This MD City Ranks In Top 15 Nationally For Best Place To Live, Raise A Family

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Columbia not only has been named as one of the best places to raise a family for 2023 by WalletHub but also one of the best places to live in the U.S. for 2023 by Livability. The community ranked 13th best in the nation on both lists.

"It is humbling to be ranked Maryland’s best place to raise a family and best place to live. These distinctions are a testament to our continued investment in our families, community and overall quality of life. Having raised my family in Columbia, I have always known what a special place Columbia is to all its residents and visitors. From its top-ranked schools, to its flourishing hub of arts and culture, recreational activities and green space, Columbia continues to thrive and live up to James Rouse’s vision of creating a city that is diverse and welcoming to all who visit and call it home," said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.

WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 45 key metrics that look at family dynamics like the cost of housing, the quality of local school and health-care systems, and the opportunities for fun and recreation. On its Best Places to Raise a Family list, Columbia received a score of 82 for family fun.

For its Best Places to Live in the U.S. list, Livability compared cities with a population between 75,000 and 500,000. It looked at places where most Americans create dream careers, build families, launch businesses and lead meaningful lives. Livability developed its list based on nearly 100 data points and an algorithm taking into account measures of a city’s economy, housing and cost of living, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education and health.

Within the last year, Columbia has been named one of the Best U.S. Cities for Jobs, Safest Cities in America, Happiest Cities in America, Best Cities for People Living with Disabilities and Best City for Summer Jobs.