![](https://s4745.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Screen-Shot-2016-05-20-at-12.58.24-PM-300x154.png)
By Samuel Stebbins, Evan Comen and Michael B. Sauter | USA Today
As the land of opportunity, the United States has attracted people from around the world for centuries. Yet not all parts of the country are equally desirable, and some cities are far more livable than others.
On an individual level, subjective measures often override other, more objective, considerations. Sometimes, we live in a place simply because it is where we grew up — it is familiar and where we feel at ease. Still, a range of factors can help compare U.S. cities objectively. Low crime, a healthy economy and affordability are just a few examples of universally desirable attributes in any community.