Allentown has been ranked one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live by U.S. News & World Report.

U.S. News & World Report has included Allentown in its list of the top 100 “Best Places to Live.”

The prestigious list takes several factors into consideration, including that a city or region has good value, is a desirable place to live, has a strong job market, a high quality of life, and a positive net migration.

Allentown made the list at #78, placing it above such places as Philadelphia (#82), Los Angeles (#83), New Haven, Conn. (#88), Chicago (#90), New Orleans (#91), and New York City (#96).

Below is the profile written by U.S. News & World Report about why they chose Allentown as one of the best places to live in the country:

A quiet architectural renaissance has blossomed in Pennsylvania’s third-largest city. Much of Allentown’s charm comes from its vast collection of historic homes and buildings, commercial structures and century-old industrial buildings. The city’s central neighborhoods are a blend of Victorian and Federal-style row homes. Homes around West Park ooze Colonial Revival and Queen Anne charm. Architects have modernized and converted many of the closed mills and manufacturing buildings into apartments and lofts.

Several districts constitute Allentown – each with its own unique identity and flair. The 7th Business District features neighborhood living, as well as local restaurants and retail establishments. Allentown’s theater district, in the West End, includes a black box theater and a civic theater, several popular restaurants, local retailers and an Arts Walk that leads to the Allentown Art Museum and Baum School of Art. Business is booming in the Hamilton Street Business District, home of the PPL Center, where the Philadelphia Flyer’s hockey farm team, the Phantoms, play.

Nestled within the Lehigh Valley, with the Blue Mountain range to the north and South Mountain to the southwest, the city offers hikers and skiers access to great trails and snow. Meanwhile, Allentown residents can drive to New York City or Philadelphia in roughly two hours. Allentown’s convenient location, commitment to healthy living and celebration of the arts make it a great place for active folks to settle down.