2 MD Cities Named Top Places To Live: Report

MARYLAND — Two cities in Maryland are among the top 100 places in the U.S. to live among small- and mid-sized cities, a report said. Columbia was named the top place in Maryland to live and was among the Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S., according to a new list from Livability.com.

Also named to the Best Places to Live list is the city of Frederick.

The curated list of cities is based on measures of a city’s economy, housing and cost of living, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education and health.

Here is the data for Columbia:

• LivScore: 828
• Region: Northeast
• Population: 106,498
• Median Home Value: $455,220

Here's what Livability.com said about Columbia: "Columbia’s location in the heart of Howard County and proximity to Washington, D.C., entices residents to this community that blends nature, culture and innovation. ... Highly ranked schools, diverse residents and community treasures like Color Burst Park, which hosts free fitness classes, concerts and more, build on the reasons why Columbia is one of the best places to live in the U.S.

"Columbia is also a community that prizes inclusivity, with an ADA-compliant “Play-for-All” playground at Blandair Regional Park, where families gather at baseball fields, multi-use turf, tennis courts and a Challenge Course. ...The Columbia Festival of the Arts (think concerts, exhibits, workshops and more) adds a burst of creativity to the city each year, while live music and public art can be enjoyed year-round."

Here is the data for Frederick:

• LivScore: 723
• Region: Northeast
• Population: 81,252
• Median Home Value: $348,490

What the site says about Frederick: "Located about an hour west of Baltimore, Frederick, MD, is a charming city nestled near Catoctin Mountain. Frederick is one of the best places to live in the U.S. due to its picturesque mountain views, access to local vineyards and compelling (Civil War) history.

It serves "as the home to higher-education institutions like Hood College and Frederick Community College, as well as a highly rated public school system. Residents can also enjoy a small-town atmosphere in Frederick but easily hop over to the big city thanks to its accessible public transportation system. The MARC commuter rail train goes right through town, and it can connect you directly with AMTRAK service to Union Station in Washington, D.C., which will take roughly an hour and 40 minutes."

The website, which partnered with Applied Geographic Solutions, only considered cities with a population between 75,000 and 500,000 and those with a median home value of $500,000 or less.

“Only cities with a median home value of $500,000 or less have a shot at making our best places list. As home prices hit historical highs and inflation continues to rise, we laud the cities that are growing wages and home values while maintaining an affordable cost of living, including reasonable rent and home prices relative to local income,” according to Livability.com.

Read the full list of Top 100 Best Places To Live In The U.S. here.

To learn more about how they chose the Top 100 cities, check out the Livability Top 100 Methodology.