From Coast to Coast These 40 U.S. Counties Offer the Best Quality of Life

America has fallen one notch lower in the annual World Happiness Report published on International Day of Happiness. In 2024, the U.S. was in 23rd place, the latest 2025 report reveals that America fell to 24th. America had peaked in 2012 at 11th place. On the other hand, Mexico and Costa Rica entered the top 10 for the first time in the report’s history.

What determines quality of life? Is it access to good healthcare, employment opportunities, education, wealth, family, or social relationships? While quality of life is multidimensional, and certainly subjective, scientists have tried to understand the variables that go into someone experiencing a good quality of life. What they have found is that it encompasses many different things, from life satisfaction to overall state of well-being. (Also see where Americans are flocking to the most for their retirement years.)

At 24/7 Wall St., we have looked into where in America people tend to have the highest quality of life. We identified the 40 best U.S. counties across the U.S. to live in using an index inspired by the Human Development Index (HDI). The HDI is a comprehensive measure of well-being developed by the United Nations Development Programme. The HDI considers three key factors to provide a holistic assessment of a country’s development potential and overall quality of life: educational attainment, financial stability, and life expectancy. We used data to calculate rankings from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey and County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a joint program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

All ACS data are five-year averages, and this is the most up-to-date data at this time. Counties with incomplete data were excluded from the analysis. To avoid geographic clustering, we only included one county per metropolitan statistical area. Average home values were also included using 2025 data from Zillow.

What we discovered is that a high quality of life in America doesn’t come cheap. In the 40 following counties, median household income ranges well above the national average. The cost of housing is also higher, with only one location falling below the national average (Dallas County, Iowa has an average home value of $344,553). Others ranged above the national average, and in some counties, average home prices fell above $1 million, with a few at over $2 million.

(This article was updated on April 7, 2025, to reflect recent news on the publication of the 2025 World Happiness Report.)

40. Kendall County, Texas

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 81.5 years (2.9 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 5.1% (7.4 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 48.5% (14.2 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $104,196 ($29,047 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $577,460
• Population: 45,376
• County seat: Boerne

39. Newport County, Rhode Island

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 82.0 years (3.5 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 7.8% (4.8 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 52.1% (17.8 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $96,319 ($21,170 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $862,109
• Population: 85,442
• County seat: Newport

38. Routt County, Colorado

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 84.1 years (5.6 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 8.0% (4.6 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 50.0% (15.7 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $95,144 ($19,995 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $1,099,698
• Population: 24,944
• County seat: Steamboat Springs

37. York County, Virginia

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 81.5 years (3.0 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 4.7% (7.8 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 49.5% (15.2 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $105,154 ($30,005 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $440,102
• Population: 70,238
• County seat: Yorktown

36. DuPage County, Illinois

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 81.9 years (3.4 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 6.3% (6.3 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 51.1% (16.8 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $107,035 ($31,886 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $405,802
• Population: 930,559
• County seat: Wheaton

35. Dallas County, Iowa

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 81.8 years (3.2 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 5.7% (6.9 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 51.5% (17.2 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $99,533 ($24,384 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $344,553
• Population: 100,367
• County seat: Adel

34. Aleutians East Borough, Alaska

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 112.5 years (34.0 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 12.6% (0.1 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 16.9% (17.4 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $79,961 ($4,812 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $368,985 (for Alaska overall)
• Population: 3,407
• Borough seat: Sand Point

33. King County, Washington

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 82.3 years (3.8 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 8.4% (4.1 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 54.8% (20.5 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $116,340 ($41,191 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $868,632
• Population: 2,254,371
• County seat: Seattle

32. San Juan County, Washington

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 86.3 years (7.7 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 11.0% (1.5 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 52.6% (18.3 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $76,745 ($1,596 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $873,306
• Population: 18,001
• County seat: Friday Harbor

31. Wake County, North Carolina

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 81.6 years (3.1 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 8.2% (4.3 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 55.7% (21.3 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $96,734 ($21,585 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $484,814
• Population: 1,132,103
• County seat: Raleigh

30. Orange County, North Carolina

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 82.1 years (3.6 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 12.3% (0.3 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 61.7% (27.4 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $85,785 ($10,636 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $491,857
• Population: 145,919
• County seat: Hillsborough

29. Oconee County, Georgia

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 80.6 years (2.0 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 4.5% (8.1 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 53.5% (19.1 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $116,221 ($41,072 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $532,685
• Population: 41,978
• County seat: Watkinsville

28. Collin County, Texas

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 82.2 years (3.7 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 6.3% (6.2 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 54.3% (20.0 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $113,255 ($38,106 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $515,745
• Population: 1,079,153
• County seat: McKinney

27. Carver County, Minnesota

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 83.2 years (4.6 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 3.8% (8.8 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 49.8% (15.5 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $116,308 ($41,159 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $464,457
• Population: 107,216
• County seat: Chaska

26. Chester County, Pennsylvania

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 81.2 years (2.7 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 6.0% (6.6 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 56.1% (21.8 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $118,574 ($43,425 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $537,977
• Population: 536,474
• County seat: West Chester

25. Mono County, California

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 103.3 years (24.8 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 11.3% (1.2 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 31.7% (2.6 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $82,038 ($6,889 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $738,637
• Population: 13,219
• County seat: Bridgeport

