Portland ranks among the country's top 5 cities for quality of life, says US News
Photo / Peter Van Allen
A view of downtown Portland and Back Cove, from the top of 218 Washington, a new condo development in the East Bayside neighborhood.
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Portland, which frequently ranks high on lists of the country's most desirable dwelling places, has done it again.
The city placed No. 5 in a U.S. News & World Report ranking of the top 25 cities nationwide with the highest quality of life.
The list, released Monday, measures how satisfied each metro area's residents are with their daily lives, based on a national survey, and factors in criteria such as health care availability, crime rates, quality of education and average commuting time. U.S. News evaluated the largest 150 metros in compiling the list.
Portland scored 7.4 on the magazine's 10-point scale for quality of life. The city came in just below San Jose, Calif., which also received a score of 7.4 but ranked No. 4, and above Boston, which scored 7.3 and was No. 6.
Ann Arbor, Mich., topped the list and New York City came in at No. 25. (For the complete rankings, see sidebar.)
In describing Portland, U.S. News wrote: "Maine's largest metro area and economic hub features cobblestone streets and ships sheltered within the island-specked waters of Casco Bay. Artful living and farm-to-table dining are not just trends in Portland — they have been a way of life for years.
"A 'do it yourself' spirit resonates throughout the region ... All around Portland, you'll find dozens of local entrepreneurs offering homegrown or homemade products, from mittens to coffee."
Many of the top 25 cities shared similar attractions: vibrant culture, a mix of recreation, natural beauty. U.S. News praised Portland as a "great region for those who enjoy the outdoors" and said, "The metro area also has a thriving music and nightlife scene with crowds buzzing along Congress Street and Old Port almost any night of the week."
However, the magazine noted some of the city's all-too-familiar challenges.
"Though more people discover its charms, Portland is at a crossroads on moving forward," U.S. News said. "The new development is often met with opposition, while demand for affordable housing is high. An aging rental and housing stock combined with a tight market on mid-tier units have left middle-income earners struggling to settle in Portland."
Over the years, Portland has had high numbers on numerous rankings. The city placed No. 7 last year in a more general ranking by U.S. News & World Report of the "best places to live," and was No. 8 in 2022 and 2021.
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