Chicago has deep-dish pizza, and New York has the foldable slice, but does that make either the best American big city to live in? We're not so sure. In fact, as this list will detail, it takes much more than a delectable pie to set a city apart from burgeoning places in Ohio, the picturesque views of Hawaii's beaches, and a setting with its own "Garden of the Gods." Costs of living, activities, parks, nightlife, dining, and schools all are important factors—just as much as or even more than the meals at Pizzeria Uno or Grimaldi's. And Cincinnatians might argue that Skyline Chili tops them both.
In addition to all of these different factors, American cities themselves may look very different in the coming decades. A September 2024 analysis of Census Bureau data found that young adults continue to leave big cities behind for smaller towns and rural areas, a trend that has become increasingly apparent since the COVID-19 pandemic. While this has sparked concerns about the futures of major metropolises, it's not all bad news, as housing prices in hubs like Miami, Denver, and Nashville have dropped significantly over the past 12 months. So, urbanites might just enjoy a lower cost of living in the near future—not to mention shorter lines at those local eateries.
To find the best big U.S. cities to live in, Stacker consulted Niche's 2022 list of best places to live. While there is no strict definition of a "big city," for the purposes of this analysis, any city with more than 200,000 in population was considered a big city.
There's a wide variety of cities on this list, from East Coast staples with massive science centers to Midwest cities rooted in the lore of Route 66. Perhaps surprisingly, certain cities in Nebraska and Wisconsin rank higher than some of the most well-known and populated cities in the U.S. But that's what civic pride, tight infrastructure, and a diverse arts scene will do for a place's reputation. This list also looks at the perks of cities with bowling museums, annual festivals dedicated to American cowboys, and the charm of a budding Southern locale.
Read on to find out if your hometown made the list.
