When deciding where to plant roots, factors like nightlife, nature, and job opportunities are important. And in the United States, two cities have hit the mark.
Nashville and Tampa tied for the best cities in America for residents, according to a new survey from Clever Offers, a marketplace allowing homeowners to compare offers. The honor was awarded based on responses from 1,000 Americans.
In fact, nearly a quarter of respondents placed both Tampa and Nashville in their top five cities.
For Nashville, Clever Offers lauded the city’s parks and greenways, impressive street art, and cultural attractions like the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. However, the company said rising home prices make living in Nashville unrealistic for many people. The city boasts a median home sale price of $470,000, higher than the national median of $438,000.
For Tampa, which took the top spot last year, Clever Offers pointed to the Florida city’s sunny weather and expansive beaches along with reasonable home prices, especially compared to other major coastal cities. The median home price in Tampa costs $370,000, according to the company.
Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure
Tourists walk up and down Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee.
Beyond Nashville and Tampa, survey respondents ranked Seattle as the third most desirable city, followed by San Diego, Denver, Charlotte, Boston, Orlando, Raleigh, and New York City.
When it came to midsize cities, Honolulu came out on top, known for its breathtaking beaches, shaved ice shops, scenic drives, and more. That was followed by Colorado Springs, Colorado; Charleston; Tucson, Arizona; and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, rounding out the top five.
On the other end of the spectrum was Washington D.C., which was listed as the least-desirable city in the U.S., a ranking it has held for three years in a row. The capital was blasted for its high cost of living, heavy traffic, and crowds.
To determine the most desirable cities, the survey looked at cities known for good weather, low crime rates, a low cost of living, low housing costs, natural beauty, and low taxes.
Overall, the company found 69 percent of respondents like where they currently live (down from 73 percent last year), but about 68 percent remain frustrated with their current city. For those who want to move, the survey found barriers included “expensive housing costs, political division, and proliferating natural disasters exist nationwide.”
Americans who do want to move should consider investing in great packing essentials, save up, and do plenty of research in advance.
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