The 50 best places to live in America

5. Fayetteville, Arkansas

Population: 493,095

Average annual salary: $43,570

Quality of life: 7.4

Value: 7.9

Fayetteville sits among the Ozark Mountains and is home to the University of Arkansas’ flagship campus. The surrounding area of northwest Arkansas is home to headquarters for seven Fortune 500 companies including Walmart and Tyson Foods. The city has experienced immense growth, according to a local expert, who said the region has evolved “from a small town to a center of higher education, culture, commerce, and entrepreneurialism.”