Table of Contents
The price of housing, the availability of schools and hospitals, access to green spaces are factors that make a city “habitable”.
A new Economist Intelligence Unit Report He has painstakingly combined 30 of these factors to create the world’s “most liveable” cities.
The factors, which also include crime rates, road quality and the local economy, are divided into five categories that give a city’s overall score: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
For the third year in a row, Vienna in Austria ranked first out of 173 cities with a near-perfect score. It fell short of 100 percent due to a lack of major sporting events.
In fact, Western Europe was the most liveable region: the 30 cities in that area scored 92 out of 100.
North America did not fare as well as Europe.
The only two North American cities in the top ten are Calgary and Vancouver, both in Canada. The largest US cities, Los Angeles and New York, are ranked 58th and 70th.
Honolulu triumphed as the highest-scoring US city for the second year in a row, but ranked 23rd worldwide. Atlanta was the second-best US city and Pittsburgh was third.
North America has a world-leading average education score and rivals Western Europe in terms of infrastructure and cultural offerings.
1. Honolulu, Hawaii
With its sandy beaches and lush rainforests, it’s no surprise that Honolulu has once again been ranked the most livable city in the U.S.
The oceanfront city enjoys a year-round tropical climate and a median home price of $650,000.
The city has a low unemployment rate, around 3.5 percent, and a thriving job market.
Downtown Honolulu is considered walkable and the city also offers several well-used public transportation options as well as a busy international airport.
2. Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ranked second as the best city in terms of livability in the US.
Georgia’s capital city is home to a wealth of cultural attractions including the World of Coca-Cola, the Atlanta History Center and Centennial Olympic Park.
The southern city also has plenty to offer sports fans who can follow the MLB Braves or the NFL Hawks.
The median home price in this southern city is currently $425,000.
3. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Steel City ranks third as the most livable city in the country.
Pittsburgh rose to prominence during the Gilded Age industrial boom and has retained its place at the heart of the steel industry.
Remnants of its 20th-century past can be seen in its rich cultural offerings, such as the Carnegie Museum of Art.
The population of around 300,000 has a relatively low unemployment rate of 3.3 percent and the median home price in the city is $274,900.
4. Seattle, Washington
Median home listing price: $800,000
5. Washington, DC
Median home list price: $614,900
6. Chicago, Illinois
Median home list price: $389,000
7. Boston, Massachusetts
Median home listing price: $1,030,000
8. Miami, Florida
Median home listing price: $665,000
9. San Francisco, California
Median home listing price: $1,200,000
10. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Median home list price: $369,000