Gainesville has been named one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live 2018 by Livability.com, outpacing more than 2,100 cities (with populations between 20,000 and 350,000) in this data-driven ranking. The list is an exclusive, independent, editorial ranking by Livability.com.

“The 2018 Best Place to Live list includes a fascinating mix of familiar cities and first-timers that are starting to carve out a reputation as wonderful places to live,” says Winona Dimeo-Ediger, Livability.com’s managing editor. “It’s great to see these under-the-radar cities getting more attention on a national scale — and the accolades are certainly well-deserved.”

According to the ranking, “College students in Gainesville have access to a pair of well-regarded academic institutions like the University of Florida and Santa Fe College, and besides education, the economy remains robust because of sectors like agriculture, IT, life sciences, manufacturing, tourism and transportation. The largely millennial atmosphere in Gainesville has produced many shopping, dining and entertainment venues, and outdoor recreation choices include several public parks, walking trails and Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Other quality of life factors in Gainesville include a year-round mild climate and a lower cost of living than the national average.”