Sundry Photography // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Berkeley, California
- Population: 120,223
- Median household income: $108,558
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
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 these starkly polarized times—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. In fact, a January 2025 LendingTree survey found that almost half of all respondents interested in moving would do so based on the political climate. Overall, 43% of Americans say they're willing to spend more if it means living somewhere that better matches their political beliefs and values.
For anyone who's considering moving to a more left-leaning locale, Stacker compiled a list of the 50 best liberal places to live in the U.S. using 2025 rankings from Niche. Niche ranked the best places to live using a variety of factors such as cost of living, housing, and public schools. To be included on this list, the city, suburb, or town must be considered "very liberal" by Niche, which bases each place's politics on the 2024 presidential election results compared to the national average. See the full methodology here.
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+), diversity (Niche average of A-), and being 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 one location, 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.
Editor's 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.
JoanneStrell // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Eggertsville, New York
- Population: 15,416
- Median household income: $82,359
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Winchester, Massachusetts
- Population: 22,862
- Median household income: $218,176
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Miro Vrlik Photography // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Westport, Connecticut
- Population: 27,282
- Median household income: $250,001
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
quiggyt4 // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Wellesley, Massachusetts
- Population: 29,906
- Median household income: $250,001
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
James Meyer // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Shorewood, Wisconsin
- Population: 13,682
- Median household income: $89,135
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Hopkinton, Massachusetts
- Population: 19,050
- Median household income: $204,418
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Nicholas J Klein // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Takoma Park, Maryland
- Population: 17,522
- Median household income: $97,872
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Clarksburg Biscuit // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Clarksburg, Maryland
- Population: 29,246
- Median household income: $178,641
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Steve Cukrov // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. La Grange Park, Illinois
- Population: 13,227
- Median household income: $119,115
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Kingstowne, Virginia
- Population: 17,436
- Median household income: $150,114
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: B+
FotosForTheFuture // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Edgewater, New Jersey
- Population: 14,544
- Median household income: $137,847
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A-
Joseph Hendrickson // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Oak Park, Illinois
- Population: 53,315
- Median household income: $108,026
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Photo_Land // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Fanwood, New Jersey
- Population: 7,714
- Median household income: $176,667
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A
Hannamariah // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Forest Glen, Maryland
- Population: 6,650
- Median household income: $127,196
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A
quiggyt4 // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Fair Lawn, New Jersey
- Population: 35,153
- Median household income: $147,952
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
emmavgerard // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Sharon, Massachusetts
- Population: 18,478
- Median household income: $183,724
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
E Pasqualli // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Hartsdale, New York
- Population: 3,254
- Median household income: $152,619
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: B+
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Arlington, Massachusetts
- Population: 46,015
- Median household income: $141,440
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
FotosForTheFuture // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Fort Lee, New Jersey
- Population: 39,818
- Median household income: $105,535
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A
Joseph Hendrickson // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. La Grange, Illinois
- Population: 15,999
- Median household income: $154,556
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
719production // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Lauderdale, Minnesota
- Population: 2,386
- Median household income: $76,558
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A-
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Wayland, Massachusetts
- Population: 13,826
- Median household income: $221,250
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Monika Salvan // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
- Population: 38,440
- Median household income: $136,225
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Content zilla // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Glen Ridge, New Jersey
- Population: 7,827
- Median household income: $248,016
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Arina P Habich // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Cherry Creek, Colorado
- Population: 11,011
- Median household income: $147,618
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Keith J Finks // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Newton, Massachusetts
- Population: 88,504
- Median household income: $184,989
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Hank Shiffman // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Albany, California
- Population: 19,768
- Median household income: $135,927
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
James Meyer // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
- Population: 14,750
- Median household income: $154,255
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Philip Pilosian // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. South Pasadena, California
- Population: 26,297
- Median household income: $128,105
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Kirk Wester // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Manhattan Beach, California
- Population: 34,584
- Median household income: $193,904
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Belmont, Massachusetts
- Population: 27,009
- Median household income: $178,188
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Framalicious // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Mountain View, California
- Population: 82,363
- Median household income: $179,917
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Dogora Sun // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Manhattan, New York
- Population: 1,627,788
- Median household income: $104,553
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A-
Alizada Studios // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Lexington, Massachusetts
- Population: 34,085
- Median household income: $219,402
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Walter Cicchetti // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Redondo Beach, California
- Population: 69,814
- Median household income: $144,588
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Ivan Ventura // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Four Corners, Maryland
- Population: 7,785
- Median household income: $200,110
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A
Debra L Rothenberg // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Great Neck Gardens, New York
- Population: 1,245
- Median household income: $218,603
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
emmavgerard // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Hermosa Beach, California
- Population: 19,248
- Median household income: $152,019
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Bruce Alan Bennett // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Hoboken, New Jersey
- Population: 58,340
- Median household income: $176,943
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A
Mark and Anna Photography // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Santa Monica, California
- Population: 91,535
- Median household income: $109,739
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Mark F Lotterhand // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. West Hartford, Connecticut
- Population: 63,809
- Median household income: $125,616
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
RellMade // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Clayton, Missouri
- Population: 17,282
- Median household income: $128,898
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
James Andrews1 // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Evanston, Illinois
- Population: 76,552
- Median household income: $95,766
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Arlington, Virginia
- Population: 235,463
- Median household income: $140,160
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Heidi Besen // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Population: 117,794
- Median household income: $126,469
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A
quiggyt4 // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. River Edge, New Jersey
- Population: 12,024
- Median household income: $155,827
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Nicole Glass Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. North Bethesda, Maryland
- Population: 49,498
- Median household income: $128,970
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Brookline, Massachusetts
- Population: 62,822
- Median household income: $140,631
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
Andrew Baum // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Ardmore, Pennsylvania
- Population: 14,165
- Median household income: $115,273
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Public schools grade: A+
CORRECTION (Sept. 16, 2025): The original version of this article included the top public schools for each area. Upon further review, some of these public schools were nearby rather than in the exact area listed. They've been removed for clarity.
