24/7 Wall St. created a weighted index of over two dozen measures to identify the best city to live in each state. It considered all boroughs, census designated places, cities, towns and villages with at least 8,000 residents.

Affordability, economy, quality of life, and community were all weighted.

These cities tend to have much in common beyond the index components upon which they were ranked. For one, these communities are often within commuting distance of a major metropolitan area. This is no coincidence, as close proximity to a major city provides residents with access to more job opportunities, which in turn can help lower unemployment and improve financial security.