Methodology
America’s Best Cities Methodology
Our methodology is a combination of core statistics from more than 400 global cities and resident and visitor perception indicators like user-generated ratings and reviews.
Resonance interprets this data through the lens of three key factors—Livability, Lovability and Prosperity—to define each city’s Place Power™ Score.
How we ranked America’s Best Cities for 2026
To rank the performance and perception of America’s Best Cities for 2026, we analyzed all 393 metropolitan areas in the United States (including Puerto Rico). Performance is determined through a combination of core economic and quality of life statistics in addition to user-generated data from online sources such as Google, Instagram, and TikTok. Perception is measured through a survey of 2,000 U.S. households on the top three towns and regions they would most like to visit.
This blend of data led to the creation of Resonance’s proprietary Place Power™ Score, the foundation of all of our Best Cities rankings. So how does Resonance choose the metrics to effectively measure an urban region’s performance relative to its competitors? While many factors shape our perception of urban regions as desirable places to live, work or visit, Resonance’s rankings are focused on the shared factors that demonstrate moderate to strong correlations with the performance of urban regions when it comes to attracting prime age population (age 25–44), visitation trends, and business formation. Based on our ongoing analysis, these factors are an eclectic mix that range from the number of large companies headquartered in a city, to the variety of nightlife and outdoor recreation experiences.
Because cities evolve, our methodology evolves with them. We continually refine our inputs to reflect shifting behaviors and expectations, incorporating measures such as weather volatility and public transit accessibility, while expanding and rebalancing our data sources to improve representation across regions. Today, our performance index evaluates 49 metrics across 31 categories, aggregated evenly into three pillars: Livability, Lovability and Prosperity.
As part of our partnership with Ipsos, we combined the performance data of the categories that comprise our overall Livability, Lovability and Prosperity pillars with perception data reflecting the opinions and preferences of 2,000 respondents across the United States. We asked those respondents, when thinking about places across the globe, including small towns and large cities: which three towns or cities would most like to live in, most like to visit, and think currently offer the best job opportunities?
This open-ended question methodology enabled us to capture the destinations that are top of mind to survey participants rather than restricting them to a predetermined list of cities. The responses to these questions were aggregated and coded to benchmark the perception equivalent of our performance results, creating a true balance across our three overall pillars of Lovability, Livability and Prosperity.
For each destination that ranked in the top 100, we provide five key elements in that destination’s profile:
- Livability rank
- Lovability rank
- Prosperity rank
- Historical population growth rate
- Projected population growth rate
The rankings for each of the Livability, Lovability, and Prosperity pillars are weighted on 50% performance, which consists of the metrics below, and 50% perception, which is based on the survey results from IPSOS.
Historical population growth is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau from 2020-2024 while projected population growth is forecasted for 2025-2029.
Livability
Our most layered overarching category quantifies a city’s physical sense of place.
To score a city within our Livability category, we evaluate the quality of its natural and built environments. This includes the availability of green space in its urban center and how many quality parks, outdoor experiences, and sights and landmarks are recommended online by locals and visitors. We also look at key socioeconomic factors such as income relative to cost of living – a factor that not only retains talent, but also attracts it (and, by extension, attracts skill-seeking companies as well). Livability also looks at the natural attributes of a region such as the amount of tree cover and the quality of the air residents and visitors breathe.
Livability Categories
Walkability
Includes one metric on a destination’s Walk Score. Walk Score measures the walkability of any address based on the distance to nearby places and pedestrian friendliness. (WalkScore.com)
Bikeability
Includes one metric on a destination’s Bike Score. Bike Score measures whether an area is good for biking based on bike lanes and trails, hills, road connectivity, and destinations. (WalkScore.com)
Weather
Includes one metric on the annual average amount of precipitation, such as rain and snow, that reaches the Earth's surface each year, relative to the U.S. average. (OECD and weather-and-climate.com)
Climate Risk
Powered by AlphaGeo, the resilience-adjusted climate risk score measures a city’s exposure to climate-related hazards – such as extreme heat, flooding, and storms – adjusted for its capacity to mitigate and adapt to these risks. (AlphaGeo)
Air Quality
Includes one metric on air pollutant concentrations. (IQAir)
Green Space
This category includes one metric that measures the share of land covered by green area, including trees, shrublands, and grasslands, in a city’s urban center. (OECD)
Sights & Landmarks
This category includes two metrics - the number of sights and landmarks rated above four stars, as well as the popularity of those assets, as listed on Google. (Google)
Nature & Parks
This category includes two metrics - the number of natural areas, parks, and outdoor activities rated above four stars, as well as the popularity of those assets, as listed on Google. (Google)
Public Transit
Includes two metrics. One is Transit Score, which measures how well a location is served by public transit based on the distance and type of nearby transit lines. The second measures the share of the population who uses public transit to commute to work as a proxy for availability and access to transit. (WalkScore.com and U.S. Census Bureau)
Internet Infrastructure
Consists of two metrics: the share of residents in the destination with access to fixed broadband with a speed greater than 250/20 and the share of residents with access to 5G mobile broadband. (Federal Communications Commission).
Standard of Living
Consists of two metrics to assess housing affordability within a destination - median gross rent of a 1-bedroom apartment and median gross rent as a percentage of household income. (U.S. Census Bureau).
