What's the nicest part of America?

The "nicest" place in America is subjective, but Reader's Digest names annual winners based on community kindness; recent recipients include Buffalo, NY (2023) for community spirit during a blizzard, Provo, UT (2024) for tackling youth mental health, and Asheville, NC (2025) for hurricane recovery efforts, highlighting local compassion and resilience as key factors for "niceness". Other contenders often mentioned for beauty or charm include Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, and the San Juan Islands, WA.

What is the nicest part of the USA?

1. New York City. No surprises here – I've spent more time in New York City than any other parts of the USA, and lived here for nearly two years. I really struggle to write about New York City without falling back on cliches – it's somewhere that really does make you want to use all the superlatives in your vocabulary.

What is the nicest place in America?

Read on to check out 2025's winners—including Asheville, North Carolina, which nabbed this year's No. 1 spot. Then scroll down to submit your nomination for 2026's Nicest Places in America—our 10th annual celebration!

Where is the nicest place to live in the United States?

The "nicest" places to live in the U.S. vary by preference, but top contenders often cited for quality of life, affordability, and strong job markets include Johns Creek (GA), Carmel (IN), Apex (NC), League City (TX), and Raleigh (NC), while cities like Austin, Denver, San Diego, and Boulder (CO) are popular for outdoor access and culture, with options ranging from thriving suburbs to desirable large cities across the Midwest, South, and West. 

Which US state is the kindest?

10 Most Friendliest States in the USA for Immigrants

• Minnesota – Home of “Minnesota Nice” ...
• Tennessee – Southern Charm in Action. ...
• South Carolina – Where History Meets Hospitality. ...
• Texas – A Welcome as Big as the State. ...
• Wyoming – Small-Town Vibes, Big-Hearted People. ...
• Indiana – Hoosier Hospitality at Its Best.

Inside The Largest Abandoned Mansion in America Worth $100 Million!!

What is the #1 happiest state in the US?

According to recent 2025 reports, Hawaii is consistently ranked as the #1 happiest state in the U.S., praised for its high life satisfaction, low depression rates, good physical health, strong work-life balance, and economic factors, despite high living costs. Other top contenders often include Maryland, Nebraska, and New Jersey, with rankings based on emotional/physical well-being, work environment, and community factors, notes CNBC, Nice News, and Reader's Digest.
 

What is the least friendly state?

According to World Population Review, the least friendly states in America are New York, Arkansas, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, respectively.

What's the #1 state to live in?

There's no single #1 best state, as it depends on priorities, but recent reports often rank Massachusetts, Utah, and Idaho highly, with Massachusetts leading in some livability studies (WalletHub) for education and overall metrics, while Utah excels in economy and infrastructure (U.S. News, Realtor.com). Other top contenders include New Jersey, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New Hampshire, showing a diverse range of strong options. 

What is America's happiest city?

While "happiest" is subjective, recent studies (2025) from WalletHub consistently name Fremont, California, as the happiest city in the U.S. due to strong financial stability (high income), excellent emotional & physical well-being (low depression/divorce rates), and quality community factors, with other California cities like San Jose and Irvine also ranking high. Other reports highlight cities like Plano, Texas, for marriage rates and safety, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, for its environment and green spaces, showing different studies focus on different happiness drivers.
 

Where is the best quality of life?

• Denmark. #1 in Quality of Life. #10 in Best Countries Overall. ...
• Sweden. #2 in Quality of Life. #6 in Best Countries Overall. ...
• Switzerland. #3 in Quality of Life. ...
• Norway. #4 in Quality of Life. ...
• Canada. #5 in Quality of Life. ...
• Finland. #6 in Quality of Life. ...
• Germany. #7 in Quality of Life. ...
• Australia. #8 in Quality of Life.

What is the prettiest US state?

There's no single "most beautiful" state as it's subjective, but Hawaii, California, Utah, Alaska, and Washington consistently rank high for diverse natural wonders, featuring volcanic landscapes, stunning coasts, red rock deserts, vast wilderness, and lush rainforests, while states like Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Maine, and Arizona are also frequently praised for their iconic mountain, forest, and desert scenery. 

Where in the US feels like the Caribbean?

For Caribbean vibes in the U.S., head to Florida (Keys, Gulf Coast beaches like Siesta Key, Caladesi Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. John, St. Croix for true Caribbean atmosphere). Other spots include South Padre Island, Texas, Tybee Island, Georgia, and even parts of coastal California like Crystal Cove for turquoise water, offering tropical escapes without needing a passport.
 

