Arlington has once again ranked among the best “cities” to live in the United States — and an Arlington neighborhood stands at No. 1.
The county has maintained its No. 4 spot in the 2025 Niche ranking of the nation’s most liveable neighborhoods. That’s the same spot it held in 2024, but is below its No. 2 ranking in 2023.
Meanwhile, Colonial Village, the 1930s-era garden condo and apartment community near Courthouse, continues to hold its No. 1 spot as the best place to live in the country.
Niche gives Arlington an “A+” in the categories of public schools, nightlife, health and fitness and “good for families,” and an “A” in the categories of commute and outdoor activities.
Its lowest grades are a C+ for housing and cost of living.
Colonial Village received similar grades. The historic neighborhood next to Rosslyn and Courthouse is home to nearly 3,000 people.
Two other local neighborhoods also ranked highly on Niche’s “Best Places to Live in America” list. Nearby Radnor/Fort Myer Heights stands at No. 18, while Ballston/Virginia Square ranks as No. 17.
Ballston/Virginia Square has moved up in the rankings compared to last year, when it failed to crack the top 25. Radnor/Fort Myer Heights, however, has fallen from its No. 8 spot last year.
A complete press release on this year’s rankings is below.
Niche, the country’s leading platform connecting students and families with colleges and schools, proudly announces the release of its 2025 Best Places to Live in America rankings. Celebrating its 11th year, Niche rankings and profiles remain a trusted resource, guiding over 70 million people annually in making big life decisions, from choosing where to live to selecting schools.
This year’s rankings included 230 cities and over 18,000 locations across America. Texas emerged as the most affordable state, securing the most spots in the top 100 for Best Cities to Buy a House and Cities with the Lowest Cost of Living. The top four spots from the 2024 Best Cities to Live in America retained their rankings, with Irvine, CA, entering the top five for the first time.
2025 Best Cities to Live in America:
- Naperville, IL
- The Woodlands, TX
- Cambridge, MA
- Arlington, VA
- Irvine, CA
2025 Best Places to Live in America:
- Colonial Village, VA
- Atlantic Station, GA
- Chesterbrook, PA
- Harbour Island, FL
- City Center, CA
“Where you live shapes so many aspects of your life, from career opportunities to the sense of community you feel,” said Luke Skurman, CEO and founder of Niche. “At Niche, we are proud to provide rankings that empower people to make informed decisions based on what matters most to them, whether that’s great schools, affordability, or access to parks and local businesses. For over a decade, families, homebuyers, and professionals have turned to Niche as a trusted resource, and we remain committed to helping people discover the best places to live with confidence.”
Niche creates the annual Best Places to Live rankings using data from sources such as the U.S. Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the CDC, combined with millions of resident reviews. Factors like affordability, the local housing market, neighborhood diversity, area public schools, walkability, and more are all considered. In addition to the national rankings, users can view the Best Places or Suburbs to Live rankings by state, metro area, or county. Specialized lists include Best for Families, Young Professionals, Homebuyers, Retirees, and more. Additionally, users now have access to a localized, best-in-class home search experience directly within Niche rankings via partnership with Homes.com.
More about the 2025 Best Places to Live in America rankings:
- To explore the full Places to Live rankings, visit: niche.com/places-to-live/rankings/
- To read more about the methodology, visit: niche.com/places-to-live/rankings/methodology/
- For families looking to find out more about schools within a city, see Niche K-12 school rankings: niche.com/k12/rankings/#bestbycity
