Carmel is the best to live in the U.S. and Fishers is close behind, according to a new nationwide ranking from the U.S. News & World Report.
The Hamilton County cities have been consistently featured on similar lists the last several years and are often highlighted for their quality of life, affordability and low crime rates.
In this newest ranking, the U.S. News & World Report analyzed more than 850 cities using internal resources and data from private and government sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, the Federal Reserve and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The digital media company considered housing affordability, cost of living, quality of education, air quality, state economy, state infrastructure, environmental risk, crime rates, weather, average commuter time and the unemployment rate, among other factors, when evaluating cities across the U.S.
“Just about 20 miles north of Indianapolis is Carmel, Indiana, a fast-growing suburb of more than 100,000 residents that manages to retain its small-town charm,” reads a story from the U.S. News & World Report highlighting the Hamilton County city.
The story spotlights Carmel’s quality schools as well as what makes Carmel a quality place to live. Information on the city’s Christkindlmarkt, Palladium and portion of the Monon Trail is also featured in the story.
“These rankings tell a powerful story about how Carmel offers something special,” Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam told IndyStar. “We know our built environment is incredible, we know Hoosier hospitality is alive and well here, and we also know our small businesses, in particular, create an environment where people want to visit and shop. All those things together create a pretty special place.”
Finkam said these types of rankings can be used as an economic development tool to attract new businesses, residents and visitors to the city.
Carmel was runner-up on the same list last year and was beaten by Johns Creek, Georgia.
“The number one benefit is the community pride,” Finkam said. “This ranking will be shared by our residents far and wide. Our businesses will use it to attract and retain talent. That puts a smile on my face.”
Indianapolis was ranked as the 279th best place to live on the 2026-27 list. Meanwhile, Fishers claimed the second spot after ranking 4th on last year’s list.
“It’s an honor to consistently rank as a top place to live in America,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said in a news release. “Being named as #2 best place to live is a testament to our focus on creating a community that keeps looking forward while building world-class quality of life amenities that exceed our residents’ expectations.”
Fishers also pointed to the results of a recent community survey that showed strong resident satisfaction within the city. Nearly 3,000 residents participated in the survey, with 94% rating Fishers positively as a place to live and 99% reporting a positive overall quality of life experience.
Several other Indiana cities were included by the U.S. News & World Report on the best places to live rankings:
Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @Jake_Allen19. Click here to get Hamilton County news sent straight to your inbox and subscribe to the IndyStar North newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Report: Carmel is the best place to live. Did Indy make the list?
Reporting by Jake Allen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
