All articles tagged with #livability
Estonia ranks as the world's best country to live in 2026, narrowly ahead of Singapore and Malaysia, according to a new composite index. The United States places 107th out of 184 nations, trailing India and Brazil due to high living costs despite strong education and business metrics. Africa accounts for 13 of the bottom 20 countries, with Afghanistan and Yemen ranking last globally.
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2026 livability ranking of 173 cities keeps Copenhagen at No. 1, driven by strong scores across stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. The top 10 features Tokyo, Vancouver, Adelaide, Osaka, Geneva, Zurich, Sydney, Melbourne, Vienna, and Copenhagen, with most cities excelling in education (often 100) and healthcare. Western Europe leads regions, while U.S. cities largely miss the top spots; Tokyo’s climb into the top 10 and Zurich’s slight drop are highlighted trends.
Copenhagen has been named the world’s most livable city for 2026 by the Economist Intelligence Unit, retaining the top spot for a second year and beating Vienna. Melbourne, Sydney, Zurich, and Geneva fill out the top 10 in the 173-city ranking, which considers stability, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and culture. New York climbs to 66th, Vancouver leads North America at No. 9, and Gulf cities slide, while Asia shows healthcare-driven gains. Western Europe remains strongest overall, and the global average livability score holds steady.
Paige Madison moved from Vermont to Copenhagen for a dream job, expecting a high quality of life, but found the harsh winters, high costs, social barriers, and feelings of isolation challenging, leading her to leave after two years and realize the importance of community and belonging.
According to a study by Niche, San Diego and Carlsbad have been ranked among the top 100 best cities to live in the U.S., with San Diego at No. 52 and Carlsbad at No. 23. Factors such as public schools, nightlife, diversity, weather, and outdoor activities contributed to their high grades, with both cities receiving an A overall. Residents of San Diego enjoy an urban suburban mix, while Carlsbad offers a dense suburban feel, with most residents owning their homes in both areas.
A recent study by the American Association of Retired People (AARP) ranks North Platte as a highly livable community, with good access to amenities and civic engagement, but it struggles with high obesity rates, impacting residents' health. The study suggests that 79.1% of residents have access to exercise opportunities as a potential remedy. Various weight loss options, including dietary changes, physical activity, behavioral modifications, and medical interventions, are discussed, emphasizing the importance of finding a personalized plan with the guidance of healthcare providers to achieve and maintain weight loss.
Massachusetts has been ranked the best state in America for 2023, edging out New Jersey for the top spot in WalletHub's latest ranking. The state ranked first in education and health, and also received high rankings for quality of life, safety, and its economy. Massachusetts recently passed a state budget that guarantees free lunch for all public school students, funded in part by a new millionaire's tax.
A woman in Portland's Lents neighborhood wanted to start a Saturday market, but a homeless camp on her block continues to grow, blocking the site. The city told her event permits can't be used to move encampments or to deter them. The situation highlights the consistent conflicts found in Portland between livability issues for residents and the inability to get the chronically homeless housed. One camper said he's been homeless in Portland for 8 years and is open to moving to another spot to facilitate the market. He's interested in going to a shelter but hasn't taken the steps yet. The woman hopes to tour shelters herself and help get broken lives to better places.