Sarah Brookbank | Cincinnati Enquirer

Buzz60

Provided by Corrie Carswell

Cincinnati is among the top 50 on the list of Best Places to Live according to new rankings from U.S. News and World Report.

The new list ranks the country's 125 largest metropolitan areas based on affordability, job prospects and quality of life. Austin took the No. 1 spot, with Colorado Springs and Denver following. Des Moines snagged No. 4 and Fayetteville, Arkansas finished out the top five.

"When deciding on a place to settle down, it's important to understand that where a person lives can impact their well-being," Executive Editor Kim Castro said in a statement. "The top-ranked places are areas where citizens can feel the most fulfilled socially, physically and financially."

Cincinnati barely made it in the top 50, ranking No. 49.

"Although Cincinnati is often perceived as a sleepy Midwestern metro area, residents benefit from a wealth of amenities, including museums, professional sports teams and a wide selection of restaurants," U.S. News said.

Cincinnati is relatively affordable compared with other large metro areas, especially those on the coasts.

Cincinnati has a fairly temperate climate. Winters in Cincinnati are rainy and gray, and summers reflect the city's nearly southern location with hot, humid weather.

Cincinnatians drive more than the national average and take public transportation less than the national average. The average commute time is just under 25 minutes.

Cincinnati's strong job market, good schools and relatively low cost of living attract families. At the same time, roughly 30 percent of residents live below the poverty level.

Although the metro area's average annual salary is just below the national average, those seeking opportunities in education, sales and library work can make more in Cincinnati than they would in other areas.

Cincinnati's violent crime rate is lower than the national rate, but there are still instances of petty theft, which are reflected in the area's higher than average property crime rate.

{{props.notification}} {{props.tag}} {{props.expression}} {{props.linkSubscribe.text}} {{#modules.acquisition.inline}}{{/modules.acquisition.inline}} ... Our reporting. Your stories. Get unlimited digital access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now

U.S. News used data from the United States Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its own rankings.