The Best Liberal Places to Live in America

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The best liberal places to live in America

If you've ever daydreamed about moving to a new town where you can freely express your political views—particularly in light of recent events—you're not alone. An October 2024 analysis from the New York Times shows a growing trend of both conservative and liberal Americans relocating from politically mixed neighborhoods to areas more in line with their respective beliefs. Of all those movers, millennials are the most likely to factor politics into their housing decisions. 33% of millennials say national politics heavily influence where they choose to live, according to an October 2024 survey from Realtor.com.

As a result of growing geopolitical divides, certain areas lean further left than others. Stacker analyzed data from Niche to rank the 50 best liberal places to live in the U.S., including cities, suburbs, and towns. Niche sources data from several public data sources, including the Department of Education, Census Bureau, and FBI. This particular data set was acquired by filtering for "very liberal" politics on the 2024 Best Places to Live in America list.

All four regions in the continental U.S. (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West) are included in the 10 best liberal places to live in the U.S. The top 10 scored well on public schools (Niche average of A+), health (Niche average of A+), diversity (Niche average of A-), and were good for families (Niche average of A+). However, they lacked when it came to affordable housing (Niche average of B-), safety (Niche average of B-), and cost of living (Niche average of C). The median household income of the top 10 only dipped below six figures in two locations and the median home value was at least $500,000 in all but three.

Keep reading to learn more about the best liberal places to live in the U.S., including their population, median rent, median home value, area feel, population size, and more.

Note: Licensed images for some cities, suburbs, and towns on this list were not available. In those cases, photos of nearby locations were used instead.

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#50. Thomaston, New York

- Population: 2,734
- Median household income: $152,206
- Median home value: $1,044,900
- Median rent: $2,408
- Percent of people who rent a home: 12%
- Percent of people who own a home: 88%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

#49. Westford, Massachusetts

- Population: 24,584
- Median household income: $181,523
- Median home value: $689,400
- Median rent: $2,068
- Percent of people who rent a home: 12%
- Percent of people who own a home: 88%
- Area feel: Rural

#48. Fair Lawn, New Jersey

- Population: 35,153
- Median household income: $147,952
- Median home value: $532,700
- Median rent: $1,908
- Percent of people who rent a home: 21%
- Percent of people who own a home: 79%
- Area feel: Sparse Suburban

#47. Clarksburg, Maryland

- Population: 29,246
- Median household income: $178,641
- Median home value: $646,200
- Median rent: $2,298
- Percent of people who rent a home: 13%
- Percent of people who own a home: 87%
- Area feel: Sparse Suburban

#46. Highland Park, New Jersey

- Population: 14,981
- Median household income: $101,991
- Median home value: $463,600
- Median rent: $1,881
- Percent of people who rent a home: 61%
- Percent of people who own a home: 39%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

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#45. Fort Lee, New Jersey

- Population: 39,818
- Median household income: $105,535
- Median home value: $422,200
- Median rent: $2,255
- Percent of people who rent a home: 43%
- Percent of people who own a home: 57%
- Area feel: Dense Urban

#44. Eggertsville, New York

- Population: 15,416
- Median household income: $82,359
- Median home value: $225,400
- Median rent: $868
- Percent of people who rent a home: 27%
- Percent of people who own a home: 73%
- Area feel: Sparse Suburban

#43. Merrifield, Virginia

- Population: 20,549
- Median household income: $136,173
- Median home value: $637,600
- Median rent: $2,308
- Percent of people who rent a home: 64%
- Percent of people who own a home: 36%
- Area feel: Urban

#42. Wellesley, Massachusetts

- Population: 29,906
- Median household income: $250,001
- Median home value: $1,513,400
- Median rent: $2,849
- Percent of people who rent a home: 16%
- Percent of people who own a home: 84%
- Area feel: Sparse Suburban

#41. Edgewater, New Jersey

- Population: 14,544
- Median household income: $137,847
- Median home value: $723,400
- Median rent: $2,645
- Percent of people who rent a home: 59%
- Percent of people who own a home: 41%
- Area feel: Dense Urban

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#40. Berkeley, California

- Population: 120,223
- Median household income: $108,558
- Median home value: $1,351,100
- Median rent: $2,127
- Percent of people who rent a home: 57%
- Percent of people who own a home: 43%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

#39. Fanwood, New Jersey

- Population: 7,714
- Median household income: $176,667
- Median home value: $610,600
- Median rent: $2,368
- Percent of people who rent a home: 14%
- Percent of people who own a home: 86%
- Area feel: Sparse Suburban

#38. Arlington, Massachusetts

- Population: 46,015
- Median household income: $141,440
- Median home value: $885,000
- Median rent: $2,043
- Percent of people who rent a home: 39%
- Percent of people who own a home: 61%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

#37. Hopkinton, Massachusetts

- Population: 19,050
- Median household income: $204,418
- Median home value: $726,100
- Median rent: $2,500
- Percent of people who rent a home: 15%
- Percent of people who own a home: 85%
- Area feel: Rural

#36. Takoma Park, Maryland

- Population: 17,522
- Median household income: $97,872
- Median home value: $721,500
- Median rent: $1,388
- Percent of people who rent a home: 48%
- Percent of people who own a home: 52%
- Area feel: Urban

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#35. Glen Ridge, New Jersey

- Population: 7,827
- Median household income: $248,016
- Median home value: $730,600
- Median rent: $2,347
- Percent of people who rent a home: 7%
- Percent of people who own a home: 93%
- Area feel: Dense Suburban

#34. Westborough, Massachusetts

- Population: 21,591
- Median household income: $134,474
- Median home value: $637,900
- Median rent: $2,038
- Percent of people who rent a home: 39%
- Percent of people who own a home: 61%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

#33. Cherry Creek, Colorado

- Population: 11,011
- Median household income: $147,618
- Median home value: $856,800
- Median rent: $1,974
- Percent of people who rent a home: 23%
- Percent of people who own a home: 77%
- Area feel: Dense Suburban

#32. Sharon, Massachusetts

- Population: 18,478
- Median household income: $183,724
- Median home value: $697,900
- Median rent: $2,269
- Percent of people who rent a home: 13%
- Percent of people who own a home: 87%
- Area feel: Sparse Suburban

#31. Wayland, Massachusetts

- Population: 13,826
- Median household income: $221,250
- Median home value: $936,900
- Median rent: $1,403
- Percent of people who rent a home: 10%
- Percent of people who own a home: 90%
- Area feel: Sparse Suburban

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#30. Shrewsbury, Massachusetts

- Population: 38,440
- Median household income: $136,225
- Median home value: $555,500
- Median rent: $2,046
- Percent of people who rent a home: 28%
- Percent of people who own a home: 72%
- Area feel: Dense Suburban

#29. La Grange Park, Illinois

- Population: 13,227
- Median household income: $119,115
- Median home value: $427,800
- Median rent: $1,423
- Percent of people who rent a home: 25%
- Percent of people who own a home: 75%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

#28. Belmont, Massachusetts

- Population: 27,009
- Median household income: $178,188
- Median home value: $1,108,800
- Median rent: $2,387
- Percent of people who rent a home: 36%
- Percent of people who own a home: 64%
- Area feel: Dense Suburban

#27. Oak Park, Illinois

- Population: 53,315
- Median household income: $108,026
- Median home value: $456,300
- Median rent: $1,456
- Percent of people who rent a home: 39%
- Percent of people who own a home: 61%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

#26. Manhattan, New York

- Population: 1,627,788
- Median household income: $104,553
- Median home value: $1,108,900
- Median rent: $2,132
- Percent of people who rent a home: 75%
- Percent of people who own a home: 25%
- Area feel: Dense Urban

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#25. Shorewood, Wisconsin

- Population: 13,682
- Median household income: $89,135
- Median home value: $423,600
- Median rent: $1,291
- Percent of people who rent a home: 52%
- Percent of people who own a home: 48%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

#24. Lexington, Massachusetts

- Population: 34,085
- Median household income: $219,402
- Median home value: $1,147,900
- Median rent: $2,816
- Percent of people who rent a home: 19%
- Percent of people who own a home: 81%
- Area feel: Dense Suburban

#23. Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin

- Population: 14,750
- Median household income: $154,255
- Median home value: $498,700
- Median rent: $1,348
- Percent of people who rent a home: 19%
- Percent of people who own a home: 81%
- Area feel: Sparse Suburban

#22. Hartsdale, New York

- Population: 3,254
- Median household income: $152,619
- Median home value: $341,500
- Median rent: $2,016
- Percent of people who rent a home: 14%
- Percent of people who own a home: 86%
- Area feel: Urban

#21. South Pasadena, California

- Population: 26,297
- Median household income: $128,105
- Median home value: $1,545,100
- Median rent: $2,218
- Percent of people who rent a home: 56%
- Percent of people who own a home: 44%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

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#20. Newton, Massachusetts

- Population: 88,504
- Median household income: $184,989
- Median home value: $1,202,500
- Median rent: $2,388
- Percent of people who rent a home: 29%
- Percent of people who own a home: 71%
- Area feel: Dense Suburban

