12 Most Livable Midsize Cities in the U.S.

Related: 11 Most Livable Cities in the World: 2022

Some 42% of the U.S. population has moved or considered moving since March 2020 as home prices have hit historic highs and inflation has surged, according to a new report from Livability.com, a research and marketing site. Midsize American cities, generally those with 500,000 or fewer residents, have a lot to offer and are attracting droves of younger people, the report said, citing the latest projections from Livability's data partner, Esri. For its 2022 study, Livability ranked some 2,300 cities, applying its proprietary algorithm to calculate a LivScore for each one to come up with the 100 best midsize cities. The LivScore is based on more than 50 data points grouped into eight categories, with data pulled from public and private sources. Livability said its new ranking was influenced by findings from a survey of 1,005 American adults conducted in March by Ipsos. Respondents were asked which factors they would most heavily consider when choosing to relocate and how their housing needs and priorities have changed because of record-breaking inflation. Seven in 10 participants considered affordability a top-three factor influencing a decision to relocate. In addition, given the rise in flexible working conditions many experienced during the pandemic, Livability took into account the remote-readiness of a city and how places attract and retain remote workers. See the gallery for the 12 most livable midsize cities in the U.S., according to Livability.