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Most Livable Cities in the U.S.

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Livability takes into account a number of factors like safety, affordability, traffic, pollution and access to healthcare. It gives us some much-needed insight into the quality of life of a city — in other words, how pleasant or unpleasant it is to reside there. 

And while the United States doesn’t tend to do great in global livability rankings, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find a good quality of life in its cities. Here, we’ve compiled the best U.S. cities to live in. Honorees include major coastal hubs like San Francisco and New York City, interior metropolises like St. Louis and Minneapolis and smaller cities like Charlotte.

Read on to find out the most livable cities in the U.S., which also happen to be some of America’s best places to visit.

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30. Detroit

Detroit marina
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State: Michigan

Population: 674,841

Where to stay: The Siren Hotel

*Note: These rankings are based on Numbeo’s 2019 Quality of Life Index and Mercer’s 2019 Quality of Living City Rankings. Both COVID and conflicts in Ukraine caused suspensions in the rankings, which is why we’re including 2019 research.

Bottom Line: Detroit

Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit
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If frigid winters aren’t your thing, visit Detroit in the summer — the lakeside gales that chill you to the bone in January are pleasantly refreshing in the warmer months.

A city in the throes of a cultural revival, Detroit is not the factory town it was 10 years ago — or one year ago, for that matter. An overflow of creatives has helped transform Michigan’s major city into a buzzing collection of hip bars, restaurants and cultural forums.

Best Things to Do in Detroit

Detroit Michigan Skyline at night
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This renaissance is returning Detroit to its rightful place as a cultural epicenter. In addition to its Motown roots — which you can learn about at the excellent Motown Museum — the city is home to one of the finest historic art museums in the country. The Detroit Institute of Arts Museum was established in 1885 and stages both contemporary and classical exhibits, on par with New York City’s Met Museum.

Other notable galleries include the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, presenting pieces that grapple with Detroit’s manufacturing past and question-marked future; and the Detroit Artists Market, where local talent is distinctly put on display.

29. Los Angeles

Los Angeles at sunset
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State: California

Population: 3.967 million

Where to stay: JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE