Four Minnesota cities ranked among 100 Best Places to Live in US

Four Minnesota cities made Livablity’s 2024 list of best places to live, with Bloomington cracking the top 25.

Livability recently published its 2024 list of the Best 100 Places to Live in the U.S . The list looked at “small to mid-size cities,” or those with a population between 75,000 and 500,000. The cities considered also had to have a median home value of less than $500,000.

Four Minnesota cities — Bloomington, Rochester, Duluth and St. Paul — made the list, which awards an overall “LivScore” as well as individual scores for factors including economy, housing and cost of living, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education and health.

Bloomington had the highest LivScore of the four cities at 803. With a median home value of $321,788, the city was highlighted for its “vibrant community, great schools, and good balance of city convenience and natural beauty.”

Bloomington’s top categories were health, economy and education.

It was followed by Rochester, which was noted for its “thriving job market, inviting climate, abundant outdoor activities and family-friendly events,” with a score of 775. Rochester’s median home value was listed at $283,187.

With a score of 736 and a median home value of $212,739, Livability highlighted Duluth’s outdoor recreation and “breathtaking beauty of the Great Lakes.”

And St. Paul, which was noted for its “combination of natural beauty and urban vibrancy” was awarded a score of 722. The city also had the second highest median home value at $290,183.