Despite its status as California’s fifth-largest city, Fresno continues to struggle with its reputation.
The Central Valley city recently landed near the bottom of Clever’ Real Estate’s new ranking of the best places to live in 2026.
The real estate platform surveyed 1,000 Americans to discover where people want to live most —and the qualities that make these places appealing.
What truly makes a community desirable, and why does Fresno lag behind other major metropolitan areas?
Here’s what the Clever study discovered:
What makes a city a desirable place to live?
Although nearly 59% of survey respondents told Clever that they could be persuaded to relocate to a new city or state in pursuit of better opportunities, nearly three-quarters of Americans expressed satisfaction with where they live up now.
“Nearly two-thirds of Americans agree the most desirable places to live have low crime rates and a low cost of living,” Clever content writer Jaime Dunaway-Seale wrote in an Aug. 10 article.
Other sought-after qualities include good weather, cleanliness, low tax rates and affordable housing costs.
According to the Clever study, what Americans value can depend on their age group.
“Younger generations tend to prioritize affordability, while baby boomers are considerably more likely than millennials and Generation Z to view low crime rates as a nonnegotiable quality.”
On the flip side, high crime rates, high costs of living and heavy tax burdens are among the primary reasons a city becomes undesirable, Clever found.
Why is Fresno one of America’s least desirable cities?
Fresno was No. 41 on Clever’s 2026 list of the most desirable cities in the United States.
Conversely, the Central Valley city placed 36th on the real estate platform’s ranking of the least desirable cities in the nation.
The study analyzed multiple factors to measure public perception, taking quality of life, geography and even manners into account.
Fresno ranked among the 15 most boring cities in the United States.
When it came to the cities with the nicest residents and the best food, Fresno ranked in the bottom 10.
It also ranked relatively low in Clever’s list of spots with the prettiest scenery.
Out of 50 cities considered “on the rise,” Fresno ranked 49th, according to the Clever study.
However, Fresno has still plenty to offer would-be residents.
Fresno is centrally located, culturally diverse and offers “significantly more home for your money” compared to other major California cities, Clovis-based Realtor Lynette Baker wrote in a March blog post.
“Fresno offers all of the amenities of big city living enjoyed with small-town ease,” Fresno real estate agent Caitlyn Peck wrote in a November blog post.
The Central Valley city boasts an “amazing restaurant scene” with “world-class” produce, plus a “booming” economy and plenty of family-friendly activities, Peck said.
How desirable is California?
Florida earned the title of most desirable state in the United States for the third consecutive year, edging out California.
“Despite both states having lots of sunshine, California’s high cost of living may be a major turnoff as inflation climbs to its highest point in years,” Dunaway-Seale said.
California also topped Clever’s list of the most undesirable states in the nation, followed by New York
“The haters far outweigh the supporters in California and New York, although no state is universally loved,” Dunaway-Seale said.
About 33% of Americans surveyed categorized California as an undesirable place to live, compared with 24% who considered it desirable.
What are the 10 most desirable cities in the US?
According to Clever Real Estate, Nashville, Tennessee, was the most desirable city in the United States to live in 2026.
“Music City hits all the right notes, with a growing number of job opportunities, an iconic food scene with its signature hot chicken dish, and a vibrant entertainment district packed with bars and live music,” Dunaway-Seale said.
What are the least desirable places to settle down?
Chicago topped Clever Real Estate’s list of the least desirable cities to live in the United States.
“Chicago manages to check every box that makes a city undesirable,” Dunaway-Seale said, with high crime rates, cold winters, a high cost of living and hefty property and sales taxes.
According to Clever, these were the least desirable places to settle down in 2026:
How did Clever Real Estate rank best places to live?
To determine the best and worst places to live in 2026, Clever Real Estate commissioned an online survey that polled 1,000 American adults from June 24 and June 25.
Each respondent completed 25 questions evaluating their current living situation, regional preferences, and key priorities regarding city and state desirability.
The researchers also analyzed U.S. Census Bureau migration patterns at both state and metro levels.