The U.S. News & World report was just released this year. The article surveyed 150 metro areas and three Indiana cities have made the cut this year. The cities were ranked based on quality of life, job market availability and cost of living. The cities were Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and South Bend, ranking respectfully for “Best places to live,” “Most affordable places to live” and “Best places to retire.” Not bad for Indiana, which is the 38th largest state by area and the 17th most populated in the country.
Indianapolis’ Best Attributes
According to the U.S. News & World Reports, items that made Indy resonate as one of the best cities to live in and visit are: The Children’s Museum, which is the largest in the world since its inception in 1925. Covering over 500,000 square feet with fun and informative exhibits for all families to enjoy. These include the natural sciences, history and cultural information for all.
Another crowning jewel is our Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which has made Indianapolis the racing capital of the world. Every year, thousands of fans of all ages show up during the last week of May for the Indianapolis 500. Downtown is walk-able and home to many work offices, great college sports teams to root for and much more. When taking into account who lives in Indianapolis, the city tends to bring in young people because of job opportunities and lower cost of living.
These and other factors have helped rank Indianapolis as #68 for best places to live and #48 for best places to retired.
Fort Wayne
Quiet, pleasant neighborhoods, affordable living costs and friendly faces have helped Fort Wayne rank #5 most affordable place to live and #33 in best places to live. Additionally, Fort Wayne ranked #15 in best places to retire. Not bad!
The highest ranking includes the affordability factor, which is lower than the national average. While the average salary in Fort Wayne is lower than the national average of the country, the silver lining is the affordable homes that make Fort Wayne an attractive place for families to live in. There are plenty of events in Fort Wayne and a strong sense of community. Home to three championship-winning minor league teams, and annual special events like the Buskerest, dedicated to street perfumers and families.
South Bend
South Bend comes in at #14 for most affordable places to live, #76 in best places to live and #30 for best places to retire.
If you love the outdoors, South Bend might be the home for you. Lake Michigan is only a short car ride away, between 40-45 minutes, if you prefer smaller lakes, then they are even closer. Downtown South Bend is home of the first artificial whitewater course in the country, additionally, downtown has the Four Winds Field for avid sports fans. Overall, South Bend has a lot to offer residents of all ages. This, plus the great advantages of affordability make this an attractive place to settle down in.
Colleges include Indiana University – South Bend, Bethel University, and the renowned Notre Dame, along with Saint Mary’s College.
Other Cities That Made The Cut
While Indianapolis came at #68 for best places to live, South Bend ranked at #76. The top ranking city to live was Green Bay, Wisconsin, at #2 was Huntsville, Alabama, followed by Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina. Best places to retire include Lancaster, Pennsylvania at #1, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at #2, #3 is Pensacola, Florida, followed by Tampla, Florida at #4 and closing the top 5 is York, Pennsylvania at #5.
Head to the U.S. News website for the full ranking list for all three rankings. The U.S. News analyzes the places that have good value. desirable places to live and that have a strong job market plus better quality of life.
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