24. Gunnison County, Colorado

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 83.9 years (5.4 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 10.8% (1.7 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 59.3% (25.0 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $76,538 ($1,389 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $588,315
• Population: 17,018
• County seat: Gunnison

23. Middlesex County, Massachusetts

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 81.9 years (3.4 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 7.4% (5.1 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 58.5% (24.2 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $121,304 ($46,155 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $786,971
• Population: 1,623,109
• County seat: Cambridge

22. Ouray County, Colorado

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 85.7 years (7.2 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 4.8% (7.7 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 49.6% (15.2 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $78,750 ($3,601 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $658,253
• Population: 4,936
• County seat: Ouray

21. Johnson County, Kansas

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 81.4 years (2.9 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 5.3% (7.3 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 56.7% (22.4 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $103,644 ($28,495 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $425,233
• Population: 610,742
• County seat: Olathe

20. Boulder County, Colorado

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 82.6 years (4.1 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 11.3% (1.3 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 63.2% (28.9 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $99,770 ($24,621 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $978,582
• Population: 328,658
• County seat: Boulder

19. Santa Clara County, California

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 84.7 years (6.1 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 6.9% (5.7 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 55.3% (21.0 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $153,792 ($78,643 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $1,711,112
• Population: 1,916,831
• County seat: San Jose

18. Forsyth County, Georgia

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 82.3 years (3.7 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 4.6% (7.9 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 56.2% (21.9 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $131,660 ($56,511 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $621,507
• Population: 253,225
• County seat: Cumming

17. Albemarle County, Virginia

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 82.3 years (3.7 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 7.1% (5.4 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 60.1% (25.8 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $97,708 ($22,559 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $529,531
• Population: 112,513
• County seat: Charlottesville

16. Delaware County, Ohio

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 81.7 years (3.2 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 4.5% (8.0 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 57.4% (23.1 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $123,995 ($48,846 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $492,752
• Population: 216,074
• County seat: Delaware

15. Nantucket County, Massachusetts

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 83.0 years (4.5 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 4.9% (7.6 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 57.4% (23.1 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $135,590 ($60,441 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $2,753,410
• Population: 14,065
• County seat: Nantucket

14. Hunterdon County, New Jersey

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 83.2 years (4.6 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 3.7% (8.8 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 55.5% (21.2 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $133,534 ($58,385 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $599,542
• Population: 129,099
• County seat: Flemington

13. Eagle County, Colorado

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 91.4 years (12.8 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 8.0% (4.5 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 51.8% (17.5 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $98,887 ($23,738 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $1,011,924
• Population: 55,650
• County seat: Eagle

12. Hamilton County, Indiana

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 81.6 years (3.0 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 4.2% (8.3 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 60.8% (26.5 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $114,866 ($39,717 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $438,160
• Population: 349,527
• County seat: Noblesville

11. Summit County, Utah

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 85.6 years (7.0 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 5.2% (7.3 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 57.4% (23.1 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $126,392 ($51,243 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $1,306,303
• Population: 42,524
• County seat: Coalville

10. Williamson County, Tennessee

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 81.5 years (3.0 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 4.2% (8.4 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 62.0% (27.7 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $125,943 ($50,794 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $881,371
• Population: 248,897
• County seat: Franklin

9. Marin County, California

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 85.3 years (6.7 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 7.0% (5.6 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 61.1% (26.8 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $142,019 ($66,870 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $1,439,455
• Population: 260,485
• County seat: San Rafael

8. Teton County, Wyoming

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 86.7 years (8.2 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 6.9% (5.6 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 60.3% (26.0 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $108,279 ($33,130 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $2,175,215
• Population: 23,346
• County seat: Jackson

7. Howard County, Maryland

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 82.7 years (4.2 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 5.4% (7.2 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 64.0% (29.7 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $140,971 ($65,822 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $625,222
• Population: 332,011
• County seat: Ellicott City

6. Douglas County, Colorado

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 83.4 years (4.9 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 3.0% (9.5 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 60.0% (25.7 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $139,010 ($63,861 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $727,736
• Population: 360,206
• County seat: Castle Rock

5. Summit County, Colorado

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 93.5 years (15.0 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 7.4% (5.1 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 52.3% (17.9 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $100,611 ($25,462 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $972,943
• Population: 30,955
• County seat: Breckenridge

4. San Miguel County, Colorado

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 93.6 years (15.1 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 8.5% (4.1 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 62.2% (27.8 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $72,829 ($2,320 less than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $1,529,658
• Population: 8,082
• County seat: Telluride

3. Los Alamos County, New Mexico

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 83.9 years (5.3 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 3.7% (8.8 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 69.7% (35.4 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $135,801 ($60,652 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $587,884
• Population: 19,253
• County seat: Los Alamos

2. Pitkin County, Colorado

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 92.5 years (14.0 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 6.7% (5.9 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 63.1% (28.8 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $96,123 ($20,974 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $2,436,997
• Population: 17,325
• County seat: Aspen

1. Falls Church, Virginia (independent city)

• Avg. life expectancy at birth: 80.6 years (2.1 years above U.S. avg.)
• Poverty rate: 2.3% (10.2 ppt. below U.S. avg.)
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 78.9% (44.6 ppt. above U.S. avg.)
• Median household income: $164,536 ($89,387 more than U.S. median)
• Average home value: $775,031
• Population: 14,576
• County seat: None

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