Health
Includes three metrics that measure the population’s life expectancy at birth, the crude mortality rate, and the availability of physicians relative to population size.
Perception
Ranking in a survey of 2,000 respondents across the United States about the top three U.S. cities and towns that they would most like to live in someday. (Ipsos)
Lovability
Lovability speaks to the relative vibrancy and quality of place of a destination.
For almost a decade, our research has shown that the more vibrant a city or region is in terms of its culture, dining and nightlife, the more visitors, young professionals and large corporations it attracts. A region’s lovability also inspires residents, businesses and visitors to promote a region to the world more effectively and cost-efficiently than destination marketers can ever hope to. Best Cities ranks a city’s performance in each of these areas based on the number of stories, references and recommendations shared online about that city in key user-generated digital channels like Google, Instagram and TikTok.
Lovability Categories
Google Trends
Includes one metric on the popularity of a city worldwide on Google Trends in the past 12 months, relative to the other cities analyzed. (Trends.Google.com)
Facebook Check-ins
Consists of one metric that measures the total number of check-ins posted by residents and tourists in a region. (Facebook.com)
Instagram Posts
Includes one metrics that measures the total number of posts, including Reels, geo-tagged to a city. (Instagram.com)
TikTok Videos
Consists of one metric that measures the total number of posts, including videos and short-form content, geo-tagged to a city. (TikTok)
Reddit
Calculates a Reddit engagement score based on two metrics - the number of weekly visitors and weekly contributions to the destination’s subreddit, such as r/Chicago. (Reddit)
Museums
This category includes two metrics: the number of museums and galleries in a city rated above four stars, as well as the popularity of those assets, as listed on Google. (Google)
Nightlife
This category includes two metrics: the number of local nightlife experiences, including bars, lounges, comedy clubs, and nightclubs, rated above four stars, as well as the popularity of those assets, as listed on Google. (Google)
Shopping
This category includes two metrics: the number of shopping outlets and centres, including shopping malls and markets, rated above four stars, as well as the popularity of those assets, as listed on Google. (Google)
Restaurants
This category includes two metrics: the total number of restaurants listed within a destination rated above four stars, as well as the popularity of those assets, as listed on Google. (Google)
Theaters & Concerts
This category includes two metrics: the number of theater, concert, and event venues rated above four stars, as well as the popularity of those assets, as listed on Google. (Google)
Family-Friendly Attractions
This category includes three metrics: the popularity of zoos and aquariums, amusement parks and fairgrounds, and fun and games, such as mini-golf and video arcades, as listed on Google. (Google)
Perception
Ranking in a survey of 2,000 respondents across the United States about the top three U.S. cities and towns that they would most like to live in someday. (Ipsos)
Prosperity
Human capital is a region’s most valuable resource when it comes to generating wealth and prosperity, and, for many cities, it is increasingly in short supply.
To assess a city’s prosperity, Resonance evaluates the foundations that enable economic growth and the attraction of talent. Corporate presence and a thriving start-up ecosystem signal a city’s capacity for innovation, job creation, and global competitiveness. High labor force participation and educational attainment reflect the availability of skilled workers, while low unemployment supports stability and resilience. Business infrastructure, such as international airport connectivity and venues capable of hosting major conventions, facilitates trade, investment, and knowledge exchange. Together with the reputation of leading universities, these factors shape a city’s ability to cultivate human capital, foster entrepreneurship, and sustain long-term economic vitality.
Prosperity Categories
Convention Center
Includes one metric that evaluates the amount of indoor exhibition space in the largest convention or expo center in a region. (Venue websites)
Large Companies
Consists of one metric that looks at the number of companies with more than 1,000 employees that are headquartered in a city. (Crunchbase)
Labor Force Participation
Includes one metric on a region’s active workforce, defined as the percentage of all people aged 15+ who are employed or are actively seeking work. (U.S. Census Bureau)
Airport Connectivity
Includes one metric that looks at the number of direct destinations from major airports within a 50-mile radius of the principal city. (Flightsfrom.com and travelmath.com)
University
Includes one metric that calculates the aggregate score of the highest-ranking university in a destination, reflecting its academic reputation, research output, and global influence. A top-performing university attracts talent, drives innovation, and strengthens a city’s human capital – key drivers of long-term prosperity. (QS Top Universities, Leiden, and Times Higher Education World University Rankings)
Economic Output
The GDP per capita in a region, reflecting the value of goods and services produced per person. Higher economic output signals a productive economy and stronger capacity to invest in infrastructure, services, and talent. (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
Innovation
Includes one metric that calculates a region’s innovation potential and ecosystem maturity based on the amount and type of venture capital money that has flowed into a region, the number of venture capital deals and initial public offerings (IPOs) in a region, and the degree to which foreign or domestic companies are investing in the region relative to the U.S. average. (StatsAmerica)
Poverty Rate
The share of the population living under the poverty line. (U.S. Census Bureau)
Unemployment Rate
The rate of unemployment in a region. (U.S. Census Bureau)
Educational Attainment
Percentage of the population who have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher in a region. (U.S. Census Bureau)
Perception
Ranking in a survey of 2,000 respondents across the United States about the top three U.S. cities and towns that they would most like to live in someday. (Ipsos)