Everyone’s definition of “the best place to live” is certainly subjective, but there are certain qualities and features that almost everyone looks for when deciding to make a move. While the climate and politics of a location may be different for different people, things like affordable housing, well-paying jobs, a low cost of living, top-notch schools and accessible healthcare are usually on everyone’s list. With that in mind, U.S. News & World Report annually sets out to name the top 50 best cities to live in (out of the 100 most populous U.S. cities.) This year, our beloved Nashville ranked #22 on that list. The full methodology can be found here, but to summarize, they “graded” each city on their job market, value (annual household income and cost of living), quality of life (crime, college readiness, commute), desirability and net migrations and then ranked them accordingly.
With a population size of over 1.7 million, Nashville certainly has plenty to offer. Everyone who lives here knows what makes the city and its surrounding areas great, but for those of you not as familiar with the area, here is why Nashville is one of the best places to live in America:
– Value. Tennessee has no state income tax, relatively low sales tax and our area offers some of the lowest property taxes in the state.
– Affordability. In relation to other big cities in the U.S., Nashville has a very low cost of living and, while real estate in the area has been increasing in value at a record pace, housing is still quite affordable in various areas around the city.
– Weather. Nashville and its surrounding areas boast mild temperatures and four distinct seasons. Temperatures are, on average, in the high 30s from December to February with an average annual snowfall of 10 inches. Average summer temperatures are in the 80s with temperatures rarely reaching the upper 90s.
– Entertainment. Rolling Stone Magazine routinely names Nashville “Best Music Scene” and the city offers more than 1,000 restaurants and dining opportunities. The city also offers two professional sports teams and many other fun recreational activities for the whole family.
– Education. Nashville boasts 21 colleges and universities that offer opportunities for continuing education, degree completion programs and masters and doctorate-level studies in every subject imaginable.
– Healthcare. Healthcare is the largest industry in the Nashville area, with over 250 healthcare companies located in our area. Saint Thomas Health System received an award for Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Care for 2012 – an honor bestowed on only 106 cancer facilities in the nation while Vanderbilt University Medical Center is one of the leading teaching hospitals in the nation.
If you don’t already live here, come visit and see just why everyone loves Nashville!