#19. Manhattan Beach, California

- Population: 34,584
- Median household income: $193,904
- Median home value: $2,000,001
- Median rent: $3,492
- Percent of people who rent a home: 34%
- Percent of people who own a home: 66%
- Area feel: Sparse Suburban

#18. Hoboken, New Jersey

- Population: 58,340
- Median household income: $176,943
- Median home value: $872,100
- Median rent: $2,819
- Percent of people who rent a home: 66%
- Percent of people who own a home: 34%
- Area feel: Dense Urban

#17. Albany, California

- Population: 19,768
- Median household income: $135,927
- Median home value: $1,188,600
- Median rent: $2,389
- Percent of people who rent a home: 46%
- Percent of people who own a home: 54%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

#16. Four Corners, Maryland

- Population: 7,785
- Median household income: $200,110
- Median home value: $606,100
- Median rent: $2,785
- Percent of people who rent a home: 11%
- Percent of people who own a home: 89%
- Area feel: Sparse Suburban

#15. Mountain View, California

- Population: 82,363
- Median household income: $179,917
- Median home value: $1,927,400
- Median rent: $2,975
- Percent of people who rent a home: 61%
- Percent of people who own a home: 39%
- Area feel: Urban

#14. Redondo Beach, California

- Population: 69,814
- Median household income: $144,588
- Median home value: $1,225,400
- Median rent: $2,562
- Percent of people who rent a home: 47%
- Percent of people who own a home: 53%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

#13. West Hartford, Connecticut

- Population: 63,809
- Median household income: $125,616
- Median home value: $391,200
- Median rent: $1,665
- Percent of people who rent a home: 32%
- Percent of people who own a home: 68%
- Area feel: Dense Suburban

#12. River Edge, New Jersey

- Population: 12,024
- Median household income: $155,827
- Median home value: $637,500
- Median rent: $1,811
- Percent of people who rent a home: 24%
- Percent of people who own a home: 76%
- Area feel: Sparse Suburban

#11. Hermosa Beach, California

- Population: 19,248
- Median household income: $152,019
- Median home value: $2,000,001
- Median rent: $2,812
- Percent of people who rent a home: 49%
- Percent of people who own a home: 51%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

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#10. Santa Monica, California

- Population: 91,535
- Median household income: $109,739
- Median home value: $1,810,200
- Median rent: $2,338
- Percent of people who rent a home: 71%
- Percent of people who own a home: 29%
- Area feel: Urban

#9. Lauderdale, Minnesota

- Population: 2,386
- Median household income: $76,558
- Median home value: $273,600
- Median rent: $1,358
- Percent of people who rent a home: 51%
- Percent of people who own a home: 49%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

#8. Great Neck Gardens, New York

- Population: 1,245
- Median household income: $218,603
- Median home value: $1,140,100
- Median rent: not available
- Percent of people who rent a home: 30%
- Percent of people who own a home: 70%
- Area feel: Sparse Suburban

#7. Arlington, Virginia

- Population: 235,463
- Median household income: $140,160
- Median home value: $864,800
- Median rent: $2,275
- Percent of people who rent a home: 58%
- Percent of people who own a home: 42%
- Area feel: Urban

#6. Evanston, Illinois

- Population: 76,552
- Median household income: $95,766
- Median home value: $472,300
- Median rent: $1,698
- Percent of people who rent a home: 44%
- Percent of people who own a home: 56%
- Area feel: Urban

#5. Cambridge, Massachusetts

- Population: 117,794
- Median household income: $126,469
- Median home value: $1,040,500
- Median rent: $2,742
- Percent of people who rent a home: 66%
- Percent of people who own a home: 34%
- Area feel: Urban

#4. Clayton, Missouri

- Population: 17,282
- Median household income: $128,898
- Median home value: $799,200
- Median rent: $1,648
- Percent of people who rent a home: 45%
- Percent of people who own a home: 55%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

#3. North Bethesda, Maryland

- Population: 49,498
- Median household income: $128,970
- Median home value: $712,100
- Median rent: $2,161
- Percent of people who rent a home: 51%
- Percent of people who own a home: 49%
- Area feel: Urban

#2. Ardmore, Pennsylvania

- Population: 14,165
- Median household income: $115,273
- Median home value: $446,300
- Median rent: $1,680
- Percent of people who rent a home: 38%
- Percent of people who own a home: 62%
- Area feel: Urban Suburban Mix

#1. Brookline, Massachusetts

- Population: 62,822
- Median household income: $140,631
- Median home value: $1,233,100
- Median rent: $2,804
- Percent of people who rent a home: 54%
- Percent of people who own a home: 46%
- Area feel: Urban

Additional writing by Cu Fleshman.

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