Formerly a booming manufacturing town, Beloits local developers have invested in preserving and expanding the citys cultural offerings. Its Lane Avenue shopping district offers plenty of local shopping options, while the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival draws around 25,000 people each year. Here, were highlighting the top 25 best places to live in the Midwest based on our research. Creve Coeur stands out amongst the many St. Louis suburbs with its medical expertise. - Population: 27,419 - Median home value: $561,700 (84% own) - Median household income: $82,500. - Median rent: $1,125 (26% rent) - Median household income: $72,903. Winona is named for the daughter of Chief Wapasha, 1-800-Fun-Town sincerely, literally, and genuinely is their phone number, The Ultimate First Time Homeowner's Guide. Frankenmuth isnt some sort of freaky monster town (Ill pause briefly for someone in the comments section to say, Actually, its the monsters CREATORs town!). Rolling fields of wheat, deep blue lakes and friendly people? I can't open my mouth without saying a curse word or two. We' Could You Live in the Midwest? | HowStuffWorks This Grand Rapids suburb is full of nature access thanks to Reeds Lake and Fish Lake. Pack Your Bags! ", - Population: 1,834 Viewers of the buzzy Hulu series Little Fires Everywhere might recognize this Cleveland suburb as its central location, but it has a much longer history. The city is also home to several familiar favorites companies like International Dairy Queen, The Toro Company, Ceridian and HealthPartners are all headquartered here. Check it out! - Median household income: $65,387. Your home city will always play a part in who you are, but maybe there's another city out there that's better suite. - Population: 4,436 - Median home value: $348,800 (82% own) - Median rent: $976 (53% rent) - Population: 14,039 If it all goes smoothly, AI could be doling out medical advice (with oversight from a physician) in . - Median home value: $349,400 (77% own) Highly educated and innovative residents help make Olathe one of the best places in the Midwest to live. Every year, Northville celebrates its heritage with the long-running Heritage Festival event. My heart has a fifth chamber, reserved just for Galena. The strong economy is among the many reasons Grand Rapids is one of the best places to live in the Midwest, with big companies like grocery store chain Meijers choosing the city for its headquarters and remote workers drawn by the affordable housing and finding additional perks. They say home is where the heart is, and maybe that's true, but that doesn't mean that it's the place you're meant to live in forever. It hosts the arts and crafts-focused Greentree Festival each September, as well as the National Museum of Transportation and the Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum. - Median household income: $87,433. - Median home value: $409,100 (89% own) Apart from offering an accessible gateway to downtown Milwaukee, Cedarburg's local economy also benefits significantly from tourism. With a diversified economy, affordable housing options, a strong educational system, excellent parks and recreation, and a thriving arts and entertainment scene, its no wonder Lawrence, KS, finds itself ranked among the best places to live in the Midwest. The amount of culture in the Midwest is astounding. - Median rent: $1,508 (6% rent) - Median rent: $1,016 (24% rent) Residents enjoy a close-knit, small-town community vibe with all the perks of easy access to a bustling, big city. It's important to be polite at all times! [7] => 109200 - Population: 120,641 (Yes, that means a friendly robot can deliver your TikTok-worthy takeout order!). Cincy magazine also ranked it as the second-best city suburb thanks to its low crime rate, in addition to those other factors. This Kansas City suburb is within commuting distance of downtown Kansas City, while also employing Shawnee locals, thanks to Bayer Healthcare's Shawnee offices. - Median rent: $902 (24% rent) - Median household income: $50,909. Satellite imagery via Mapbox, Maxar, NASA and the U . Which Midwestern City Should You Move To? Bettendorf is part of what's known as the "Quad Cities" metropolitan area, which encompasses several cities around the Mississippi River in Iowa and Illinois. QUIZ: Where Should I Live? The Best City For You | Renovated It also hosts many college students, since it's home to the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus. Plus, traveling be it walking through the communitys districts or traveling outside the city is simple, making Oak Park one of the best places to live in the Midwest. If you're what Midwesterners call a "coastie" a person from the East Coast or West Coast you might think that you could easily survive living in the Midwest. - Median home value: $376,400 (80% own) It also employs a number of residents at the headquarters for Kohler kitchen and bath products and an Acuity Insurance Campus, and is part of the larger Sheboygan, Wisconsin area. Move to one of the states above! - Median rent: $1,107 (21% rent) - Median home value: $488,700 (76% own) - Median rent: $1,589 (34% rent) You may also like: Do You Know Your State Fish? Friends, Granville is charming as all heck. Business Insider included Elm Grove on its 2014 list of the best suburbs in the U.S., citing its low crime rates, consistently high