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U.S. News & World Report: Boston is one of the top 20 best places to live in the country. Tell us what you think.

The Hub nabbed the 18th spot out of the 150 most populous cities. One New England city made the top 10. Find out which one at realestate.boston.com.

boston skyline
A view of Boston Harbor, the downtown skyline, and beyond. Gray Malin

By Kelly Garrity -- Boston.com correspondent

The Standells may have been a little biased when they wrote “Dirty Water,” everyone’s favorite ode to Boston, but they weren’t too far off when they sang, “Oh, you’re the number one place.”

According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 findings on the “Best Places to Live,” Boston is in fact one of the top cities in the country. The Hub nabbed the 18th spot out of the 150 most populous cities in the country, coming just behind Madison, Wis., and just ahead of Washington, D.C. 

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“Boston often feels like a small town with all the perks of city life,” the report said. The city’s rich history, diverse culinary offerings, proximity to top schools and medical facilities, and championship sports teams all add to the city’s allure. 

The only other New England city to make it into the top 20 was Portland, Maine, which ranked eighth overall. The charming coastal city has even caught the eye of Bostonians, many of whom have migrated there in search of more affordable housing options. 

Two other Massachusetts cities, Worcester and Springfield, were on the overall list, coming in 69th and 117th respectively, as were five other New England cities: Hartford (No. 47), Manchester, N.H. (No. 60), Worcester (No. 69), Providence (No. 105), and New Haven. 

Here are the top 20 best places to live, according to the report:

  1. Huntsville, Ala.
  2. Colorado Springs
  3. Green Bay, Wis.
  4. Boulder, Colo.
  5. San Jose, Calif.
  6. Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
  7. Fayetteville, Ark.
  8. Portland, Maine
  9. Sarasota, Fla.
  10. San Francisco
  11. Ann Arbor, Mich.
  12. Naples, Fla.
  13. Austin, Texas
  14. Des Moines, Iowa 
  15. Boise
  16. Grand Rapids, Mich.
  17. Madison, Wis.
  18. Boston
  19. Washington, D.C.
  20. Melbourne, Fla. 

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