U.S. News & World Report has released its latest ranking of the best places to live in the country — and within the Sunshine State itself.
Per the report, experts look at a variety of factors — such as cost of living, education quality, crime rates, weather, and job markets — to determine which areas came out on top.
At a national level, the top 10 cities were identified as follows:
- No. 1: Carmel, Indiana
- No. 2: Fishers, Indiana
- No. 3: Flower Mound, Texas
- No. 4: Ankeny, Iowa
- No. 5: Johns Creek, Georgia
- No. 6: Hoover, Alabama
- No. 7: Rochester Hills, Michigan
- No. 8: Leander, Texas
- No. 9: Frisco, Texas
- No. 10: Sugar Land, Texas
However, one Florida city managed to place very close to the top 10: Parkland at No. 14.
Parkland stands out thanks to a combination of temperate year-round weather and strong job market, helping it land No. 8 for the best small cities to live in the U.S.
Its high median household income — $223,200 — also suggests a relatively strong local economic base, although that comes alongside a median home value of nearly $900,000 (far higher than the national average).
Meanwhile, the top 50 Florida cities to land on the list are as follows:
| State Rank | Nat’l Rank | City | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | Parkland | 6.9 |
| 2 | 62 | Palm Harbor | 6.5 |
| 3 | 70 | Weston | 6.4 |
| 4 | 97 | Riverview | 6.3 |
| 5 | 115 | Pensacola | 6.2 |
| 6 | 121 | Spring Hill | 6.2 |
| 7 | 155 | Kendall | 6.1 |
| 8 | 159 | Alafaya | 6.1 |
| 9 | 161 | Doral | 6.1 |
| 10 | 163 | Crestview | 6.1 |
| 11 | 170 | Jupiter | 6.0 |
| 12 | 178 | Apopka | 6.0 |
| 13 | 186 | The Villages | 6.0 |
| 14 | 205 | Homosassa Springs | 5.9 |
| 15 | 215 | Naples | 5.9 |
| 16 | 217 | Brandon | 5.9 |
| 17 | 222 | Clermont | 5.9 |
| 18 | 226 | Wellington | 5.9 |
| 19 | 228 | Tampa | 5.8 |
| 20 | 236 | Ormond Beach | 5.8 |
| 21 | 246 | Pembroke Pines | 5.8 |
| 22 | 248 | Bonita Springs | 5.8 |
| 23 | 251 | Davie | 5.8 |
| 24 | 260 | Punta Gorda | 5.8 |
| 25 | 262 | Port Orange | 5.8 |
| 26 | 270 | Largo | 5.8 |
| 27 | 287 | St. Petersburg | 5.7 |
| 28 | 290 | Zephyrhills | 5.7 |
| 29 | 299 | North Port | 5.7 |
| 30 | 301 | Palm Beach Gardens | 5.7 |
| 31 | 321 | DeLand | 5.6 |
| 32 | 326 | Cape Coral | 5.6 |
| 33 | 328 | Port Charlotte | 5.6 |
| 34 | 336 | Boca Raton | 5.6 |
| 35 | 343 | Palm Coast | 5.6 |
| 36 | 346 | Miramar | 5.6 |
| 37 | 347 | Clearwater | 5.6 |
| 38 | 353 | Deltona | 5.6 |
| 39 | 357 | Pinellas Park | 5.6 |
| 40 | 359 | Lakeland | 5.6 |
| 41 | 361 | Tamarac | 5.6 |
| 42 | 379 | Melbourne | 5.5 |
| 43 | 382 | Palm Bay | 5.5 |
| 44 | 389 | Sebastian | 5.5 |
| 45 | N/A | Plantation | 5.5 |
| 46 | 400 | Jacksonville | 5.5 |
| 47 | 417 | Sanford | 5.4 |
| 48 | 419 | Winter Haven | 5.4 |
| 49 | 422 | Coral Springs | 5.4 |
| 50 | 428 | Panama City | 5.4 |