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Columbia Named Best Place to Live in the Northeast
Columbia, Maryland continues to be a magnet for individuals and families seeking a better quality of life. Ranked #1 Best Place to Live in the Northeast in Livability’s 2024 ‘Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S.’ Report, Columbia’s location in the heart of Howard Country is highlighted as a distinguishing factor. Its proximity to Washington, D.C., and communities filled with nature, culture, and innovation help the city stand out in a sea of over 2,000 studied. Acknowledged for its great schools, focus on sustainability, and pristine parks (including our own Color Burst Park,) we love seeing Columbia rise to the top and are happy to be a part of it.
Livability graded cities across the country factoring in eight different categories: Amenities, Economy, Education, Environment, Health, Housing & Cost of Living, Safety, Transportation, and LivScore (a proprietary algorithm that weights all the categories.) Columbia ranked second in the Northeast region in 2023 with a LivScore of 828. Shifts in leading indicators used for the study boosted Columbia’s ranking to 874 this year, a metric that ties it for second-best city overall and secures its #1 ranking among Northeastern cities.
Columbia also ranked highest in the Northeast in categories for Education, Health, and Economy. It tied for first place in the Transportation category and ranked second for Housing & Cost of Living.