Buffalo remains on top of U.S. News’ best places to live for 2024-2025

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo has dropped slightly in the rankings, but we’re still in a pretty good place in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Places to Live 2024-25: No. 34 of 150.

The new No. 1 is Naples, Florida, which last year ranked No. 6 on the list comparing 150 U.S. metropolises in terms of value, desirability, job market and quality of life . The former No. 1 – Green Bay, Wisconsin – fell to No. 12.

In last year’s list, Buffalo ranked 27th — but the drop to 34th place may have less to do with Buffalo than with a change in how U.S. News calculates its scores.

U.S. News has moved from metro-based data to using city-based data, the organization said in a press release, and adjusted its rating to emphasize value and the labor market local. As a result, Southern cities moved into the top 10, and the top 25 was dominated by the Southeast and Midwest.