The 50 best places to live in America for 2018

Population: 470,348

Average annual salary: $47,550

Quality of life: 7.0

Value index: 7.1

Lansing, the diverse capital of Michigan, earns a spot on the list for its affordability, abundance of jobs, and local flavor. The area is home to everyone from career government workers to recent college graduates, and "you can go from a college campus to a waving wheat field in 10 minutes," one local expert said.

Residents love Lansing for its sports culture and fine arts scene, and although it gets chilly in the winters, the sunny summers more than make up for it.