The 15 best cities to live in 2026 all have one thing in common: they're cheaper

• Affordability is more important than ever in choosing where to live.
• US News & World Report ranked the best places to live, and getting a deal was a high priority.
• A Midwestern city took the top spot, but the Sun Belt had a strong showing on the list.

Choosing a city to live in is a personal decision, but in an increasingly expensive housing market, affordability is more important than ever.

"Every year we ask consumers what they're looking for in a place to live, and this year consumers overwhelmingly cited that they were looking for value and affordability," US News & World Report consumer lending analyst Erika Giovanetti told Business Insider. "They even said that they're looking for affordability over quality of life and desirability."

US News & World Report analyzed more than 850 US cities and ranked them based on four key indexes: value, quality of life, desirability, and job market. This year's rankings differ from previous years by weighting value higher than the other categories.

"Education, college readiness, access to healthcare — all of these things fall under quality of life, but consumers this year are really feeling it in their wallets, and they are willing to make sacrifices if it's about finding a more affordable place to live," Giovanetti said of the rationale.

While the Midwest has become the most affordable region of the country, a majority of the entries on US News' best cities to live in list are in Southern states.

Giovanetti noted that while affordability is an important factor this year, cities toward the top of the list are ones that demonstrate balance across all key categories. Johns Creek, Georgia, for example, finished first in last year's rankings, but dropped to fifth this year, mainly because it's pricier than other cities.

"Johns Creek ranks 232 for value, which is not so bad in the grand scheme of things, but it is one of the more higher priced cities that made the top of our list," she said.

Below, the best places to live in the US, according to US News & World Report.

15. Buffalo Grove, IL

Population: 41,765

Median home value: $380,110

Median household income: $135,543

14. Parkland, FL

Population: 36,938

Median home value: $896,250

Median household income: $223,200

13. League City, TX

Population: 109,083

Median home value: $344,265

Median household income: $123,032

12. Troy, MI

Population: 90,584

Median home value: $396,774

Median household income: $120,757

11. Cary, NC

Population: 182,416

Median home value: $570,890

Median household income: $136,700

10. Sugar Land, TX

Population: 114,818

Median home value: $431,815

Median household income: $140,511

9. Frisco, TX

Population: 229,028

Median home value: $627,426

Median household income: $152,749

8. Leander, TX

Population: 81,757

Median home value: $495,712

Median household income: $143,568

7. Rochester Hills, MI

Population: 77,520

Median home value: $388,231

Median household income: $119,938

6. Hoover, AL

Population: 91,649

Median home value: $382,915

Median household income: $104,005

5. Johns Creek, GA

Population: 78,408

Median home value: $588,835

Median household income: $167,051

4. Ankeny, IA

Population: 78,414

Median home value: $331,417

Median household income: $107,871

3. Flower Mound, TX

Population: 77,576

Median home value: $553,334

Median household income: $167,151

2. Fishers, IN

Population: 102,895

Median home value: $405,882

Median household income: $136,502

1. Carmel, IN

Population: 103,768

Median home value: $477,625

Median household income: $144,615