The 20 best places to live in America if you're liberal, based on data

Elisa Fernández-Arias

Tue, June 30, 2026 at 5:07 PM CDT

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A rainbow pride flag and American flags affixed to a home. -

The 20 best liberal places to live in America

If you've ever daydreamed about moving to a new town where you can freely express your political views—particularly in these starkly polarized times—you're not alone. An October 2024 analysis from the New York Times shows a growing trend of both conservative and liberal Americans relocating from politically mixed neighborhoods to areas more in line with their respective beliefs. In fact, a January 2025 LendingTree survey found that almost half of all respondents interested in moving would do so based on the political climate. Overall, 43% of Americans say they're willing to spend more if it means living somewhere that better matches their political beliefs and values.

For anyone who's considering moving to a more left-leaning locale, Stacker compiled a list of the 20 best liberal places to live in the U.S. using 2025 rankings from Niche. Niche ranked the best places to live using a variety of factors such as cost of living, housing, and public schools. To be included on this list, the city, suburb, or town must be considered "very liberal" by Niche, which bases each place's politics on the 2012 and 2016 presidential election results compared to the national average. See the full methodology here.

All four regions in the continental U.S. (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West) are included in the 10 best liberal places to live in the U.S. The top 10 scored well on public schools (Niche average of A+), diversity (Niche average of A-), and being good for families (Niche average of A+). However, they lacked when it came to affordable housing (Niche average of B-), safety (Niche average of B-), and cost of living (Niche average of C). The median household income of the top 10 only dipped below six figures in one location, and the median home value was at least $500,000 in all but three.

Keep reading to learn more about the best liberal places to live in the U.S., including their population, median rent, median home value, area feel, population size, and more.

Editor's note: Licensed images for some cities, suburbs, and towns on this list were not available. In those cases, photos of nearby locations were used instead.

Manhattan Beach California Pier as seen from ocean. -

#20. Manhattan Beach, California

- Population: 34,584 - Median household income: $193,904 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

Belmont Town Hall building in the historic town center of Belmont, Massachusetts. -

#19. Belmont, Massachusetts

- Population: 27,009 - Median household income: $178,188 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

Mountain View City Hall and Center for the Performing Arts. -

#18. Mountain View, California

- Population: 82,363 - Median household income: $179,917 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

A rainbow flag flying outside of an apartment building in Manhattan, New York. -

#17. Manhattan, New York

- Population: 1,627,788 - Median household income: $104,553 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A-

The Battle Green site in Lexington, Massachusetts. -

#16. Lexington, Massachusetts

- Population: 34,085 - Median household income: $219,402 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

Rent Electric Bike Beach e Biking on Redondo Beach pier. -

#15. Redondo Beach, California

- Population: 69,814 - Median household income: $144,588 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

The Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland, near Four Corners. -

#14. Four Corners, Maryland

- Population: 7,785 - Median household income: $200,110 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A

A home near a pond in Great Neck, New York. -

#13. Great Neck Gardens, New York

- Population: 1,245 - Median household income: $218,603 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

Bike bath on the strand from Hermosa Beach to Manhattan Beach. -

#12. Hermosa Beach, California

- Population: 19,248 - Median household income: $152,019 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

A picturesque street in the city of Hoboken, New Jersey. -

#11. Hoboken, New Jersey

- Population: 58,340 - Median household income: $176,943 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A

Santa Monica Pier. -

#10. Santa Monica, California

- Population: 91,535 - Median household income: $109,739 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

Aerial view of West Hartford and Hartford. -

#9. West Hartford, Connecticut

- Population: 63,809 - Median household income: $125,616 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

Looking down a street in Clayton, Missouri. -

#8. Clayton, Missouri

- Population: 17,282 - Median household income: $128,898 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

Chicago Avenue in Downtown Evanston. -

#7. Evanston, Illinois

- Population: 76,552 - Median household income: $95,766 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

Arlington, Virginia, city skyline on the Potomac River. -

#6. Arlington, Virginia

- Population: 235,463 - Median household income: $140,160 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

City Hall in Cambridge Central Square. -

#5. Cambridge, Massachusetts

- Population: 117,794 - Median household income: $126,469 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A

The Steuben House in River Edge, New Jersey. -

#4. River Edge, New Jersey

- Population: 12,024 - Median household income: $155,827 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

Snow blankets downtown Bethesda. -

#3. North Bethesda, Maryland

- Population: 49,498 - Median household income: $128,970 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

Elevated view from Coolidge Corner in Brookline. -

#2. Brookline, Massachusetts

- Population: 62,822 - Median household income: $140,631 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

Aerial top down view of suburban multifamily homes in suburban Ardmore, Pennsylvania. -

#1. Ardmore, Pennsylvania

- Population: 14,165 - Median household income: $115,273 - Overall Niche grade: A+ - Public schools grade: A+

East coast shit holes.

Looks like really nice places to live.

I’ll bet the people there are just dreamy

1 hour ago, Mainecat said:

Looks like really nice places to live.

If you're a Fag, oops, I forgot, you are a Fag.

53 minutes ago, Skidooski said:

I’ll bet the people there are just dreamy

Seeing that Massachusetts had multiple entries I think you are spot on.

That are all most certainly high in cultural richness and diversity.

Bunch of self hating, gluten free, low muscle ratio whites.

Who cares?

Is Geneva Lake area snobby?

55 minutes ago, Pete said:

Is Geneva Lake area snobby?

3 children dead after boat capsizes in Wisconsin’s Lake Geneva during Friday storms

This image made from video provided by WISN-TV shows law enforcement use search boats in Geneva Lake, Wis., after receiving calls of an overturned boat on Friday, July 3, 2026. (WISN-TV via AP)

By Associated Press

PUBLISHED: July 4, 2026 at 8:20 AM CDT | UPDATED: July 4, 2026 at 1:45 PM CDT

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. — Three children died and seven others were rescued Friday after a boat capsized in Geneva Lake as a strong storm passed through southern Wisconsin, an official said.

Many injuries were reported in Wisconsin’s Walworth County after the storm toppled trees, knocked down power lines and damaged buildings, said Tom Hausner, undersheriff for the Walworth County Sheriff’s department.

According to the Lake Geneva Police Department’s Facebook page, a privately owned recreational motorboat carrying ten occupants —six adults and four children — attempted to navigate to safety as weather conditions deteriorated. While underway, “the vessel was overwhelmed by severe wind and waves, took on water, capsized and subsequently sank.”

Six adults and one child were successfully rescued from the water, authorities said. Following an intensive search, the three missing children were located and recovered from the lake, the Facebook post said.

“Lifesaving measures were administered immediately at the scene and continued by emergency medical personnel during transit to local medical facilities,” the post said. “Despite these exhaustive efforts, all three children were later pronounced deceased.”

Officials confirmed that all four children on board were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.

“This incident serves as a reminder of how quickly severe weather can develop on area waterways,” Lake Geneva police said. “We strongly urge all boaters to closely monitor weather forecasts, remain vigilant of changing atmospheric conditions, and seek safe harbor immediately when threatening weather approaches.”

Police in the city of Lake Geneva are investigating, Hausner said. Officials there didn’t immediately respond to an email and voice message from The Associated Press seeking more information.

Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause declared an emergency and said that one person had minor injuries after being struck by a falling tree. Several areas of the city were experiencing power outages, he said in a statement.

Hausner said county authorities received multiple 911 calls reporting damage and people trapped in buildings and seeking help. He said deputies responded immediately but were delayed by downed power lines and trees blocking streets.

“Power lines are all over the place. We are urging people to stay away,” he said.

Hausner said his agency asked for help from law enforcement in nearby counties and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Geneva Lake, in southern Wisconsin, attracts tourists from the Chicago area and other parts. The population in Walworth County, where the lake is located, nearly doubles during holiday weekends, Hausner said.

The storms that rolled through the Midwest on Friday afternoon and evening prompted multiple cities to cancel holiday festivals and reschedule fireworks displays.

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, saying the forecast showed heavy rain Friday with lingering showers into Independence Day and a continued chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend.

10 people on the boat

Last boat I had that could carry that many, safely was my 23 foot Mariah, and 10 was a packed house on the deck. That boat was incredible in the wind and waves. I miss that boat but rarely used it.

Bet this was a tinny or a toon.

My tinny is rated for 6 but if the wind picked up it's just not that capable to evade disaster.

Got caught out earlier this year well away from the dock and I stopped and put my life jacket on.

That's my personal rule for others. Life jackets are here, you are welcome to wear one. If you see me putting one on, I strongly suggest you do too, 'cause shit's getting real.

Edited July 6Jul 6 by Voodoo

You know what you call 8-10 people in a boat? A fuck that.

I do not think I've been to any of those places but I can tell you all 20 of them suck to live in, alphabet person or not.