VA Neighborhood Claims 1st Spot On Best Places To Live In America List, More Ranked

VIRGINIA — Dozens of neighborhoods and localities in Virginia are among the 100 Best Places to Live in America in 2024, according to a new ranking from Niche released Tuesday.

The list, now in its 10th year, is intended to help everyone from young professionals to retirees decide where they want to live. Data sources include the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, combined with millions of resident reviews.

Niche analyzed 230 cities and more than 18,000 places to compile this year’s ranking. Community attributes considered in developing the list included the health of the local housing market, neighborhood diversity, area public schools and walkability, among others.

Virginia cities named among the Best Cities to Live in America are:

4. Arlington

18. Alexandria

30. Virginia Beach

127. Richmond

146. Hampton

155. Norfolk

164. Newport News

Other places in Virginia named to the Best Places to Live in America are:

1. Colonial Village, Arlington

8. Radnor/Fort Myer Heights, Arlington

23. Stone Ridge, Loudoun County

26. Clarendon/Courthouse, Arlington

44. Ballston/Virginia Square, Arlington

54. Dominion Hills, Arlington

74. Bluemont, Arlington

80. Arlington (county level)

100. Waycroft/Woodlawn, Arlington

103. North Highland, Arlington

107. Broadlands, Loudoun County

118. Loudoun Valley Estates, Loudoun County

131. South Riding, Loudoun County

135. Brambleton, Loudoun County

137. North Rosslyn, Arlington

145. Short Pump, Henrico County

153. Franklin Farm, Fairfax County

160. Cascades, Loudoun County

172. Vienna, Fairfax County

187. Oakton, Fairfax County

195. Cherrydale, Arlington

201. Columbia Heights, Arlington

230. Maywood, Arlington

232. Waverly Hills, Arlington

There is also a ranking of Best Places to Live in Virginia covering hundreds of Virginia neighborhoods and communities.

For the first time, Naperville, Illinois, was named the best city, with The Woodlands, Texas; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Arlington, Virginia; and Plano, Texas, rounding out the top five.

The five best places to live, according to the ranking, are, respectively, Colonial Village, Virginia, an Arlington neighborhood; Carmel, Indiana; Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania; Uptown Tampa, Florida; and Cinco Ranch, Texas.

Niche is an online company used by millions of people to find schools and places to live.