America's 20 most 'livable' cities in 2024, according to study

article

FILE - People walk their dog in a file image in Portland, Maine. (Staff photo by Ben McCanna/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)

For Americans in search of the "perfect place" to live, they may want to look toward the Midwest, according to a new report.

RentCafe, an apartment search platform, analyzed 139 U.S. metro areas in an effort to determine the most "livable" places in 2024. It considered factors that fall under three categories: socioeconomics, quality of life, and location and community.

That includes cost of living, access to lifestyle amenities, and even "community spirit."

It ranked the top 20 metros for their "livability." But what does that mean, exactly?

"Think of it as the combination of all of the reasons that make you happy to call a place home," RentCafe wrote in its report.

"Whether it’s the cost of living that you’re concerned about or income growth, access to gym facilities or the number of entertainment venues nearby, livability manages to cover just about anything that a potential resident is bound to worry about," the report added.

Top city: Portland, Maine, ‘strikes that perfect balance’

Portland, Maine, was ranked No. 1 on the list for its "mix of urban amenities and scenic natural landscapes." RentCafe said the historic port city "strikes that perfect balance between good living (#5 for quality of life) and ‘location, location, location’ (#5 for location and community)."

The report said Portland is best for "fitness enthusiasts, foodies and young professionals looking for a lifestyle that promotes a work/life balance."

Midwest locations dominate top 20 most ‘livable’ metros

Overall, the Midwest claimed nine of the top 20 areas on RentCafe’s list – with high-ranking metro areas like Lincoln, NE (#2); Des Moines, IA (#3); Minneapolis (#4); Ann Arbor, MI (#5); Milwaukee (#6); and Green Bay, WI (#9).

Madison, WI (#12); Omaha, NE (#15); and Indianapolis (#16) also made the ranking, each earning their place with top scores in socioeconomics, according to RentCafe’s report.