Key Facts

• Carmel, Indiana, was ranked the best place to live with a score of 7.2 out of 10.
• The ranking evaluated 250 cities based on housing costs, cost of living, health care, education, crime rates, and weather.
• Many top cities are mid-sized suburbs, not large urban centers.
• Carmel has about 103,768 people and a median household income of $144,615.
• Median home prices in Carmel are higher than the national median but supported by a strong job market and short commutes.
• Texas and Indiana had multiple cities in the top 10, reflecting growth on the edges of large metropolitan areas.
• Lower-ranked cities like San Bernardino, California, and Detroit face economic and infrastructure problems.
• The study shows a trend of people moving to suburbs and smaller cities for more space and affordable living.