If youre looking to relocate (or if you just want to see how your city stacks up among others in the U.S.), the annual ranking of the best cities in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report offers a thorough analysis of 150 metropolitan areas based on criteria that make a city a thriving, comfortable place to live. The rankings for 2024-2025 have been released, and both Florida and the Carolinas are highly ranked.

　　U.S. News ranks these major cities based on housing affordability, household income, quality of education, access to health care, crime rates, commute times, air quality and more. The rankings also consider what people consider most important when choosing a place to live, as determined by a survey of more than 3,000 people across the U.S. This year's survey found that cost of living, job market and value came out on top.

　　Coming in at number one in the rankings is Naples, Florida. This sunny resort city on the Gulf of Mexico attracts plenty of touristsit boasts white-sand beaches and stunning sunsetsbut Naples also offers a high standard of living, with low unemployment, a low crime rate and high household incomes. Florida is hot right now, as seven of the top ten fastest-growing cities are located in that state.

　　Following Naples in the top five are Boise, Idaho; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Greenville, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. Raleigh, Greensboro and Asheville, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina made the top 25. Sarasota, Florida ranks at number 11. The Midwest also fares well, with cities like Madison, Omaha and South Bend making the top 25.

　　Find the full list of the top 25 best places to live in the U.S. here, and the more extensive ranking of 150 metropolitan areas here.