Florida had a whopping 17 cities rank on U.S. News & World report’s top 250 places to live—and Pensacola was among those leading the pack.
U.S. News published its rankings after analyzing 859 cities based on value, desirability, job market and quality of life. This year’s list was expanded to include 150 more cities than last year, which it says gives consumers a more detailed view of what it’s like to live somewhere.
Parkland and Palm Harbor topped the list of Florida cities that made it into the ranking, coming in at No. 59 and No. 68, respectively. Orlando, Tampa and Miami were notably missing from the list.
Pensacola ranked No. 166, coming in at sixth among Florida’s 17 cities
Pensacola ranked No. 166 on the list, dropping 135 spots from its spot at No. 31 in 2024. It was also ranked as the No. 17 best place to retire and the No. 8 best place to live in Florida.
“White sand beaches, breathtaking sunsets and emerald green waters are often cited as reasons newcomers fall in love with the Pensacola area,” U.S. News wrote about Pensacola.
“The Pensacola metropolitan area honors tradition while making space for entrepreneurial booms, a flourishing tourism industry and higher education institutions to help students prepare for their careers. Organizations such as the University of West Florida’s Center for Entrepreneurship offer mentorship, resources and guidance to help ignite the self-starter’s career.”
List of Florida cities that made US News & World Reports top 250 places to live
U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live in the U.S. list included 13 cities, with Naples ranking No. 1 and Sarasota narrowly missing the top 10 at No. 11.
This year, Parkland was the first Florida city to be named on the list at No. 59. Naples dropped to the No. 179 spot, and Sarasota wasn’t listed among the top 250.
What is the best place to live in the U.S., according to the list?
Only about a state away from Florida, Georgia’s Johns Creek is the U.S. News and World Report’s top place to live in.
“Just north of Atlanta, Johns Creek is the kind of place where tree-lined streets, a strong sense of community and a high quality of life come together to make it one of the nation’s most desirable places to call home,” the report says.
See the top 10 best places to live in the U.S.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola drops 135 spots on US News & World Report’s best place to live list
Reporting by Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
