveScore 78

  24. #24
    B

    Miramar, FL

    Best Overall Cities score 78 · MoveScore 78

  25. #25
    B

    Santa Barbara, CA

    Best Overall Cities score 78 · MoveScore 78

  26. #26
    B

    Santa Cruz, CA

    Best Overall Cities score 78 · MoveScore 78

  27. #27
    B

    St. Louis, MO

    Best Overall Cities score 78 · MoveScore 78

  28. #28
    B

    Twin Falls, ID

    Best Overall Cities score 78 · MoveScore 78

  29. #29
    B

    Chattanooga, TN

    Best Overall Cities score 77 · MoveScore 77

  30. #30
    B

    Edmond, OK

    Best Overall Cities score 77 · MoveScore 77

  31. #31
    B

    Fremont, CA

    Best Overall Cities score 77 · MoveScore 77

  32. #32
    B

    Plano, TX

    Best Overall Cities score 77 · MoveScore 77

  33. #33
    B

    Alpharetta, GA

    Best Overall Cities score 77 · MoveScore 77

  34. #34
    B

    Stockton, CA

    Best Overall Cities score 77 · MoveScore 77

  35. #35
    B

    Wichita, KS

    Best Overall Cities score 76 · MoveScore 76

  36. #36
    B

    Aurora, CO

    Best Overall Cities score 76 · MoveScore 76

  37. #37
    B

    Baton Rouge, LA

    Best Overall Cities score 76 · MoveScore 76

  38. #38
    B

    Minneapolis, MN

    Best Overall Cities score 76 · MoveScore 76

  39. #39
    B

    Santa Fe, NM

    Best Overall Cities score 76 · MoveScore 76

  40. #40
    B

    Cambridge, MA

    Best Overall Cities score 76 · MoveScore 76

  41. #41
    B

    College Station, TX

    Best Overall Cities score 76 · MoveScore 76

  42. #42
    B

    Milwaukee, WI

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  43. #43
    B

    Broken Arrow, OK

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  44. #44
    B

    Eau Claire, WI

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  45. #45
    B

    Houston, TX

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  46. #46
    B

    Marietta, GA

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  47. #47
    B

    Overland Park, KS

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  48. #48
    B

    Scottsdale, AZ

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  49. #49
    B

    FORT MYERS, FL

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  50. #50
    B

    Nashville, TN

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  51. #51
    B

    Palm Bay, FL

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  52. #52
    B

    PARKER, CO

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  53. #53
    B

    Pasadena, TX

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  54. #54
    B

    Frisco, TX

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  55. #55
    B

    Hartford, CT

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  56. #56
    B

    Grand Rapids, MI

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  57. #57
    B

    Little Rock, AR

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  58. #58
    B

    Portland, OR

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  59. #59
    B

    Raleigh, NC

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  60. #60
    B

    Topeka, KS

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  61. #61
    B

    Fargo, ND

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  62. #62
    B

    Huntersville, NC

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  63. #63
    B

    Kansas City, KS

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  64. #64
    B

    Lexington, KY

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  65. #65
    B

    Medford, OR

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  66. #66
    B

    Sarasota, FL

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  67. #67
    B

    Charlotte, NC

    Best Overall Cities score 73 · MoveScore 73

  68. #68
    B

    Oklahoma City, OK

    Best Overall Cities score 73 · MoveScore 73

  69. #69
    B

    Racine, WI

    Best Overall Cities score 73 · MoveScore 73

  70. #70
    B

    Billings, MT

    Best Overall Cities score 73 · MoveScore 73

  71. #71
    B

    Kirkland, WA

    Best Overall Cities score 73 · MoveScore 73

  72. #72
    B

    Roanoke, VA

    Best Overall Cities score 73 · MoveScore 73

  73. #73
    B

    Waukesha, WI

    Best Overall Cities score 73 · MoveScore 73

  74. #74
    B

    Woodland, CA

    Best Overall Cities score 73 · MoveScore 73

  75. #75
    B

    Bend, OR

    Best Overall Cities score 72 · MoveScore 72

  76. #76
    B

    Boston, MA

    Best Overall Cities score 72 · MoveScore 72

  77. #77
    B

    North Las Vegas, NV

    Best Overall Cities score 72 · MoveScore 72

  78. #78
    B

    Orlando, FL

    Best Overall Cities score 72 · MoveScore 72

  79. #79
    B

    Virginia Beach, VA

    Best Overall Cities score 72 · MoveScore 72

  80. #80
    B

    Westminster, CO

    Best Overall Cities score 72 · MoveScore 72

  81. #81
    B

    Eugene, OR

    Best Overall Cities score 72 · MoveScore 72

  82. #82
    B

    La Crosse, WI

    Best Overall Cities score 72 · MoveScore 72

  83. #83
    B

    LONGMONT, CO

    Best Overall Cities score 72 · MoveScore 72

  84. #84
    B

    Durham, NC

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  85. #85
    B

    Anchorage, AK

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  86. #86
    B

    Charleston, SC

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  87. #87
    B

    Greenville, SC

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  88. #88
    B

    Kenosha, WI

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  89. #89
    B

    Memphis, TN

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  90. #90
    B

    Naperville, IL

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  91. #91
    B

    Oakland, CA

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  92. #92
    B

    Austin, TX

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  93. #93
    B

    Honolulu, HI

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  94. #94
    B

    Irving, TX

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  95. #95
    B

    Killeen, TX

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  96. #96
    B

    Lewisville, TX

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  97. #97
    B

    Nampa, ID

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  98. #98
    B

    Winston-Salem, NC

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  99. #99
    B

    Ann Arbor, MI

    Best Overall Cities score 70 · MoveScore 70

  100. #100
    B

    Birmingham, AL

    Best Overall Cities score 70 · MoveScore 70

Other Rankings

Best for Safety

Lowest crime rates per FBI UCR — best for families sensitive to violent and property crime.

Best for Water Quality

Cleanest drinking water per EPA SDWIS — fewest violations, highest safety scores.

Best for Air Quality

Cleanest air per EPA AQS — lowest median AQI and fewest unhealthy days.

Best for Public Schools

Strongest public school performance per NCES/EDFacts — highest average proficiency.

Best Fiscal Health

Strongest municipal fiscal health per Census ASPEP — sustainable per-capita spending.

Best for Hospital Care

Highest-rated hospitals per CMS HCAHPS — best patient experience scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the top-ranked US city for cities?

The top-ranked city on Best Overall Cities is Rochester, MN with a sub-score of 92/100. All rankings use federal government data only.

How is this ranking calculated?

Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions. Sub-scores are normalized to 0-100, then cities are ordered from highest to lowest. See the methodology page for the full formula.

Where does the data come from?

MoveScore blends six federal data streams: FBI UCR, EPA SDWIS, EPA AQS, NCES CCD + EDFacts, Census ASPEP, and CMS HCAHPS. A city is included only if at least three of the six sources have a record for it.

Sources: FBI UCR, EPA SDWIS, EPA AQS, NCES, Census ASPEP, CMS HCAHPS
Last updated:

Ranking uses the composite MoveScore, normalized to 0-100.