National survey ranks Springfield among best places to live

Springfield was among a trio of Missouri cities to land on a newly published list by U.S. News and World Report of the 150 best places to live in the country.

Kansas City placed highest in the Show-Me State on the 2021-22 list at No. 57, followed by Springfield at No. 79 and St. Louis at No. 99.

Metropolitan areas in the rankings were evaluated using data from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. News and World Report internal resources, according to the publication’s report that came out July 13. Data was categorized into five indexes: desirability, job market, net migration, quality of life and value.

Springfield earned a 6.5 overall score on the list’s 10-point scale. Its score comprised 7.2 for value, 6.7 for job market, 6.6 for net migration and 6.0 each for desirability and quality of life, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Kansas City’s overall score was 6.7 and St. Louis received a 6.3.

Boulder, Colorado, finished No. 1 on the list with a 7.6 overall score. Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, and Huntsville, Alabama, rounded out the top three.