Though migrational patterns reported throughout the pandemic revealed a major shift away from large metros, a new study by Pew Research found that fewer people moved out of cities in 2020 than during the years leading up to the pandemic. Still, small cities are seeing droves of newcomers, making largely underpopulated regions in the Midwest some of the most popular markets for new homebuyers.
The top 10 most livable cities stand out for affordable housing, low income inequality, and concentration of entertainment establishments, restaurants, bars, and healthcare establishments. O’Fallon, Missouri tops the list with the 11th-lowest income inequality and the 21st-lowest percentage of residents living below the poverty line at just 4.6%, SmartAsset reports.
Continuing a trend observed in last year’s study, the Midwest is home to a high concentration of the most livable small cities in the country. While eight of the top 10 cities are located in the Midwest, 19 of the 25 most livable small cities are also found in Midwestern states.
The Sunshine State is home to a number of small cities that rank poorly for livability, including Miami Beach, which ranks dead last. In fact, 11 of the bottom 20 cities of our rankings are located in Florida.
For the full list of the most livable U.S. cities …
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