The 10 best places to live in the U.S.

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Austin, Texas, is famous for its music scene, and its economy benefits from the many technology firms that call it home. That blend of economic opportunity and cultural attraction helped put it on RelocateAmerica’s annual Top 10 list of best places to live. Each year, the company reviews information about local housing markets and economies, cultural and recreational opportunities, and safety, plus collects feedback from city leaders and residents, to come up with a Top 100 list of the best places to live in the country. Its Top 10 list reflects the best of the bunch. RelocateAmerica, based in Brighton, Mich., helps people who are moving find resources to make their move easier.



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Grand Rapids, Mich., made RelocateAmerica’s Top 10 list for its solid schools and strong economy, especially when compared with the rest of the state. “It’s got the best of everything in a smaller large city,” said Steve Nickerson, president of RelocateAmerica.



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Boulder is a stable community at the foot of the Rocky Mountains — and a city that is well-loved by its residents, said Steve Nickerson, president of RelocateAmerica. In addition to its picturesque scenery and opportunities for outdoor recreation, the city offers a variety of cultural attractions, according to RelocateAmerica. Pictured here is the Flatirons rock formation near Boulder.



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The employment picture in Raleigh, N.C., helped land it a spot on RelocateAmerica’s Top 10 list of best places to live. It’s the largest city in the “Triangle,” an area that includes Research Triangle Park, known for work in the biotechnology, telecommunications and computing fields, according to RelocateAmerica. Pictured here is the J.S. Dorton Arena.




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Dallas scored high on RelocateAmerica’s list of Top 10 cities partly due to its business growth, said Steve Nickerson, the company’s president. Plus, people who live and work there tend to have a strong passion for the city. Pictured here is the downtown Dallas arts district with the reflecting pool of the Winspear Opera House in the foreground and the I.M. Pei designed Meyerson Symphony Center immediately behind.



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Greenville, S.C., is another one of those “smaller big cities,” said Steve Nickerson, RelocateAmerica’s president. Companies including BMW, Michelin, GE Energy and Lockheed Martin have a presence in the region, and Greenville’s downtown is also a draw, thanks in part to recent improvements to the city park, Nickerson said. Pictured here are the falls in downtown Greenville.




Photo: Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Riverwalk in Augusta, Ga. The city’s low cost of living, affordable housing, many cultural opportunities and mild climate make it popular with retirees. Plus, the area has seen a lot of business growth, according to RelocateAmerica.



Swimmers float along the Boise River about a mile from downtown Boise, Idaho. Boise made RelocateAmerica’s Top 10 list of best places to live due to its stable economy — the city experienced dramatic growth over the past two decades — and many recreation opportunities.



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The skyline of downtown Omaha, Neb., at night. Job growth, particularly in the industrial sector, helped put Omaha on RelocateAmerica’s Top 10 list of best cities to live. The city on the western bank of the Missouri River has been an agricultural and transportation center since the late 1850s.



Photo: Soonerfever/Wikipedia
Bricktown Canal water taxis in Oklahoma City. Job growth was also a factor in Oklahoma City’s inclusion on the Top 10 list of best places to live. In addition to downtown business development, the city has experienced a renovation of convention, cultural and educational sites, according to RelocateAmerica.