Take TIME's test to find out which state most . It makes it easy for residents to travel, offering three Metra commuter train stations, and is closely located to OHare and Midway international airports. And its a birders paradise, with the National Eagle Center and International Owl Center. Minneapolis, MN, ranks as one of the best places to live in the Midwest partly because of its innovative economy that touches a breadth of industries from software to renewable energy. Residents cant get enough of the citys local boutiques, delicious dining and drink options, and more. It's a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa, and has experienced growth thanks to an Apple Inc. data center campus in the works. Which one Could be the one you could live in? The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Best Place to Live, What a Budget of $300,000 or Less Will Get You in 10 Cities Across the Country, 6 Affordable Islands You Can Actually Live On, 10 Best Cities for Antique & Flea Market Lovers, 10 People On What Its Really Like to Leave NYC for a Smaller City, Courtesy of Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau. - Population: 7,837 As a lifelong Midwesterner, Ive sat awkwardly in the middle of the East Coast vs. West Coast debate, corn cob in hand and no stake in the game. It also employs plenty of people at the university's research and medical centers, and has an artsy downtown scene. - Median rent: $1,293 (21% rent) The North Shore suburb was originally created by a Scottish real estate professional as a "country estate" community, and was named for the Scottish village of the same name. - Population: 47,663 Its official website also details a master plan that "allows for planned growth that preserves wooded areas and open space, and protects our waterways. Kids start driving young, parents make a lot of "hotdish" and everybody, young or old, has strong opinions on the nearest college football team. Leinenkugel's. Brand Publisher. More and more Northwestern University graduates are planting their roots here after graduation. Very hot and humid summers with snowy winters. Although small less than 60,000 call Royal Oak home the town plays much bigger than its size with an award-winning school system, nearly 50 parks, trendy downtown shopping and dining, a major academic medical center, and a nationally recognized zoo, making it one of the best places to live in the Midwest. - Median rent: $1,233 (16% rent) - Median household income: $82,651. The city is known for its safety rating, making it the perfect place for families. Winona is named for the daughter of Chief Wapasha, 1-800-Fun-Town sincerely, literally, and genuinely is their phone number, The Ultimate First Time Homeowner's Guide. - Population: 23,912 Got a tip, kitchen tour, or other story our readers should see? Frankenmuth isnt some sort of freaky monster town (Ill pause briefly for someone in the comments section to say, Actually, its the monsters CREATORs town!). This Detroit suburb also sits near Lake St. Clair and the Canadian border. This city is here to convince you that the suburbs are cool. - Population: 1,624 - Median rent: $892 (47% rent) - Median household income: $135,514. Temperatures struggled to make it much above 50 degrees Tuesday afternoon, warming only to 51 degrees in Rockford. It's also one of the only suburbs to connect with both St. Paul and Minneapolis. Apart from offering an accessible gateway to downtown Milwaukee, Cedarburg's local economy also benefits significantly from tourism. - Population: 27,419 Pleasant Live hosted by Mike Heaton with guest Ray Vens The average home value is just $258,250, and residents can choose from beautiful apartments, condos, modest two-stories and even luxury homes. Also great about this city of nearly 100,000? - Median household income: $78,080. The family-friendly city of Leawood is notably the home of AMC Entertainment. Indiana. Population: 26,594. West Virginia is the most neurotic state, Utah is the most agreeable and the folks of Wisconsin are the country's most extroverted, a new study says. - Median rent: $1,266 (36% rent) - Population: 188,687 I moved out of my parent's house in January and have just found 3 larder beetles within a week, both in my kitchen. In Galena, you can shop for homemade soaps in a shop with creaking floors and gentle shopkeepers; assume your daily Sun Salutation while covered in goats; course down the slopes of Chestnut Mountain; and dine in a quiet, candlelit tavern amid the low murmur of pleasant diners. I use alternative curse words, like "dip.". - Median rent: $1,054 (27% rent) - Population: 4,436 Today, there are plenty of attractions that are flavored with the Old West, giving this charming historical town some serious edge. Plus, the city is home to fantastic eateries, shops and natural attractions. ", - Population: 35,517 Notably, the tiny Ohio suburb Sixteen Mile Stand was named for its exact proximity to the city of Cincinnati. The area is known for its live music, ranging from a summer concert series to punk bands playing at pizzerias and guitarists strumming at coffee shops. Livability named Madison, Wisconsin, Ann Arbor, Michigan . The affluent community of Bloomfield Township doesn't come cheapin 2014, it was named the most