The Best Places to Live in 2019 (Getty Images) What are the best qualities of your hometown? It may be that it’s easy to get around, there are plenty of job opportunities or it attracts new residents every year. To determine the Best Places to Live rankings, U.S. News looks at data on the country’s 125 most populous metro areas, including the cost of living, job market, crime rates, quality of education and more. The data is weighted based on the responses from a survey of more than 2,000 people throughout the U.S. to determine what matters most to them when picking their next place to live. Read on for the 25 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2019. Updated on May 17, 2019: This slideshow was originally published on April 9, 2019, and has been updated to reflect a change to the methodology in the desirability category, which did not affect the overall Best Places to Live rankings. 25. Melbourne, Florida

25. Melbourne, Florida (Getty Images) Metro Population: 568,183

Median Home Price: $198,425

Median Annual Salary: $48,240 After ranking No. 29 in 2018, Melbourne moves up four spots this year, in part due to its rapid growth in population and high-quality high school education. The Quality of Life score for Best Places to Live factors in college preparedness among high school students, access to quality health care, property crime and murder rates, morning commute and overall well-being. 24. Salt Lake City

24. Salt Lake City (Getty Images) Metro Population: 2,399,521

Median Home Price: $324,198

Median Annual Salary: $47,272 Salt Lake City is recognized for its strong job market, ability to attract new residents and overall quality of life. The biggest contributor to the Utah capital’s ranking at No. 24 is its affordability. Salt Lake City residents spend just 22.14% of the median household income on housing costs, which includes mortgage payments, rent, property taxes and utilities. 23. Portland, Maine

23. Portland, Maine (Getty Images) Metro Population: 525,776

Median Home Price: $223,367

Median Annual Salary: $48,970 The most populous metro area in Maine may be one of the smaller places in the top 25, but Portland residents are quite happy. Of the 125 most populous metro areas in the U.S., Portland ranks sixth on the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, which asks residents how they feel about their hometown. 22. Greenville, South Carolina

22. Greenville, South Carolina (Getty Images) Metro Population: 872,463

Median Home Price: $172,067

Median Annual Salary: $43,230 Situated in the mountains of South Carolina, Greenville takes the No. 22 spot on the list. Greenville gets its best score for affordability. Residents of the metro area benefit from having to spend just 21.44% of the median household income on housing expenses. 21. Dallas-Fort Worth

21. Dallas-Fort Worth (Getty Images) Metro Population: 7,104,415

Median Home Price: $248,375

Median Annual Salary: $51,250 The most populous metro area in the top 25, Dallas-Fort Worth’s highest score is for population growth due to net migration. The Dallas-Fort Worth area grew by 5.7% between 2013 and 2017 due to net migration alone, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 20. Charlotte, North Carolina

20. Charlotte, North Carolina (Getty Images) Metro Population: 2,427,024

Median Home Price: $213,983

Median Annual Salary: $50,150 Moving up two spots from 2018, Charlotte gets its highest score from fast and sustained population growth. The Charlotte metro area grew by 7.06% between 2013 and 2017 due to net migration alone. 19. Washington, D.C.

19. Washington, D.C. (Getty Images) Metro Population: 6,090,196

Median Home Price: $376,767

Median Annual Salary: $69,210 After ranking No. 8 on the 2018 Best Places to Live list, the District of Columbia fell back this year to No. 19. While the nation’s capital continues to have a strong job market and high median annual salary, the area’s cost of living has increased and net migration slowed between 2013 and 2017. The metro area grew by just 1.88% due to net migration during that time period. 18. Sarasota, Florida

18. Sarasota, Florida (Getty Images) Metro Population: 768,381

Median Home Price: $237,260

Median Annual Salary: $42,680 After ranking No. 34 in 2018, this metro area on the Gulf Coast of Florida jumps 16 spots to No. 18. Sarasota is the third-fastest growing metro area out of the 125 places on the list. Between 2013 and 2017, Sarasota saw a population increase of 13.1% due to net migration. 17. Boise, Idaho

17. Boise, Idaho (Getty Images) Metro Population: 677,346

Median Home Price: $221,475

Median Annual Salary: $43,880 Idaho’s capital makes the list with high scores for population growth due to net migration and housing affordability compared with its median annual household income. Boise’s lowest score, however, is in desirability among U.S. residents when considering where they would want to live. 16. Asheville, North Carolina

16. Asheville, North Carolina (Getty Images) Metro Population: 445,625

Median Home Price: $248,500

Median Annual Salary: $41,210 Set in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville receives its highest score for desirability, where it ranks 16th out of the 125 most populous metro areas in the U.S. Additionally, the Asheville area grew by 6.16% between 2013 and 2017 due to net migration. 15. Nashville, Tennessee

15. Nashville, Tennessee (Getty Images) Metro Population: 1,830,410

Median Home Price: $248,883

Median Annual Salary: $47,110 Nashville takes the No. 15 spot overall, with many U.S. residents viewing the Tennessee metro area as a desirable place to live. People are also acting on that feeling, as Nashville has grown by 6.88% between 2013 and 2017 due to net migration alone. 14. San Jose, California

14. San Jose, California (Getty Images) Metro Population: 1,969,897

Median Home Price: $1,080,017

Median Annual Salary: $77,180 The capital of Silicon Valley climbs three spots from No. 17 in 2018. With a median annual salary of $77,180 and an unemployment rate of just 2.6%, San Jose continues its reign as the metro area with the strongest job market out of the 125 most populous metro areas in the U.S. 13. Grand Rapids, Michigan

13. Grand Rapids, Michigan (Getty Images) Metro Population: 1,039,182

Median Home Price: $181,533

Median Annual Salary: $44,770 Grand Rapids ranks sixth out of the 125 most populous metro areas in the U.S. for affordability. The western Michigan metro area also scores highly for quality of life, which takes into account the quality of public high school education, commute time, property crime and murder rates and general happiness among residents, per the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index. 12. Madison, Wisconsin

12. Madison, Wisconsin (Getty Images) Metro Population: 640,072

Median Home Price: $247,967

Median Annual Salary: $52,190 Madison takes the No. 12 spot in the Best Places to Live ranking, in large part due to the metro area’s job market. Madison residents benefit from a median annual salary of $52,190, which is above the national average of $50,620. The unemployment rate, at 2.2%, is 1.7% better than the national average of 3.9%. 11. Huntsville, Alabama

11. Huntsville, Alabama (Getty Images) Metro Population: 444,908

Median Home Price: $167,300

Median Annual Salary: $53,600 Huntsville is the smallest metro area in the top 25 Best Places to Live. This northern Alabama metro area is the most affordable place to live out of the 125 most populous metro areas in the U.S. and offers a flourishing job market, with many local companies focused on science, technology, engineering and math. 10. Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina

10. Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina (Getty Images) Metro Population: 1,824,266

Median Home Price: $249,294

Median Annual Salary: $53,788 The Raleigh and Durham metro area continues to be an attractive place for people to relocate, thanks to its affordability and job market. Research, technology, education and health care are consistently growing industries in the area. 9. Seattle

9. Seattle (Getty Images) Metro Population: 3,735,216

Median Home Price: $442,333

Median Annual Salary: $63,120 Moving up one spot from 2018, Seattle ranks No. 9 this year thanks to its consistently strong job market and high desirability among U.S. residents as a place to live. The job market contributes to its reputation as a great place to live, with Seattle ranking seventh out of the 125 metro areas on the list for desirability. 8. Portland, Oregon

8. Portland, Oregon (Getty Images) Metro Population: 2,382,037

Median Home Price: $375,425

Median Annual Salary: $55,330 U.S. residents view Portland as a highly desirable place to live, with the city taking the No. 1 spot in that category in a four-way tie with Colorado Springs, Colorado, Honolulu and San Francisco. Additionally, a strong job market and consistent growth in population due to net migration over a five-year period leads to the Rose City’s rise in the rankings. 7. San Francisco

7. San Francisco (Getty Images) Metro Population: 4,641,820

Median Home Price: $768,517

Median Annual Salary: $69,700 Ranking No. 20 in 2018, San Francisco jumped to No. 7 this year. San Francisco continues to have a strong job market, and even more U.S. residents are saying they would like to live in the City by the Bay. San Francisco received a perfect score for desirability. 6. Minneapolis-St. Paul

6. Minneapolis-St. Paul (Getty Images) Metro Population: 3,526,149

Median Home Price: $237,367

Median Annual Salary: $56,030 Minnesota’s Twin Cities metro area takes the No. 6 spot, continuing its climb up the rankings after scoring No. 9 in 2018 and No. 17 in 2017. A major reason for Minneapolis-St. Paul’s jump is the metro area’s low cost of living. Area residents spend just 21.5% of the median household income on housing expenses. 5. Des Moines, Iowa

5. Des Moines, Iowa (Getty Images) Metro Population: 623,113

Median Home Price: $178,942

Median Annual Salary: $50,600 Des Moines takes the No. 5 spot this year, with continued growth in its job market, sustained net migration to the metro area and solid quality of life scores. Des Moines also maintains a low cost of living compared to the median household income. 4. Fayetteville, Arkansas

4. Fayetteville, Arkansas (Getty Images) Metro Population: 514,166

Median Home Price: $177,942

Median Annual Salary: $45,830 This fast-growing metro area in Arkansas has long been a strong contender in the Best Places to Live ranking – and this year is no different. A low cost of living compared with household income, strong population growth due to net migration and high quality of life scores all contribute to Fayetteville’s No. 4 ranking in 2019. 3. Colorado Springs, Colorado

3. Colorado Springs, Colorado (Getty Images) Metro Population: 698,595

Median Home Price: $286,700

Median Annual Salary: $50,050 At No. 3 in the overall Best Places to Live list, Colorado Springs also shares the top spot for desirability as a place to live among U.S. residents with San Francisco, Honolulu and Portland, Oregon. High marks for college preparedness among high school students and a consistently strong job market help Colorado Springs rank near the top of the list this year. 2. Denver

2. Denver (Getty Images) Metro Population: 2,798,684

Median Home Price: $393,842

Median Annual Salary: $57,400 After taking the No. 3 spot in 2018 behind Colorado Springs, Denver is back in second place in 2019. Denver remains desirable to U.S. residents and has a flourishing job market, but migration to the area has slowed over the last couple years. 1. Austin, Texas

1. Austin, Texas (Getty Images) Metro Population: 2,000,590

Median Home Price: $292,500

Median Annual Salary: $51,840 For the third year in a row, Austin is the No. 1 Best Place to Live in the U.S. The capital of Texas continues to receive interest from the tech industry, contributing to a strong job market and high desirability among Americans as a place to live. Aside from the job opportunities, new residents are attracted to Austin for its eclectic arts and music scene, which are highlighted in the annual South by Southwest festival, which features music, film and television attractions. The Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2019: