We've reviewed 1,436 neighborhoods across 35 states. We gave each one a verdict: Settle here, Good for now, Think twice, or Hard pass.
Only 64 earned "Settle here." That's 4.5%.
"Settle here" means the neighborhood clears every bar we set: the cost of living makes sense for what you get, the schools are solid, crime is low enough that it doesn't shape your daily decisions, the commute isn't punishing, and something about the place gives it a character that's hard to manufacture. It's not a perfect place — it's a place where the tradeoffs resolve in your favor.
Here's the complete list, with prices and key data, so you can find the ones that fit your budget and state.
What it takes to earn "Settle here"
WYLT doesn't hand out top ratings lightly. A neighborhood earns "Settle here" only when it scores well across all five dimensions we evaluate: safety (crime rates relative to city and national averages), schools (third-party ratings normalized across states), walkability (Walk Score plus real transit access), cost (median home price relative to household income and comparable alternatives), and livability (commute time, flood risk, job market proximity, neighborhood character).
A neighborhood with a 9/10 school rating but a 45-minute commute to anywhere doesn't make the list. Neither does a cheap neighborhood with bad schools and high property crime. "Settle here" means the whole package works — not just one part of it.
The complete Settle Here list — 2026
Under $350,000
The most common assumption about top-rated neighborhoods is that they're expensive. These prove otherwise.
- Rawlins, WY — $207K — Wyoming's most affordable Settle here, with school rating 7.7. Small city living with no pretense. See the full report →
- Swanton, VT — $256K — Northwest Vermont, schools 7.0, genuine small-town character within reach of Burlington. See report →
- Dickinson, ND — $265K — North Dakota's energy economy keeps this small city stable; schools rate 7.9. See report →
- Columbus, OH (43234) — $280K — One of the best value Settle here verdicts in a major metro. Schools 7.0. See report →
- Cleveland, OH (Tremont/Ohio City area, 44113) — $283K — Walk score 74, schools 6.9, and a neighborhood arts scene that punches above its weight. See report →
- Madison, MS — $317K — The best suburb in the Jackson metro; schools rate 8.0 in a state that doesn't often clear that bar. See report →
- Plano, TX — $322K — DFW suburban excellence: schools 7.3, low crime, one of the highest-rated affordable Settle here picks in Texas. See report →
- Harrisonburg, VA — $311K — James Madison University anchors this small city; schools 8.2, walkable downtown, underrated. See report →
- Waukee, IA — $310K — Des Moines suburb with schools rating 5.9 but exceptional overall livability numbers. See report →
- Smithfield, RI — $364K — Rhode Island's best value Settle here pick; solid schools, low crime. See report →
- Charlottesville, VA — $367K — UVA's home city with walk score 75, schools 8.1, and a downtown that over-delivers for its size. See report →
- Brookfield, WI — $368K — Milwaukee's best suburb: schools 7.1, low crime, family-ready. See report →
$350,000–$550,000
- Grapevine, TX — $429K — DFW's hidden gem: schools 7.4, walk score 33, historic downtown. See report →
- Winter Garden, FL — $430K — Orlando's most livable suburb; schools 7.5, low crime. See report →
- Brighton, CO — $431K — Denver's most affordable Settle here; schools 8.8 is the standout number here. See report →
- Lewes, DE — $449K — Delaware beach town with schools 8.1 and genuine coastal livability. See report →
- Dupont Circle, DC — $453K — Walk score 96, schools 7.4. The most affordable top-rated DC neighborhood. See report →
- Rego Park, NY — $481K — Queens' best value: walk score 88, schools 7.4, access to Manhattan without Manhattan pricing. See report →
- Chicago West Loop (60607) — $487K — Walk score 70, schools 6.9. Chicago's tech corridor in a neighborhood that's earned its hype. See report →
- Naperville, IL — $482K — Chicago's best suburb: schools 6.6, exceptional safety, family-first community. See report →
- Houston Heights (77007) — $484K — The only inner-loop Houston neighborhood to earn Settle here. Walk score 57, schools 7.2. See report →
- Towson, MD — $525K — Baltimore County's best neighborhood: schools 7.5, walk score 77. See report →
- Annapolis, MD — $541K — Maryland's historic capital: schools 8.2, walk score 51. See report →
$550,000–$800,000
- Decatur, GA — $591K — Atlanta's best inner suburb: walk score 75, schools 7.4, genuine walkable downtown. See report →
- Logan Circle, DC — $602K — Walk score 98, schools 7.4. DC's most walkable Settle here. See report →
- Frisco, TX — $640K — DFW's growth story: schools 7.3, low crime, master-planned done right. See report →
- Marlboro, NJ — $609K — Monmouth County excellence: schools 7.8, extremely low crime. See report →
- Maplewood, NJ — $638K — Schools 8.2, walk score 13 but the community density makes up for it. See report →
- Chicago Wicker Park (60622) — $617K — Walk score 78, schools 6.9. Chicago's most walkable Settle here. See report →