expensive place to live in Michigan. - Median rent: $1,213 (55% rent) - Median rent: $1,177 (18% rent) - Median rent: $2,688 (1% rent) - Median home value: $657,200 (99% own) It's got its own culture, customs and even unique language, as anybody who's ever said "Ope!" - Median rent: $1,172 (20% rent) Employment has grown at an annualized rate of 5.2% over the five years to 2022, overperforming the national average of 3.7%, according to IbisWorld. Around seven-in-ten Americans living in the West (69%) say affordable housing availability is a major problem locally. - Population: 8,711 It's largely populated by families, with well-regarded public schools and a liberal bent. Whether you were born and raised where the corn meets the Great Lakes or you're a coastal dweller trying to test your knowledge of the "flyover" states, this quiz is going to be tough, because it covers every nuance of Midwestern lingo. - Median household income: $63,956. I can't open my mouth without saying a curse word or two. The area boasts a slew of return-worthy coffee shops, breweries and restaurants. Launch Fishers, for instance, is a 52,000-square-foot coworking space for entrepreneurs and creators that has more than 600 members, making it the largest in the Midwest. This Grand Rapids suburb is full of nature access thanks to Reeds Lake and Fish Lake. - Population: 41,329 - Median home value: $251,700 (78% own) The city is for you. When you click "begin", you'll start seeing descriptions of two hypothetical cities. There's much fun to be had in this Midwestern city, too. Known for its great lakes, flat prairies, and fields of . We' What do you like the most out of the given options. - Median rent: $1,222 (22% rent) Yee-haw! As for outdoor activities, residents can find plenty of ways to stay active, like hiking the trails at the 150-acre Lyman Woods. to everything and everyone, even chairs I bump into. You enjoy socializing, pubs and tall buildings. - Median household income: $132,409. As local Lincoln Cafe owner Matt Steigerwald put it, "There's a certain amount of culture here that's not as unapproachable as in a larger city. - Median household income: $98,544. Pleasant Live: Mt. - Median home value: $286,600 (73% own) - Median rent: $1,048 (15% rent) Jayhawks are everywhere and seem to multiply during basketball season when the Rock Chalk chant flows out of Allen Fieldhouse as KU looks for another NCAA championship. - Median home value: $337,900 (97% own) - Median home value: $374,500 (58% own) Drury Hotels is headquartered there, too. - Population: 17,195 Meanwhile, it's 90 minutes from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and only three hours from Chicago. A Midwest gem, Cincinnati, OH, is a place where residential, business and entertainment combine to create quite an appealing lifestyle. The city combines architecture and history with artistic pizazz (think creative galleries and studios), delectable dining options and plenty of places to grab a cold beer or refreshing cocktail. Each year, Livability publishes our research-basedTop 100 Best Places to Live in America. The cost of living tends to be cheaper, and the people are often naturally friendly. I found 2 right on top of the carpet last Monday when I was filling my dog's food right there, and today (Saturday) I found one on his food mat. Skiing: No mountains necessary. - Median rent: $1,283 (17% rent) It offers residents fantastic medical care close to home (think Mercy Iowa City and University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics). - Median household income: $117,670. It also provides easy access to downtown St. Louis, with connection to the Interstate 170, U.S. Route 40, and Interstate 64 highways. You know that phrase "I'm so happy I live in ." Courtney Tracy on Instagram: "Happy Friday and Happy October. - Median rent: $1,149 (28% rent) It's also home to iconic architecture, such as the Jeffrey Park Mansion (home to the Ohio State University president), as well as the Ohio Governor's Mansion. You may also like: Best Places to Live on the East Coast, - Population: 13,764 Nearly half of those, however, live in and around Chicago. - Population: 6,455 It's known for two major annual festivalsthe July Buffalo Grove Invitational Fine Arts Festival, and the September Buffalo Grove Days Festival. Alternative. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing. Wow! QUIZ: Where Should I Live? Get The Answer! - Quizondo But is that true? It hosts concerts at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, offers an outdoor museum through Conner Prairie, and has an extensive park through Flat Fork Creek Part, just to name a few. Meanwhile, they're also located close enough to major urban areas that adults are easily able to commute into the city and access thousands of job opportunities. - Median home value: $279,600 (59% own) I live on the 2nd floor, if that's important. Oakwood sets itself apart due to its Department of Public Safetyunder its system, personnel working for it are certified as EMS officers, firefighters, and police officers. Do not hesitate anymore and start the quiz! The city is named for the Shawnee word for beautiful, and thanks to gorgeous rolling hills and scenic scapes, Olathe lives up to its name. More than 20,000 