North Carolina Town Ranked No. 5 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 North Carolina 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.

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.

Now, let's get to North Carolina. The No. 5 city on the tally is Raleigh. Of the spot, U.S. News states that Raleigh "encompasses beautiful green spaces, family-friendly museums and a growing art and music scene defined by monthly gallery walks, summer concerts and music festivals like Hopscotch." They added that the city's median home price is $382,677, and the area's median household income is $87,708. Ashville, North Carolina, also made the cut at No. 10, and Greenville, S.C., made it at No. 12. So, if you're looking for a lovely city with a great quality of life, the experts point to Raleigh and Ashville.