family incomes, and quality schools. When you picture the Midwest, what do you think of? - Median household income: $82,656, Located close to the city of Cedar Rapids, Mount Vernon's hip, artsy vibe helped it make Budget Travel's list of the coolest American small towns. For more amazing American quiz action, test your knowledge of Dallas, Texas, find out how much you know about US Presidents, or see what you can remember about US history! - Median home value: $351,400 (73% own) - Population: 42,155 Whether you were born and raised where the corn meets the Great Lakes or you're a coastal dweller trying to test your knowledge of the "flyover" states, this quiz is going to be tough, because it covers every nuance of Midwestern lingo. The suburban town employs quite a few people through Sage Communications and the Henry Ford Medical Center. Located near the Twin Cities, the town provides residents with access to jobs at United Healthcare, Best Buy and General Mills, just a few major companies with roots nearby. - Median household income: $117,300. Situated along the Iowa River, the home to University of Iowa is much more than your typical college town. Trump's latest attack addresses DeSantis' overseas trips to the U.K., Israel, Florida's Covid-19 record, and polling support for the 2024 Presidential race. - Population: 29,017 However, the in-migration has left the state with 130,000+ new residents. - Median household income: $97,048. - Population: 4,454 - Median rent: $1,481 (24% rent) - Median household income: $63,956. Royal Oak began 2022 with $200 million in new investment, and city leaders recently adopted a Sustainability & Climate Action Plan to significantly reduce greenhouse admissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero status by 2050. - Median rent: $1,114 (14% rent) QUIZ. - Median home value: $360,400 (90% own) - Median household income: $178,000. - Median home value: $298,400 (45% own) It's a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa, and has experienced growth thanks to an Apple Inc. data center campus in the works. - Median home value: $447,100 (90% own) Around seven-in-ten Americans living in the West (69%) say affordable housing availability is a major problem locally. - Population: 88,717 The West Coast is the best coast. - Population: 34,570 - Median home value: $169,500 (46% own) I've never done that. Kitchn is a source of inspiration for a happier, healthier life in your kitchen. - Population: 15,632 Despite an honest attempt to search for more great things about the East Coast in a dedicated post, several readers actually proceeded to bash the West Coast instead! It hosts concerts at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, offers an outdoor museum through Conner Prairie, and has an extensive park through Flat Fork Creek Part, just to name a few. The Midwest is also a great example of the United States' diversity. While its entertainment options run the gamut, the city also offers affordable housing options for a variety of tastes and budgets, making it one of the best places to live in the Midwest. - Median rent: $1,599 (21% rent) iStock/Sean Pavone Quiz: Can You Tell the Difference Between ChatGPT and a Doctor? - MSN Life in Grand Rapids, MI, is, indeed, grand! - Median rent: $1,285 (19% rent) The city has a low crime rate, high community engagement (residents are always coming together to support an important cause), and volunteer opportunities, making it one of the best places to live in the Midwest. - Median home value: $407,500 (79% own) - Median home value: $286,600 (73% own) The nearly 198,000 residents who call Grand Rapids home have easy access to golf courses, fishing streams, beaches and an airport. Errands can almost always be accomplished on foot, and near downtown are the Metra and Harlem Green Line stations. Town and Country isn't just one of the wealthiest towns in St. Louis or Missouriit's also one of the wealthiest towns in the country. Temperatures struggled to make it much above 50 degrees Tuesday afternoon, warming only to 51 degrees in Rockford. We'd venture to say that the top reason why people move to the Midwest in the first place is its affordability. The States With the Most Small Businesses, master plan that "allows for planned growth, Named after a town near New York's Finger Lakes, Gaslight Village, a bustling business district, What American Landmarks Looked like Under Construction, second-largest city within the Kansas City, best places to live in the state of Missouri, 90 percent of residents voting Democratic, Movoto.com ranked Glendale as the best place, The Most and Least Healthy States in America, SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Trump Ramps up Attacks on DeSantis: 'Dropping Like a Rock', Russian Strikes on Pavlohrad Aim to Hamper Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Greg Abbott Criticized for Response to Texas Shooting: 'A New Low', Democrat Sold First Republic Stock, Bought JP Morgan Before Collapse, Conservative Influencers Struggle With Countering Biden's Messaging. - Population: 26,259 Spaced 20 minutes from Cincinnati, Blue Ash places a high value on safe suburban life, with a 24-hour police force, firefighting team, and medical emergency line. Founded by German missionaries, the location was selected in part because it reminded the settlers of their native Bavaria, with rolling hills and