- Astoria, NY — $663K — Queens' cultural hub: walk score 90+ (data anomaly in our set), schools 7.6. See report →
- Sunnyside, NY — $679K — Walk score 90, schools 7.3. One of NYC's most underpriced Settle here picks. See report →
- Colleyville, TX — $700K — DFW at its most polished: schools 8.5, walk score 35, extremely safe. See report →
- West Linn, OR — $701K — Portland's best suburb: schools 8.6, low crime, Willamette River access. See report →
- Colleyville, TX — $700K — DFW suburb with schools 8.5. See report →
- Montclair, NJ — $674K — Schools 7.5, vibrant arts scene, transit to NYC. See report →
- Washington, DC (20011) — $698K — Walk score 57, schools 7.4 — Brightwood/Manor Park area. See report →
- Rockville, MD — $665K — DC suburb with schools 7.4, excellent transit. See report →
- Southlake, TX — $750K — Schools 9.1 — the highest school rating in the entire Settle here list. See report →
- Weehawken, NJ — $771K — NYC skyline views, walk score 42, schools 5.9. See report →
- South Orange, NJ — $769K — Schools 8.8. One of the highest school ratings in New Jersey. See report →
- Brentwood, TN — $762K — Nashville's top suburb: schools 8.0, extremely low crime. See report →
- Arlington, VA — $749K — Walk score 85, schools 8.5. DC's best transit-accessible suburb. See report →
Over $800,000
- Jersey City, NJ — $863K — Walk score 82, schools 7.2. NYC access without NYC prices. See report →
- Brooklyn (DUMBO/Downtown, 11201) — $1.12M — Walk score 98. One of the most walkable neighborhoods in America at any price. See report →
- Falls Church, VA — $896K — Schools 8.6, walk score 53. DC suburb that consistently outperforms its size. See report →
- Lincoln Park, Chicago — $730K — Walk score 89, schools 7.0. Chicago's most coveted neighborhood earns its reputation. See report →
- Minneapolis Downtown (55401) — $390K — Walk score 93, schools 5.7. The most affordable highly walkable Settle here in a major northern metro. See report →
- Cambridge, MA — $1.03M — Walk score 100. Perfect walkability, schools 7.5, MIT/Harvard anchor. See report →
- San Francisco (SoMa, 94103) — $1.07M — Walk score 90, schools 5. SF's Settle here comes with the caveat: schools trail everything else. See report →
- Upper East Side, NY — $1.57M — Walk score 95, schools 7.3. New York's classic. See report →
- Newton, MA — $972K — Schools 7.6, walk score 32. Boston's most consistently excellent suburb. See report →
- Brookline, MA — $1.15M — Schools 7.5, walkable core. Boston-adjacent at a steep premium. See report →
- Beacon Hill, Boston — $1.67M — Walk score 100, schools 7.5. The most expensive Settle here in our dataset outside New York. See report →
- Hermosa Beach, CA — $1.86M — Walk score 62, schools 5. The most expensive Settle here we've reviewed, period. See report →
What the list tells you
Texas dominates the affordable end. Five DFW suburbs make the list — Plano, Frisco, Grapevine, Southlake, Colleyville — all under $750K and most under $650K. Southlake's 9.1 school rating is the highest in the entire dataset. If school quality is your primary filter and budget allows $750K, North DFW is the most consistent cluster of Settle here picks in the country.
New Jersey is disproportionately represented. Eight NJ neighborhoods made the list — more than any other state. This reflects the trade: NJ real estate is expensive and property taxes are brutal, but schools are genuinely among the best in the country and the transit access to NYC is unmatched. South Orange's schools (8.8) and Matawan's (8.8) lead the entire list.
The affordable surprises are real. Rawlins, WY at $207K with a 7.7 school rating. Dickinson, ND at $265K with schools at 7.9. Columbus, OH at $280K with schools at 7.0. These are not compromise picks — they're genuine Settle here verdicts with data behind them. The tradeoff is that you're in smaller markets with fewer job options. If you're remote or retired, the value proposition is exceptional.
Most expensive does not mean best. Hermosa Beach at $1.86M earns Settle here — but its school rating (5.0) is one of the lowest on the list. You're paying for the beach and the weather, not the schools. Cambridge at $1.03M with walk score 100 and schools 7.5 is arguably better value at its price point than Hermosa Beach. Price correlates with desirability, not with every dimension of livability.
The walkability split is real. If walkability matters to you, the Settle here list divides into two camps: genuinely walkable urban neighborhoods (Dupont Circle 96, Cambridge 100, Brooklyn DUMBO 98, West Village 98, Logan Circle 98, Lincoln Park 89) and suburb-quality picks where you'll need a car for everything (South Orange 0, Brookfield 2, Southlake 22). The data on walk score is accurate — a 0 means you will drive for groceries, period.
Use the neighborhood-level reports linked above to go deeper on any entry that catches your eye. Each report shows the full data behind the verdict, including commute times, school district details, flood risk, and the specific pros and cons that drove the rating.