Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha hits the list for the second year in a row. With a population of more than 400,000 people, it’s Nebraska’s most populous city, offering above-average nursing homes and quality hospitals. Although Redfin deems the housing market as very competitive, it’s affordable for a bigger city with the median house selling in the mid-$200,000 range.

In true city fashion, there’s always something to see and do. Kids love the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, with its indoor rainforest and desert dome, and the Omaha Children’s Museum. It’s one of many museums in the city, among them the Joslyn Art Museum, which boasts works by Monet and Renoir, and the Durham Museum, which highlights the region’s pioneer history with exhibits on railroads and the westward expansion. After all, Omaha is a stop on the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail.

Residents can catch ball games at Charles Schwab Field Omaha, which hosts the College World Series, and a performance at the Omaha Community Playhouse, one of the largest community theaters in the U.S. More outdoorsy types find refuge in Omaha’s botanical garden or at the Heartland of America Park, which offers views of the Missouri River. To the south is Fontenelle Forest, a large nature preserve for hiking and bird watching. 

Though the Midwest isn’t known for its tech scene, some consider this startup-friendly city part of “the Silicon Prairie.” And Omaha remains home to several Fortune 500 companies, including Berkshire Hathaway and Union Pacific.

Like any big city, Omaha has a higher crime rate than you might find in the suburbs, but it’s made strides in cutting gun violence in half with its Omaha 360 initiative.