Best Cities to Live in the US

Since ancient times, geographic as well as economic factors have played an important role in determining the place of settlement for humans. The trend is followed even today, though with minor alterations. Today, economic development is being given more importance than the geographic factors. The United States of America has experienced rapid development in the last few decades. Cities like Washington DC, Austin and Chicago have been at the forefront of this developing nation. No wonder, today they are regarded as some of the best cities to live in the US.

Washington DC
Washington DC, located on the banks of the Potomac River, is the capital of United States of America. Being the administrative capital of the nation, Washington DC enjoys many privileges. All the three centers of the federal government are located in the city. Washington DC is also home to most of the national monuments, embassies of various countries and headquarters of prominent organizations such as the World Bank and the Pan American Health Organization. All these privileges along with the humid subtropical climate and well planned city structure make Washington DC one of the best USA cities to live in.

Chicago
The third largest city in the United States, Chicago is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is one of the most densely populated cities in the United States. It holds the laurels to be the second most important city in the United States in terms of culture, entertainment and economy. City of Chicago experiences a humid continental type of climate, wherein the summers are warm and humid while the winters are cold and snowy. The city is ranked third in the country, when it comes to the gross metropolitan product. It is a major hub for infrastructure and industry. Being one of the most balanced economy in the United States, Chicago is the dream city for many aspiring individuals.

San Diego
San Diego, located on the western coast of the United States, is the 2nd largest city in California. The long coastline and pleasant Mediterranean climate make the city a popular tourist destination. The prominent industries which flourish here include manufacturing, military and tourism. The economy of the city is largely based on agriculture, biotechnology, computer sciences, electronics, tourism, etc. With so many sectors flourishing in the city the rate of employment in San Diego is very good. These employment opportunities make the city one of the most sought after place among the Americans to live in. All these factors together make San Diego one of the best cities to live in the US.

Austin
The capital of Texas in the United States, Austin has come a long way to emerge as one of the major center of technology and business. The city has experienced rapid growth in the last decade. It is located on the banks of River Colorado. Austin experiences humid subtropical climate, wherein the summers are hot, while the winters are mild. The University of Texas located in Austin has been providing the technology and defense industry of the United States with some of the finest talents for a long time. The city holds many laurels to its credit, including the 2nd spot in the Money magazines Best Big City in the series titled "Best Places to Live".

Phoenix
Phoenix in Arizona, is one of the largest and the 5th most populous city in the United States. In fact, it is the only state capital in the US to have population exceeding the million mark. It is surrounded by various mountain ranges, such as the McDowell Mountains and the Sierra Estrella, which add to the grace of the city's landscape. Phoenix experiences arid climate, wherein the summers are hot and winters are temperate. The city boasts about an excellent employment rate owing to the flourishing tourism, technology and education sectors. With all these credentials, Phoenix is successful in making a place for itself in the list of the best USA cities to live in.

With the 2009 recession, economic factors have overshadowed the geographic factors which people take into consideration when it comes to choosing a place to live in. Capacity to provide stable employment with well paying jobs and a secured lifestyle is what makes these cities the best cities to live in the US. They do have a tough competition from many contenders which are experiencing fast paced development and creating thousands of job opportunities every year. May be these cities will be replaced by new ones in time to come, but as of now they are the ones which feature in the list of the best cities to live in the US.