Contests

LISTEN LIVE

Michigan Town Named No. 1 for ‘Quality of Life’ in the U.S.

If you’re looking to settle down in a place with a great quality of life, then you’ll likely be happy to note that one Michigan town has been named the…

Michigan city. If you're looking to settle down in a place with a great quality of life, then you'll likely be happy to note that one Michigan town has been named the No. 1, by experts, for quality of life in the U.S.

Getty Images / Ted Wilson

Getty Images / Ted Wilson

If you're looking to settle down in a place with a great quality of life, then you'll likely be happy to note that one Michigan town has been named the No. 1, by experts, for quality of life in the U.S. It's pretty incredible to think that out of all the cities out there, this town happens to tower above the rest and get this national recognition. So, if you're looking to relocate, this could be your perfect spot. Or, if you already live in this city, then note that you have some bragging rights.

Best Places to Live for Quality of Life in the U.S.

The experts at U.S. News and World Report have released their annual tally of the "Best Places to Live for Quality of Life in the U.S." for 2024-25. The roster of cities that made the cut got high scores on the publication's "Quality of Life Index," which calculates how satisfied residents are with their daily lives. According to the experts, "the report takes into account crime, quality and availability of health care, quality of education and average commute time." So, it's pretty much an overall look at the most pleasant places to live in the U.S. Also, the study exclusively looked at the 150 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. to find the top 25 best places to live for "Quality of Life," according to the experts.

So, which city ranked No. 1 on the tally? It's Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is home to the University of Michigan. It is at once rural and urban, sporty and smart, outdoorsy and high-tech, counterculture and high society," the editors said. If you're looking to live in Ann Arbor, the median home price is $456,578 and median household income is $86,628. So, if you're a fan of this city, know that you're not alone. You should feel proud to have a local spot be named among the best in the entire country. If you're wondering, Boulder, Colorado, was No. 2 on the roster.

Ann Arbor is a college town, and it's worth noting that another college town was high on the chart from U.S. News: Madison, Wisconsin, which ranked at No. 6 in the study. "Against a backdrop of high-tech businesses and acclaimed academic institutions, Madison, Wisconsin, exudes the casual, down-to-earth feel you'd expect in the capital of America's Dairyland," the editors stated. They added that Madison's median home price is $367,653, and the area's median household income is $79,166.

Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.