This City Was Just Ranked the No. 1 Livable Metro in the U.S.

"No, you're not imagining things: Everything really is more expensive now. The CBS News Price Tracker shows that, while inflation has cooled, food costs are up about 18 percent since 2022, and certain goods like tools and hardware are up a whopping 112 percent. So if you're looking to make an impact on your finances in the year to come, you may want to consider moving to a metro area, where the cost of living doesn't come at the expense of the quality of life."

"The metro area, RentCafe.com explained in its findings, won out thanks to its "exceptional quality of life." It added, "Washington, D.C.'s focus on wellness and ongoing revitalization efforts helped it climb from seventh place last year to the top spot." The company also highlighted the area's "powerful networking opportunities: Leading the nation with a social association rate twice that of runner-up Huntington, West Virginia, renters here have access to more than 2,000 professional membership associations to connect with peers.""

Inflation has raised consumer prices: food costs are about 18 percent higher since 2022, and tools and hardware rose roughly 112 percent. Contiguous metropolitan areas with populations of at least 300,000 were evaluated across socioeconomics, quality of life, and location and community. Washington, D.C. ranked highest due to exceptional quality of life, wellness focus, revitalization efforts, and dominant networking opportunities, including over 2,000 professional associations and a social association rate double that of runner-up Huntington, West Virginia. Washington's cost of living exceeds the national average by 29 percent. Portland, Maine, ranked second for membership associations, farmers' markets, universities, healthcare access, steady jobs, and income gains.

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