While Austin, Texas topped the list, Lexington's ranking as the 21st best place to live was a slam dunk victory over Louisville and Cincinnati.

U.S. News & World Report says its best places to live rankings are intended to help readers make the most informed decision when choosing where to settle down.

The publication says it looked at data from the United States Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor to come up with the rankings.

Austin's top ranking took into account scores in desirability, value, job market, quality of life and how many people are moving to the area.

With the exception of 11th-ranked Nashville, Lexington fared much better than 61st-ranked Louisville and all the cities in states bordering Kentucky.