Huntsville stays among Best Places to Live in new U.S. News list

For the third year in a row, Huntsville has made the top 10 in U.S. New & World Report’s Best Places to Live list. After finished no. 1 in 2022 and second in 2023, the Rocket City remained on the list this year at no. 7.

Here’s more:

Best Places to Live 2024

This year, U.S. News adjusted its scoring weights for stronger considerations of a city’s value and job market, and Huntsville still made the list for the third straight year.

Here are the 10 Best Places to Live according to U.S. News:

Naples, Fla.
Boise, Id.
Colorado Springs, Co.
Greenville, S.C.
Charlotte, N.C.
Raleigh, N.C.
Huntsville, Ala.
Virginia Beach, Va.
Austin, Texas
Boulder, Co.

Why Huntsville made the list

best places to work — Monte Sano Nature Preserve is breathtaking. (McCarley Northway / Hville Blast)

Huntsville made the list again for a variety of reasons, but its ability to handle its massive growth with new construction — while maintaining its roots — was one reason.

“Huntsville’s city center has undergone a renaissance in recent years. An outbreak of new construction downtown means more shopping, dining and apartment options are available.

Just west of downtown, a defunct cotton mill became a bustling arts center, and craft breweries, restaurants and an ax-throwing venue have sprung up in a renovated old middle school.”
U.S. News & World Report

Cities in the rankings are evaluated using data from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. News’ own internal resources.

This data was categorized into the four indexes listed below and evaluated using a methodology determined by Americans’ preferences.

The percent weighting for each index follows the answers from a February 2024 public survey in which people from across the country voted for what they believed was the most important factor to consider when choosing where to live.

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