HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Huntsville has earned the top spot on Livability’s 2026 Top 100 Best Places to Live in the United States, beating out hundreds of small- to mid-sized cities across the country to claim the No. 1 ranking.
The recognition caps a years-long rise for the “Rocket City,” which has emerged as one of the South’s most dynamic communities. Livability, which has curated its annual Best Places list for more than a decade, analyzed over 100 data points across eight categories — including economy, housing, education, health, safety and transportation — to determine its rankings.
Huntsville scored a perfect 100 in Economy, Education, Environment and Housing & Cost of Living, reflecting the city’s rare combination of affordability and opportunity…