'Midwestern charm': Why Peoria has been ranked among 100 best places to live in U.S.

Peoria has been ranked among the top places to live in the U.S., according to a publisher of community guides for small-to-mid-sized cities and towns.

Livability.com named Peoria among their 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S., giving it a Livability Score of 706, similar to places like Richmond, Virginia, and Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The Livability Score is calculated through an algorithm that examines a city's economy, cost of living, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education and health, then distills it down into the final figure.

The site praised Peoria for "perfectly (balancing) natural beauty and Midwestern charm," taking note of its "friendly, welcoming vibe and a strong sense of community." Peoria was ranked highly by Livability for a relatively low cost of living compared to other cities, amenities such as the Peoria Riverfront Museum, the Peoria Civic Center and the Peoria Zoo, and ease of transportation.

Peoria was one of five Illinois cities to be named to Livability's list, with Naperville – a well-off western Chicago suburb – receiving the fifth-highest mark with a score of 862. Another Chicago suburb – Evanston – got a score of 770, with Bloomington clocking in at 768 and Champaign receiving a figure of 702.

Livability ranked Carmel, Indiana, as the nation's most livable city, with the Indianapolis suburb receiving a score of 875 and earning praise for a thriving arts scene, ample outdoor activities and strong quality of life.