the Cass River running through town. Minneapolis, MN, ranks as one of the best places to live in the Midwest partly because of its innovative economy that touches a breadth of industries from software to renewable energy. This town, located just north of the border of Wisconsin and Illinois, was a destination for many African-Americans during the Great Migration. With highly rated public schools and a cozy suburban feel, Ottawa Hills stands on its own as a place to build a life in Ohio. The suburb hosts jobs courtesy of the big companies Electronic Theater Controls and PPD, and is even home to the National Mustard Museum. Rothfus, speaking at a conservative conference in Pennsylvania, noted the governor's dad grew up in an old . You may also like: Best Counties for Retirees in America, - Population: 63,900 - Median home value: $480,500 (83% own) - Median rent: $1,236 (11% rent) - Median home value: $261,500 (78% own) Also, last I checked, it had a population of less than . When you click "begin", you'll start seeing descriptions of two hypothetical cities. Here, were highlighting the top 25 best places to live in the Midwest based on our research. Good news: With a little help from AI, it's shockingly easy to match yourself with the one place you'll be happiest living in based on really important life factors, like your household income . - Median home value: $367,000 (98% own) It's also eco-friendly, since it's recognized as a Tree City U.S.A. town. Located around eight miles from Detroit, Gross Pointe comprises several affluent neighborhoods near Lake St. Clair. ", - Population: 35,517 The North Shore suburb was originally created by a Scottish real estate professional as a "country estate" community, and was named for the Scottish village of the same name. - Population: 21,066 This means slews of life-changing patents are coming out of this city every year. - Population: 11,066 The University of Michigan provides a robust and homegrown talent pipeline for healthcare and tech sectors, and the colleges presence keeps the city young at heart. If you want to put your Midwestern assumptions to the test, don't hesitate: take this quiz! The researchers say the medical community should start phase one clinical trials immediately. - Median household income: $122,682. The U.S.: States in the Midwest - Map Quiz Game: The Midwest is often referred to America's heartland, in part because of its historical role as a producer of agricultural products, and in part because of its symbolic importance. It also provides easy access to downtown St. Louis, with . - Median household income: $149,119. Those who live in the Midwest get to partake in rich local traditions, such as ice fishing, Sunday cornhole, euchre tournaments and hayrides. It was also ranked one of America's Top 20 Creative Class Cities in 2015 by Bloomberg. - Median home value: $300,800 (85% own) A lot of congestion is there on I-88 into the city. The communitys rapid growth can be witnessed in places like the Nickel Plate District, which is the citys cultural heart and home to farmers markets, community concerts and festivals. - Median household income: $132,853. The suburb has one of the most highly regarded K-12 education systems in the country, as well as an extensive retail district called The Village. Located on the Mississippi River, Winona has a rich Native American history, its land being of the Dakota Nationin fact, Winona is named for the daughter of Chief Wapasha. - Median household income: $126,875. It also lies near a number of educational institutions, like the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University. At work, when dealing with the elderly and on dates, In professional situations (or in any situation where you're being scrutinized). But is that true? Its official city motto commits to "A Proud Past, A Bright Future. Nearly half of those, however, live in and around Chicago. Its official website also details a master plan that "allows for planned growth that preserves wooded areas and open space, and protects our waterways. - Median household income: $91,886. We then leverage that expertise to develop city rankings for a range of topics including small towns, college towns and our annual Top 100 Best Places to Live. - Median home value: $347,900 (76% own) Since 2018, there have been increases across demographic groups in the shares who say that the availability of . Located outside the Ohio state capital of Columbus, the town of Bexley offers plenty of outdoor activity through Driving Park, Wolfe Park, and Alum Creek. Located just seven wiles from Chicago's downtown Loop, Oak Park is a great place for the artsit features the Oak Park Festival Theatre, Circle Theatre, Momenta dance company, and more. - Median rent: $1,225 (36% rent) - Median household income: $250,001. "People [in Edina] have a high expectation of success, no matter what the endeavor," lifelong resident Ryan Lund told the Star Tribune. Livability explores what makes small-to-medium sized cities great places to live. Quiz: Where should I live? | Find your new home now! - Median rent: $1,353 (27% rent) - Population: 1,915 Plus, the citys extensive collection of strong sectors, including business, manufacturing, health care, insurance, agriculture and transportation, make it easy for residents to find a career theyll love, making Lincoln one of the best places to live in the Midwest.