Columbia ranked in the Top 50 ‘Best Places to Live’ in nation

COLUMBIA, SC Columbia has been ranked in the Top 50 “Best Places to Live,” according to a recent study released by the U.S. News & World Report.

Coming in at No. 46, Columbia is described as a “traditionally Southern city with a modern twist.”

U.S. News analyzed 100 cities to find the best places to live based on quality of life, job market, value of living there and desire to live there. The South Carolina city had an overall score of 6.6 out of 10.

The cost of living in Columbia received a 7.7 on the 10 point scale. With housing costs averaging $131,025, it falls far below the national average of $218,867. U.S. News says Columbia offers a better value than similarly sized cities when you compare housing costs to median household income (around $40,000).

Hot weather in the summer and spring turns into a mild autumn and winter. But when it snows, businesses and schools close.

Other notable cities in the Carolinas include:

▪  No. 4: Raleigh-Durham, NC

▪  No. 15: Charlotte, NC

No. 19: Charleston, SC

▪  No. 35: Greenville, SC

▪  No. 39: Winston-Salem, NC

You can read the full survey here.

This story was originally published March 3, 2016 at 9:22 AM with the headline "Columbia ranked in the Top 50 ‘Best Places to Live’ in nation."