Two Indiana Cities Named Top 5 Places to Live in U.S.

I think it should tell you something if two of the top five best places to live in the entire country are here in the Hoosier State.

I am proud to be a native of Indiana. I've lived here my whole life, and while I wish we were closer to places like the beach, we still have a lot of great things to offer for a "flyover state". Indiana is full of many small towns with a great deal of charm. We are also home to a few big cities that have a lot to offer residents. Recently, two of these Indiana towns were named among the best places to live in the country. I think it is a pretty big accolade for the state, especially considering that both of these cities were among the top five in the entire United States.

US News recently revealed its list of the 25 best places to live in the United States. To narrow it down to only 25 cities is a pretty big challenge. To determine the 25 best places to live in the country:

U.S. News analyzes thousands of data points across hundreds of cities to determine what prospective residents can expect when it comes to housing affordability, job prospects, school quality, access to health care and public safety – as well as weather, commute times, air quality and more. This year, we expanded our rankings to include more than 850 cities in order to give a more in-depth look at the small and midsized cities that weave together the diverse American tapestry.

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Two Indiana Cities Named as Top 5 Places to Live in the U.S.

Alright, so now that you know how US News determined the best places to live in the country, let's talk about the top five. More specifically, the two Indiana cities that ranked among the top five best places to live in the United States. Chances are, you might be able to guess which ones they are, since they're both typically on lists like this, but we'll spill the beans anyway!

The fourth-best city to live in the United States is none other than Fishers, Indiana! The city of Fishers has a lot to offer residents, and this is what US News had to say about it:

Fishers is a northside suburb of Indianapolis that's long been characterized for its explosive growth. The city's population ballooned from less than 40,000 in 2000 to more than 100,000 today. Despite its rapid expansion, Fishers is the seventh-safest city in our analysis. Fishers embodies the pioneering spirit of America's heartland, complete with a Smithsonian-affiliated living history museum, Conner Prairie. However, Fishers isn't stuck in the past: This charming city has a little slice of opportunity for nearly everyone, ranking No. 7 for housing affordability. Plus, its job market is in the top 10% nationwide.

Of course, how could you not have a list like this without including the "Roundabout Capital of America," Carmel, Indiana? The city of Carmel is certianly no stranger to being among the best places to live in the country, as it seems like it always finds its way on these lists no matter the source. In this case, Carmel comes in as the second-best place to live in the United States. According to US News:

Carmel is a bustling, walkable city just north of Indianapolis, earning its place as the No. 2 Best Place to Live this year. The 1.5-mile downtown Carmel corridor is home to art displays, green space, wide sidewalks and bike paths, making it a uniquely pedestrian-friendly suburb of a fairly car-dependent metropolis. If you like driving in circles, Carmel has the most roundabouts of any city in the United States at more than 150. This probably isn't the primary reason why so many people love to call the Roundabout Capital of the U.S. their home, but it's just one example of how Carmel excels in forward-thinking urban planning. In terms of its high place on our list, Carmel is in the top 1% of cities when it comes to safety, with low rates of both property crimes and violent crimes. Carmel ranks well across all categories, especially desirability and job market. All of this comes at a great value, since Carmel ranks in the 98th percentile for housing affordability.

 

Are you surprised that Carmel and Fishers were the only Indiana cities that found themselves on the list? You can check out the full list of the best places to live in America by clicking here.