Raleigh & Durham climb in Best Places to Live list. Here’s were they land this year

Raleigh and Durham find themselves in a familiar spot once again.

The two cities — tied together, but gratefully without an airport “dash” — are near the top of the annual US News & World Report “Best Places to Live in the US” list for 2023-24.

The list, released this week, puts Raleigh and Durham at No. 3, behind Green Bay, Wisconsin at No. 1 and Hunstville, Alabama at No. 2.

Charlotte landed at No. 8.

Raleigh and Durham ranked at No. 6 in last year’s report, falling from the No. 2 spot in 2021.

The metro area, which includes Chapel Hill, climbed its way back toward the top this year, scoring a 6.9 out of 10 on the US News & World Report grading system.

For the list, US News analyzed 150 metro areas and based its findings on quality of life, the job market, value of living (housing affordability + cost of living), and people’s desire to live there.

Raleigh and Durham scored highest in the quality of life category for their access to museums and performing art venues, the robust restaurant scene, plentiful parks and greenways, and college and professional athletic teams.

The site also lists Raleigh and Durham as:

• No. 1 Best Place to Live in North Carolina
• No. 13 Best Place to Live for Quality of Life
• No. 29 Best Place to Retire
• No. 21 in Fastest Growing Places

Here’s the full list of US News & World Report’s 10 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2023-24:

1. Green Bay, Wisconsin
2. Huntsville, Alabama
3. Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina
4. Boulder, Colorado
5. Sarasota, Florida
6. Naples, Florida
7. Portland, Maine
8. Charlotte, North Carolina
9. Colorado Springs, Colorado
10. Fayetteville, Arkansas

This story was originally published May 16, 2023 at 11:26 AM.

Brooke Cain

The News & Observer

Brooke Cain is a North Carolina native who has worked at The News & Observer and McClatchy for more than 30 years as a researcher, reporter and media writer. She is the National Service Journalism Editor for McClatchy.