The 2018 Home Relocation Guide

America’s a big place, and if you’re not sure where to move or what state to buy a home in, the internet can have you pretty confused about home relocation.

It seems every day there’s a new “best of” list to hit the web. Whether it’s “the best places for commuters,” “the best cities for families,” “the safest cities,” or “the most dangerous” ones, there’s a lot of information to process and even more decisions to make.

Not sure where to look on your next home buying journey? Want help honing in on the right place to relocate? We’ve rounded up the most useful of these lists and summed them in this handy home relocation guide.

Most Livable Cities (USA Today)

This list factored in crime rates, local economic performance, housing affordability, poverty rates, and more.

1. Carmel, Indiana
2. Centennial, Colorado
3. Arvada, Colorado
4. Johns Creek, Georgia
5. Highlands Ranch, Colorado
6. Dale City, Virginia
7. Naperville, Illinois
8. O’Fallon, Missouri
9. Columbia, Maryland
10. Raleigh, North Carolina

Best Commutes (Realtor.com)

Want an easy drive to and from work? This list reveals the country’s best cities for commuters.

1. Eugene, Oregon
2. Corpus Christi, Texas
3. Wichita, Kansas
4. Reno, Nevada
5. Brownsville, Texas
6. Provo, Utah
7. Fort Wayne, Indiana
8. Huntsville, Alabama
9. Tallahassee, Florida
10. Augusta, Georgia

Worst Commutes (Realtor.com)

Hate getting stuck in traffic? Avoid buying in these high-commute cities.

1. New York, New York
2. Los Angeles, California
3. Washington, D.C.
4. San Francisco, California
5. Boston, Massachusetts
6. Chicago, Illinois
7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8. Atlanta, Georgia
9. Seattle, Washington
10. Providence, Rhode Island

Safest Cities (NeighborhoodScout.com)

Want to make sure your family and belongings are safe in your new home? With low rates of both violent and property crime, these are some of the safest cities in America.

1. Ridgefield, Connecticut
2. Bergenfield, New Jersey
3. Franklin, Massachusetts
4. Lexington, Massachusetts
5. Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
6. Zionsville, Indiana
7. Buffalo Grove, Illinois
8. Weston, Florida
9. Lake in the Hills, Illinois
10. Billerica, Massachusetts

Most Dangerous Cities (NeighborhoodScout.com)

High rates of violent crime have put these cities at the top of America’s most dangerous list.

1. Monroe, Louisiana
2. Bessemer, Alabama
3. East St. Louis, Illinois
4. Camden, New Jersey
5. Detroit, Michigan
6. Louis, Missouri
7. Wilmington, Delaware
8. Alexandria, Louisiana
9. Memphis, Tennessee
10. West Memphis, Arkansas

Best Cities Overall (Money)

Lots of job opportunities, good schools, and affordability make these some of the nation’s best overall cities for home relocation.

1. Fishers, Indiana
2. Allen, Texas
3. Monterey Park, California
4. Franklin, Tennessee
5. Olive Branch, Mississippi
6. Dickinson, North Dakota
7. Lone Tree, Colorado
8. North Arlington, New Jersey
9. Schaumburg, Illinois
10. Bozeman, Montana

Most Competitive Markets (Builder Magazine)

Don’t want to come up against tons of competition? Sick of bidding wars? Then avoid these cities, known for their highly competitive housing markets.

1. San Francisco, California
2. San Jose, California,
3. Denver, Colorado
4. San Diego, California
5. Ventura, California
6. Los Angeles, California
7. Seattle, Washington
8. Honolulu, Hawaii
9. Portland, Oregon
10. Sacramento, California

Best States for Millennials (GOBankingRates)

By factoring in housing prices along with local millennial incomes, this list reveals the best spots for millennials to buy a home.

1. West Virginia
2. Ohio
3. Arkansas
4. Indiana
5. Iowa
6. Kentucky
7. Kansas
8. Michigan
9. Missouri
10. Mississippi

Worst States for Millennials (GOBankingRates)

Housing affordability and incomes just don’t match up in these states, virtually blocking millennials out of the home buying market.

1. Hawaii
2. Washington, D.C.
3. California
4. Massachusetts
5. Colorado
6. Oregon
7. Washington
8. New York
9. Utah
10. Connecticut

Best Cities for Retirement (U.S. News and World Report)

By taking into account housing affordability, taxes, jobs, local health care facilities, and overall desirability among adults 45 and older, U.S. News and World Report determined the nation’s 100 best spots to retire.

1. Sarasota, Florida
2. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
3. San Antonio, Texas
4. Grand Rapid, Michigan
5. El Paso, Texas
6. McAllen, Texas
7. Daytona Beach, Florida
8. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
9. Austin, Texas
10. Washington, D.C.

Best Cities to Find a Job (Fortune)

Consider this your very own job relocation guide. Looking to change careers or start a new job? These are the best places to do it.

1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2. Indianapolis, Indiana
3. Kansas City, Missouri
4. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
5. Louis, Missouri
6. Memphis, Tennessee
7. Columbus, Ohio
8. Cincinnati, Ohio
9. Cleveland, Ohio
10. Louisville, Kentucky

Need help finding your home relocation destination? There’s a ranking out there for just about every need, budget, and preference. Ready to relocate and buy a home in one of these cities? Get in touch with Embrace Home Loans today.