South Florida living is the best living! Finding the ideal place to move to requires taking into account tons of factors, from lifestyle preferences to daily necessities and proximity to key spots.
Well, U.S. News & World Report just released its list of the “Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2026-2027,” based on affordability, quality of life and desirability, with one Broward County city securing a spot near the top! Keep reading to learn more.
The #1 best place to live in Florida, according to U.S. News
If you’re wondering what the best spot to live in Florida is (and the #14 best nationally), it’s Parkland! The Miami metro area city is Florida’s highest-ranked on this year’s list of 250, followed by Palm Harbor at #62 and Weston at #70. It made quite the jump from being in the previous year’s #59 slot.
Here’s how the top 15 ranking goes:
- Carmel, Indiana
- Fishers, Indiana
- Flower Mound, Texas
- Ankeny, Iowa
- Johns Creek, Georgia
- Hoover, Alabama
- Rochester Hills, Michigan
- Leander, Texas
- Frisco, Texas
- Sugar Land, Texas
- Cary, North Carolina
- Troy, Michigan
- League City, Texas
- Parkland, Florida
- Buffalo Grove, Illinois
What the report says about Parkland
About 36,000 people call Parkland home, offering a serene, nature-rich environment while remaining close to major metropolitan hubs.
With a median household income of $223,200 and a low unemployment rate of 2.53%, local earnings help offset the housing costs (which sit at a median home value of $896,250). Other notable stats in the report include an average commute time of 30 minutes and a median monthly rent of $2,795.
Methodology
To make the list, U.S. News & World Report analyzes data from federal sources — including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Reserve, FBI and FEMA — and combines it with public sentiment surveys. This data, taken from Americans’ preferences on what the most important factor is when choosing where to live from February 2026, is categorized into four indexes: quality of life, value, desirability and job market.
Whether you’re planning to move or just keeping an eye on the local market, it’s nice to know that a Florida city ranks among the best places to settle down!