What is the #1 most beautiful place in the world?

There's no single "world #1" beautiful place, as beauty is subjective, but top contenders often include natural wonders like Machu Picchu (Peru), Grand Canyon (USA), Bora Bora (French Polynesia), Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), Santorini (Greece), Patagonia (Chile/Argentina), and Komodo National Park (Indonesia), frequently praised for unique landscapes, vibrant ecosystems, or iconic cultural sites. Other popular choices feature stunning mountains (Banff, Dolomites), unique geological formations (Cappadocia, Uyuni Salt Flat), and idyllic islands (Maldives, Palawan). 

What is the prettiest part of America?

The "most beautiful" place in the U.S. is subjective, but top contenders consistently include Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, and Acadia National Parks for dramatic landscapes, plus stunning spots like Monument Valley, Sedona, Yellowstone, and the Blue Ridge Parkway, offering diverse scenery from granite cliffs and red rock deserts to vibrant autumn foliage and coastlines.
 

What is the kindest city in America?

The friendliest cities in the US

1. Charleston, South Carolina. Renowned for its Southern charm and historic beauty, Charleston is often touted as one of the friendliest cities in the US. ...
2. Savannah, Georgia. ...
3. Nashville, Tennessee. ...
4. Portland, Maine. ...
5. San Francisco, California. ...
6. Houston, Texas. ...
7. Chicago, Illinois. ...
8. Key West, Florida.

What is the #1 best city to live in?

There's no single "number one" city, as it depends on what you value, but recent rankings highlight Copenhagen (world) and Ann Arbor, Michigan, or Overland Park, Kansas (U.S.), for quality of life, while New York City often tops for global power and opportunity. Copenhagen consistently leads international lists for liveability (stability, healthcare, culture). In the U.S., Ann Arbor is praised for parks, U of M, and Gen Z growth, while Overland Park (KS) and Flower Mound (TX) rank highly for safety, economy, and family-friendliness. 

What are the 5 unhappiest states in the US?

The Top 5 happiest states in the U.S. are: Hawaii, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey and Connecticut. The 5 LEAST happy states in the U.S. are: West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Alaska.

What state are people most happy moving to?

Hawaii is the happiest state in America for the second year in a row. Hawaii landed the top spot on WalletHub's list with an overall score of 65.50. It ranked third for emotional and physical well-being, 16th for work environment and 13th for community and environment.

What is the #1 cheapest state to live in?

The number one cheapest state to live in is consistently ranked as Mississippi, due to exceptionally low housing costs (median home prices significantly below the national average), low transportation expenses, and affordable groceries, making overall living costs substantially lower than the national average, though it's important to note lower wages and a higher poverty rate also exist. Other very affordable states often near the top include West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama, all offering low housing and everyday expenses. 

What state has the friendliest people?

WCCO CBS reported, "The study found that Minnesota is the friendliest state." This edged out Texas and other notoriously friendly-seeming states in that region (depending on who you ask).

Which state has the lowest crime?

While rankings vary slightly by source and metrics (violent vs. property crime), Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont consistently appear as states with the lowest overall crime rates in recent analyses (2025-2026), often leading in low violent crime and overall safety rankings. Maine and New Hampshire frequently lead in low violent crime per capita, while Vermont often tops comprehensive safety lists that include financial and other factors. 

What is the toughest state to live in?

There's no single "hardest" state, but recent studies frequently name New Mexico, Mississippi, and Louisiana as among the toughest due to poor scores in education, healthcare, safety, and economic opportunity, while states like New Jersey are challenging for retirees due to high costs, and Tennessee recently ranked last for quality of life in a CNBC study, highlighting varied difficulties. 

What is the most forgotten state?

The least memorable state in the U.S. is Missouri. That's according to quiz site Sporcle's U.S. States Quiz. Players have attempted to name all 50 states more than 35 million times, and Missouri is the state with the lowest percentage of people who guessed correctly.

What state is #1 in safety?

There isn't one single #1 state for safety, as rankings vary by source and criteria, but Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts consistently appear at the top for overall safety, with Vermont often leading for its balance of low crime, strong financial security, and emergency preparedness in recent 2024-2026 reports from WalletHub and others, while New Hampshire excels in low crime and public safety metrics. Maine also ranks highly, particularly for low violent crime rates.