businesses, including the headquarters of Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies, have set up shop in the Omaha, NE metro area, which gives the city a strong economic edge. - Population: 18,445 A Gold Rush mining town, Deadwood had everything: gamblers, shootouts, Calamity Jane, and a pretty saloon lady whod drink a rancher under the table and then steal his gun and oxen. - Median home value: $348,800 (82% own) - Median rent: $1,462 (24% rent) - Median home value: $341,500 (93% own) - Median household income: $101,250. Just 25 miles west of the Windy Citys loop, Downers Grove, IL, has its own collection of unique offerings. - Population: 4,454 This St. Louis suburb has a rock claim to famethe cover for Head East's 1975 album Flat as a Pancake was photographed at its own Olivette Diner. Beloit is making a comeback. - Median home value: $423,200 (98% own) The Cleveland suburb of Solon may be close to a major city, but it's received plenty of accolades in its own right. Lawrence, Kansas is a hip town thanks to hosting two college campuses, the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University. It also features plenty of shopping at the Meridian Mall, as well close proximity to Michigan State University. Its the fourth-largest city in Kansas and one of the countrys fastest-growing cities. - Median household income: $116,867. (The center maintains tens of millions of satellite images of the Earths land surface, mapping everything from the planets minerals to catfish ponds). Let's find out. - Median home value: $222,200 (64% own) - Median rent: $1,107 (21% rent) Mind taking along a newbie? Wilmette's Romona Elementary School also received the National Blue Ribbon award from the U.S. Department of Education for its academic excellence. It's best-known for its Greenbelt Park, a trail and parks system that stretches throughout the entire community. How Well Do You Know Midwestern Lingo? | HowStuffWorks With nature and culture as brilliant and bountiful as its starlit sky, Galenas warmth will win you over. - Median rent: $840 (30% rent) If you're what Midwesterners call a "coastie" a person from the East Coast or West Coast you might think that you could easily survive living in the Midwest. It also features well-regarded public schools, and boasts a high percentage of home owners. It also features consistently well-regarded public schools, and a pedestrian-friendly community. Oh, and the citys multiple distinct neighborhoods each one has a different vibe allow residents to choose a place to live that best suits their personality and lifestyle. People who sac." In that case, we can point out these cities: Indianapolis, Indiana (Quality of life: 6.1) Fort Myers, Florida (Quality of life: 6.5) Reno, Nevada (Quality of life: 7.4) Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky (Quality of life: 6.9) Albany, New York (Quality of life: 7.2) These are the samples of great cities to live. The city is also home to several familiar favorites companies like International Dairy Queen, The Toro Company, Ceridian and HealthPartners are all headquartered here. I only apologize when I have done something wrong. This town, located just north of the border of Wisconsin and Illinois, was a destination for many African-Americans during the Great Migration. - Median household income: $97,048. Errands can almost always be accomplished on foot, and near downtown are the Metra and Harlem Green Line stations. - Median home value: $351,400 (73% own) While Ive only heard the tales (or at least, what they could remember) of the bars and nightlife from my Hawkeye cousins, I know for certain their breweries and restaurants rival what youd find in any major metropolitan city. - Median rent: $1,027 (36% rent) - Population: 5,559 - Median home value: $347,900 (76% own) [3] => 148155 - Population: 8,457 - Median rent: $758 (26% rent) A buzzy craft brewery scene and cool concepts such as the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, which hosts 20-plus restaurants and gourmet food vendors under a greenhouse-covered roof, also add to the allure. - Median home value: $169,500 (46% own) From Ohio to Nebraska, Minnesota to Oklahoma, the Midwest is an important region, filled with major cities like Chicago and Minneapolis as well as iconic small towns like Spring Green, Wisconsin and New Buffalo, Michigan. Located just north of Lake Winnebago along the shores of the Fox River is Appleton, WI, the cultural heart of the Fox Cities region. - Median household income: $116,438. - Median home value: $349,400 (77% own) Entrepreneurs will feel especially at home in Olathe. - Median home value: $278,500 (81% own) Bloomington is a growing city with a collection of enviable amenities. When you picture the Midwest, what do you think of? - Median household income: $154,738. You may also like: The States With the Most Small Businesses, - Population: 95,294 Get comfy and then read on to see if your hometown or potential new home made the list. Mac 'n' cheese that's a casserole, right? Sioux Falls is also a huge draw for scientists, with the U.S. Geological Surveys Earth Resources Observation and Science Data Center located in the region. - Median household income: $80,323. Royal Oak began 2022 with $200 million in new investment, and