15 Most Livable Midsize U.S. Cities: AARP

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15 Most Livable Midsize U.S. Cities: AARP

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Retirement Planning > Retirement Lists

15 Most Livable Midsize U.S. Cities: AARP

By Michael S. Fischer

Slideshow November 09, 2023 at 12:57 PM Share & Print

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AARP Public Policy Institute’s latest edition of the most livable communities across the United States includes 1,909 midsize cities, those with 25,000 to 99,999 people.

The cities’ rankings are based on scores they receive on AARP’s Livability Index platform, which uses some 50 national data sources across seven categories: housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement and opportunity ― factors that most affect people’s lives as they age.

The tool measures every city against 61 indicators of livability, ranging from monthly housing costs to environmental pollution, opportunities for social connections to the presence of age-friendly community plans.

See the accompanying gallery for the 15 most livable midsize U.S. cities, according to AARP.

Michael S. Fischer

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15 Most Livable Midsize U.S. Cities: AARP

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15. Shoreview, Minnesota
Population: 26,922

Overall livability: 64

Need to know: Shoreview scores 73 in the health category, ranking in the top third of small cities for relatively low prevalence of obesity and smoking, access to exercise opportunities, health care shortage areas and preventable hospitalization rate. The city scores in the bottom half with a 49 in the housing category, and ranks in the bottom third for monthly housing costs and zero-step entrances.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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14. Iowa City, Iowa
Population: 75,849

Overall livability: 64

Need to know: Iowa City scores 75 in the transportation category, ranking among the top third of small cities for frequency of local transit service, ADA-accessible stations and vehicles, walkability and household transportation costs. Its score of 48 places it in the bottom half of cities for opportunity, with fewer jobs per worker and a relatively low high school graduation rate.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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13. Cottonwood Heights, Utah
Population: 33,865

Overall livability: 64

Need to know: Residents of this small city can boast of a 78 score in the health category. Housing, on the other hand, is tight in Cottonwood Heights, which scores 43 in the category. Housing costs are $1,517 per month and take 17.8% of income; this compares with the national average of $803 per month and a 12.8% cost burden.

Credit: Adobe Stock

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12. Prior Lake, Minnesota
Population: 26,775

Overall livability: 64

Need to know: Prior Lake scores 86 for opportunity, placing in the top third of small cities for relatively low income inequality, jobs per worker, high school graduation rate and age diversity. In the transportation category, the city scores 52, and sits in the lower third of small cities for congestion, household transportation costs and speed limits.

Credit: Adobe Stock

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11. Bozeman, Montana
Population: 48,330

Overall livability: 64

Need to know: Bozeman scores 90 in the engagement category, with a voting rate of 74.4%, compared with the 63.6% national rate and a top-third ranking in all other civic and social engagement factors. However, drinking water quality and near-roadway pollution place the city ― which scores 52 in the environment category ― in the lower third of small cities.

Credit: Adobe Stock

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10. Roseville, Minnesota
Population: 36,139

Overall livability: 64

Need to know: With a 68 in the health category, Roseville ranks in the top third of small cities for relatively low smoking and obesity prevalence, access to exercise opportunities and preventable hospitalization rate. In the housing category, the city scores 53, with worsening housing costs and availability of multi-family housing.

Credit: Adobe Stock

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9. Millcreek, Utah
Population: 60,828

Overall livability: 64

Need to know: With an opportunity score of 87, Millcreek is in the top third of small cities for relatively low income inequality and jobs per worker and in the middle range for age diversity and high school graduation rate. The city scores only 40 in the environment category, however, ranking in the lower third for drinking water quality and near-roadway and local industrial pollution.

Credit: Adobe Stock

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8. North Bethesda, Maryland
Population: 49,719

Overall livability: 65

Need to know: North Bethesda scores 91 for health, and is in the top third of small cities in all factors, although the prevalence of obesity appears to be getting worse. The city’s housing score is 50, with monthly housing costs at $2,174, which eats up 18.3% of income, compared with the national average of $803 per month and 12.8% cost burden.

Credit: Adobe Stock

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7. St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Population: 48,874

Overall livability: 65

Need to know: St. Louis Park scores 72 in the transportation category, with top-third ranking for ADA-accessible stations and vehicles, household transportation costs, walkability and frequency of local transit service. In the opportunity category, the city scores 55, with income inequality and jobs per work on par with the national average.

Credit: Adobe Stock

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6. Somerville, Massachusetts
Population: 81,175

Overall livability: 66

Need to know: Somerville scores 82 in the neighborhood category, and is in the top third of small cities in all factors, including access to parks, libraries, and groceries and farmers markets; diversity of destinations; and relatively low crime rate. Like several other cities in this report, it scores low ― 45 ― in the housing category, with high monthly housing costs and cost burden.

Credit: Adobe Stock

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5. Belmont, Massachusetts
Population: 26,158

Overall livability: 66

Need to know: Belmont’s opportunity score is 81, with top-third ranking in the age diversity, jobs per work and high school graduation rate factors. The city has an even lower score ― 31 ― in the housing category than neighboring Somerville. Monthly housing costs of $2,433 devour 21.2% of income, compared with the national average of $803 and 12.8%.

Credit: Adobe Stock

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4. La Crosse, Wisconsin
Population: 51,543

Overall livability: 66

Need to know: La Crosse scores 77 in the transportation category; it’s in the top third of small cities in all factors except congestion, which costs a driver 14.6 hours per year. The city has a 64 in the environment category, and ranks in the lower third for near-roadside and local industrial pollution.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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3. South Portland, Maine
Population: 25,665

Overall livability: 67

Need to know: South Portland scores 91 in the engagement category, ranking in the top third of small cities for broadband cost and speed, opportunity for civic involvement, voting rate and cultural, arts and entertainment institutions. The city’s neighborhood score is 59, with a worsening in crime rate, diversity of destinations, activity density and vacancy rate.

Credit: Adobe Stock

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2. Burlington, Vermont
Population: 42,645

Overall livability: 68

Need to know: Burlington scores 81 in the transportation category, with yearly household transportation costs of $13,616, compared with the national average of $16,848. The city scores only 39 in the opportunity category, with worsening in the factors of high school graduation rate, jobs per worker, age diversity and income inequality.

Credit: Shutterstock

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1. Portland, Maine
Population: 66,706

Overall livability: 68

Need to know: Portland ranks high among small cities for civic and social engagement, scoring 91 in the engagement category. The city doesn’t do so well in the environment category, with a score of 61; it ranks in the lower third of cities for near-roadway and local industrial pollution.

Credit: Shutterstock

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