CITY VOTING, EXPLAINED
City popularity versus the best place to live
An open hometown vote and a livability study answer different questions. Here is how to avoid confusing them.
What an open vote captures
Our score counts recorded support from participating visitors. It does not weight answers by population, income, age, or where voters live. Enthusiastic communities can mobilize quickly, which makes the contest lively but limits comparisons with scientific research.
What it leaves out
This website does not collect comparable housing, transport, education, safety, or healthcare measurements. We therefore do not calculate a ‘best city to live in’ score. The optional paid Chief badge also says nothing about the quality of local services or a city's suitability for your household.
Use the right evidence
Before relying on any city ranking, inspect its question, data sources, date, geographic coverage, and weighting. For a personal relocation decision, define what matters to you and consult current local evidence. Our vote can start a conversation about places; it cannot settle that decision.
Explore city profiles · Read the full methodology · See the live leaderboard