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Fayetteville was once again ranked within the top five best places to live in the country by U.S. News & World Report in its annual “Best Places to Live” report.
With its No. 4 ranking, it’s the fourth year in a row for Fayetteville to be included near the top of the list. The city was named No. 3 in 2016 and No. 5 in both 2017 and 2018.
Top 10 Places to Live
As reported by U.S. News & World Report in its annual “Best Places to Live” rankings.
1. Austin, TX
2. Denver, CO
3. Colorado Springs, CO
4. Fayetteville, AR
5. Des Moines, IA
6. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
7. San Francisco, CA
8. Portland, OR
9. Seattle, WA
10. Raleigh & Durham, NC
“Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Fayetteville attracts outdoorsy types with its abundance of state parks, acres of community green space, playgrounds, parks and walking trails,” the report states. “The metro area also boasts a first-class performing arts center, an active local food movement, live music venues and a dynamic festival scene.”
Topping the list for a third year in a row is Austin, Texas, which came in second place in 2016. Two Colorado cities traded places this year, with Denver moving ahead of Colorado Springs for the No. 2 spot. Rounding out the Top 5 is Des Moines, Iowa, which moved down one spot from last year.
“People from all over the world call Fayetteville home,” the report states. “Newcomers often comment on the friendliness of Fayetteville residents. People wave and smile at each other in the street, and community events are well-attended. With dozens of volunteer organizations and nonprofits, there’s an abundance of ways to get involved in the community.”
The publication analyzed the nation’s 100 largest metro areas and ranked them based on several criteria including value and cost of living, quality of life, job market health, and desirability to live there.
“I couldn’t be happier that Fayetteville has once again been ranked in the top five Best Places to Live,” said Mayor Lioneld Jordan. “We’re continually working with partners to make Fayetteville a desirable place for people to live, work, learn, visit and play. This recognition underscores the good work our city is doing for all of our residents, and the quality of life we can create when we work together.”
Fayetteville received a value index of 8.2 out of a possible 10, meaning the city offers a better value than similarly sized cities when comparing housing costs to median household income.
