Pacific Northwest city ranks among the 2026 best in the U.S. for quality of life
One Pacific Northwest city was ranked are among the best places in the country for quality of life,…
One Pacific Northwest city was ranked are among the best places in the country for quality of life, according to a new 2026 report.
Bellevue landed in the top 15 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-2027 ranking of U.S. cities with the highest quality of life.
The ranking looked at several factors that can affect everyday life, including safety, affordability, education, health care, environmental conditions, cost of living, and access to cultural amenities.
Here’s what to know about Bellevue and why it made the top 15.
Why did Bellevue rank No. 11 in the U.S.?
Bellevue was the highest-ranking Pacific Northwest city on the list, placing 11th overall.
Bellevue sits across Lake Washington from Seattle and offers a mix of urban amenities and easy access to outdoor spaces. Downtown Bellevue sits close to Lake Washington, while parks and trails are spread throughout the city.
The city has a population of about 154,000 and a median household income of about $172,000, according to the report.
The ranking highlighted Bellevue for its parks, museums, outdoor recreation, and growing technology sector.
How was the quality-of-life ranking determined?
U.S. News & World Report used data from Applied Geographic Solutions along with its own research to compare cities.
The measures were organized into five weighted indexes based on factors Americans consider important when deciding where to live.
Those measures included safety, housing affordability, environmental conditions, education, access to health care, cost of living, and cultural amenities.
The final ranking included 25 U.S. cities, with Bellevue representing the Pacific Northwest in the top 15.
