Huntsville is #1 on Livability’s Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. list for 2026. (The Bama Buzz)

Alabama continues to be recognized for its low cost of living, opportunities for career advancement, living amenities and more. Today, there is even more to celebrate: Two Alabama cities received nods from a national publication, which named them among the top 10 places to live in the country.

This is the 13th year the group has published its highly-anticipated 2026 Top 100 Best Places to Live list, making it the first time more than one Alabama city has cracked the top 10:

Huntsville, Alabama
Carmel, Indiana
Sugarland, Texas
Naperville, Illinois
Plano, Texas
Birmingham, Alabama
Troy, Michigan
Overland Park, Kansas
Round Rock, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas

Huntsville also made the list in 2025, although it wasn’t named in the top 10.

As the Rocket City makes headlines more and more each year for its defense and federal jobs, out-of-towners are starting to take notice of Huntsville’s quality of life and all it has to offer.

“It isn’t all space exploration and rocket science here; for the 233,615 people living in Huntsville, the city stays down-to-earth. Those who relocate to this fast-growing city are welcomed by an excellent quality of life, with a mix of housing options from downtown digs to golf-course living.”
Livability, Why You’ll Love Living in Huntsville, AL

Also of note to Livability were the companies that call Birmingham home. Earlier this year, Forbes placed eight Birmingham companies on its “Best Employers” lists, including Regions, Hibbett Sports, UAB, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and Altec.

“Those hoping to move to enhance their career won’t be disappointed. The market is robust and diverse, with opportunities across health care, finance, technology and education.

“Several organizations around town, such as REV Birmingham and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, promote inclusive growth. Welcoming neighborhoods, quality schools and affordability only add to Birmingham’s long list of family-friendly accolades.”
Livability, Why You’ll Love Living in Birmingham, AL

About the Livability ‘Best Places to Live’ list

Livability’s 2026 Top 100 Best Places to Live list showcases the nation’s most vibrant and livable small to mid-sized cities. This list, now in its 13th year of publication, empowers users to customize the set of places based on their individualized priorities, from health and cost of living to entertainment and the local job market.

The publication partnered with the data experts at Applied Geographic Solutions to analyze more than 2,000 U.S. cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000. The ranking is curated using nearly 100 data points across eight broad categories: