11 Fla. cities ranked desirable by U.S. News & World Report
ORLANDO, Fla. – April 26, 2019 – The choice location for a home involves many personal variables, and a buyer willing to relocate may have very different feelings when deciding between Chicago and Miami.
However, U.S. News & World Report analyzed data from major U.S. cities to create its "best places to live" list for this year. To do so, it considered jobs, home values, quality of life issues and net migration to create a list of the "best places to live."
In Florida, five cities were in the top 50, 10 in the top 100, and, with Miami at No. 113, 11 cities in the complete top 125 list. At No. 18, Sarasota ranked highest in the Sunshine State.
U.S. News & World Report posted a complete methodology on its website. The Job Market Index, for example, accounted for 20 percent of a total score. The Housing Affordability Index (Value) accounted for 25 percent. Quality of Life, at 30 percent, included data on crime rates, healthcare, education, commuting and "well-being."
Top 50 Florida cities in U.S. News & World Report rankings
18. Sarasota: 7.0 Overall Score – 7.4 Quality of Life – 5.7 Value
25. Melbourne: 6.9 Overall Score – 7.4 Quality of Life – 6.1 Value
35. Fort Myers: : 6.8 Overall Score – 6.5 Quality of Life – 5.2 Value
37. Pensacola: 6.7 Overall Score – 6.5 Quality of Life – 6.5 Value
42. Jacksonville: 6.7 Overall Score – 6.6 Quality of Life – 6.3 Value
Top 100 Florida cities in U.S. News & World Report rankings
56. Tampa: 6.6 Overall Score – 6.9 Quality of Life – 5.7 Value
59. Lakeland: 6.6 Overall Score – 6.9 Quality of Life – 6.0 Value
63. Orlando: 6.5 Overall Score – 6.8 Quality of Life – 5.1 Value
78. Port St. Lucie: 6.4 Overall Score – 6.9 Quality of Life – 4.7 Value
99. Daytona Beach: 6.1 Overall Score – 6.7 Quality of Life – 4.5 Value
Top 125 Florida cities in U.S. News & World Report rankings
113. Miami: 5.8 Overall Score – 6.9 Quality of Life – 2.9 Value
For a full list of the top 125, visit the U.S. News & World Report website. The rankings can be adjusted based on desired population size, average rent, median home price and commute times.
The top five U.S. cities on the magazines list this year are Austin, Texas; Denver; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Des Moines, Iowa.
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