New York City might be the best city in the world, but the best city to move to is located more than four hours away.
That’s according to a new study ranking the country’s most desirable metros along key quality of life metrics: job opportunities, cost of living and safety.
The report, authored by MRI Software, crowned Nashua, New Hampshire the best city to move to.
The southern New Hampshire city of a little over 91,000 residents outperformed flashier locales thanks to its healthy job market and low crime rates.
The study counted up more than 66,000 job openings offered in Nashua, based on Indeed.com data, adding up to roughly 0.73 jobs available per Nashua resident. The small city received the ranking’s highest safety score at 73 out of 100.
Nashua boasts a peaceful New England charm and a one-hour drive from Boston.
The rest of the rankings are a far cry from popular metros like Los Angeles and Miami, but the study declares that these sleepy cities are actually sleeper hits.
Aurora, Illinois ranked second of the “best places,” list. The Chicago suburb offered a glut of 68,000 jobs — the highest in the top five rankings — and a remarkably low cost of living. Like Nashua, Aurora sits just an hour’s drive from to the Windy City.
Third-place city Cleveland, Ohio already ranks among the most affordable cities in America. Its steady job market, growing downtown scene and lakefront location just sweeten the pot.
Scenic cities Dover, Delaware and Salt Lake City, Utah rounded out the top five.
The results suggest the bright lights of New York and Los Angeles might lose some of their luster when compared to these quieter, safer and more affordable locales.
