3 FL Cities Among 100 ‘Best Places To Live In America': List

FLORIDA — Three Florida cities landed on Livability’s new list of the 100 “Best Places to Live in America.”

Considering only small to midsize cities with populations between 75,000 to 500,000, the website assigned a “LivScore” to 100 cities. These scores are based on nearly 100 data points, looking at a city’s economy, housing, cost of living, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education and health.

While there are no rankings assigned to each city, the place with the highest “LivScore” is Carmel, Indiana, which earned a score of 875.

In Florida, Gainesville earned a score of 698. It ranked highest in the categories of transportation, amenities and education.

“Gainesville is a quintessential college town. A diverse, artistic culture, plenty of outdoor activities and affordable housing add to the vibrant lifestyle Gainesville residents have come to enjoy,” the city’s listing reads. “The city is anchored by a robust economy that is full of opportunities for all and is known for its innovative spirit — Gatorade was created here!”

Meanwhile, Tampa earned a “LivScore” of 697, ranking high in amenities, economy and transportation.

“Warm weather, distinctly different neighborhoods and coastal beauty entice residents to Tampa, FL. The economy here is booming, and job opportunities are as plentiful as the white, sandy beaches,” according to the city’s listing.

In South Florida, Fort Lauderdale, ranking high in the categories of amenities, transportation and economy, earned a score of 692.

“Fort Lauderdale is the ultimate coastal paradise, with golden beaches, year-round sunshine and access to water sports, offering an idyllic outdoor lifestyle. From a vibrant arts and entertainment district to its diverse economy, the city blends leisure and luxury,” Livability said.