city leaders recently adopted a Sustainability & Climate Action Plan to significantly reduce greenhouse admissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero status by 2050. (Nikos Frazier / Quad City Times via AP) - Median household income: $112,054, Northville Township is a liberal-leaning Detroit suburb that formerly existed as a farming town and maintains an open landscape plan. You know that phrase "I'm so happy I live in a world where there are Octobers" everyone likes to post in their gorgeous fall pictures In October? - Population: 1,325 - Median home value: $309,000 (66% own) - Median rent: $1,366 (44% rent) - Median household income: $100,735. - Median home value: $204,700 (76% own) - Population: 3,947 The Monon Trail, which begins in Carmel and travels through Westfield and Grand Park to Sheridan, gives residents a great place to run, bike or walk and links to many of the citys local attractions. - Median rent: $1,016 (24% rent) The Midwest has better city planning IMO. Also, loved by locals? - Median home value: $575,800 (83% own) Grosse Pointe Park lies near both downtown Detroit and Lake St. Clair. - Median rent: $601 (32% rent) - Median household income: $115,093. - Population: 51,136 - Median household income: $96,511. - Population: 10,663 - Median household income: $118,187. When shes not interviewing real estate experts or sharing her thoughts on laundry chutes (major proponent), Sarah can be found producing sketch comedy shows and liberating retro artifacts from her parents basement. Located on the Mississippi River, Winona has a rich Native American history, its land being of the Dakota Nationin fact, Winona is named for the daughter of Chief Wapasha. - Median household income: $113,627. A piece of confetti is there in your hair. - Median rent: $1,599 (21% rent) - Median household income: $77,848. - Population: 53,051 - Median home value: $288,200 (56% own) [4] => 148204 Each of these cities has something special to offer read on to find out what. Novi, which is also close to Ann Arbor, was also praised for its diversity thanks to a "strong Indian and Asian population. There are plenty of small towns, from University Heights, Iowa, to Westwood, Kansas. - Median rent: $1,200 (20% rent) - Median home value: $378,200 (86% own) Residents can take a step back in time and visit Troy Historic Village, a 5-acre complex with 10 historic structures where visitors can discover the lifestyles of those who established homes and farms in the area in the 1800s. Its famous landmark is the Sugar Loaf Bluff, a spot offering plenty of hiking trails for nature adventurers. It lies on Lake Lansing, which is also the home of Lansing Sailing Club and Michigan State University. - Median home value: $188,100 (46% own) - Median home value: $437,000 (80% own) - Median home value: $354,100 (89% own) - Median rent: $1,359 (23% rent) You may also like: Do You Know Your State Fish? Your home city will always play a part in who you are, but maybe there's another city out there that's better suite. Or would you crash and burn when faced with the expectation that you drive well in the snow, learn to make succotash and deal with tornadoes, all while staying perfectly polite? The best places to live in the Midwest - MarketWatch America's Mood Map: Find Which State Matches Your Personality - Time - Median rent: $1,031 (25% rent) It also hosts many college students, since it's home to the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus. Milwaukee's Bayside Village also extends into Illinois and Lake Michigan, offering easy access into the city through venues like Highway 32 and Highway 100. Colorado. Blocking pattern in the jet stream keeps the chill across the Midwest "People [in Edina] have a high expectation of success, no matter what the endeavor," lifelong resident Ryan Lund told the Star Tribune. Read more. It's also been named one of Ohio's safest cities. - Median household income: $78,481. Listed by Niche as the best place to live in Missouri, Richmond Heights leads the state in everything from diversity to school quality. What State Should I Live In? Find 1 Of 50 States To Live In - Quiz Expo Ann Arbor has long held a reputation as a progressive college town as the home of the University of Michigan. Situated along the Iowa River, the home to University of Iowa is much more than your typical college town. You may also like: Best Place to Live in Every State, - Population: 6,688 The city is so great, in fact, that it is known as Queen City and is indeed the crown jewel of the Midwest. Colorful murals and large guitar sculptures throughout the downtown area paint a picture of the citys history and showcase the many talents of the community. - Median rent: $1,007 (24% rent) It's also part of the Kansas City metro, close to downtown for easy commute access. Recognized by Tree City USA, Royal Oak lives up to its name with greenery and colorful landscaping, adding to the serene feeling of this highly walkable town. 17. [2] => 157375 - Median home value: $878,700 (85% own) - Median home value: $180,500 (88% own) This compares with 49% of Northeasterners, 44% of Americans in the South and 33% of those living in the Midwest. Sarah Magnuson is a Chicago-based, Rockford, Illinois-born and bred writer and comedian.