Bluegrass Rankings
Not surprisingly, we believe that Lexington and the surrounding Bluegrass Region is one of the best places in the world. Whether you are looking to start or relocate a business, raise a family, or just enjoy life, Lexington is the place to be.
While you may expect us to think highly of Lexington, we are thrilled that a lot of other people do as well. Below is a sample of all the great things that other people have been saying about Lexington lately.
A list of our recent accomplishments
2022
- #10 2022 Top Metro Projects, South Central Region. Site Selection Magazine
- #36 in Best Cities to Live in America, Niche
- #12 in Best Cities to Buy a House, Niche
- #7 Best City for New College Grads, SmartAsset
- Unity Award, Alpha Beta Lambda Chapter Education Foundation
- #32 in Best Cities to Raise a Family in America, Niche
- Top U.S. City to Live In, U.S. News & World Report
- #8 Mid-sized Metro with Best Business Climate, Business Facilities
2021
- #6 Best City for New College Grads, SmartAsset
- Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development, Site Selection Magazine
- #5 Best Run City in America, WalletHub
- #11 Best City for First-Time Homebuyers, Smart Asset
- #15 Cities Whose Unemployment Rates Are Bouncing Back Most
- #22 The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2021, Travel + Leisure
- #9 2020 Top Micropolitan by Number of Economic Development Projects (Richmond-Berea, KY), Site Selection Magazine
- #10 2020 Top Metro by Number of Economic Development Projects, Site Selection Magazine
#10 2020 Top Metro by Number of Economic Development Projects per Captia, Site Selection Magazine - #5 2020 Top State by Most Top Micropolitan Areas (Kentucky), Site Selection Magazine
- #7 2020 Top State by Number of Economic Development Projects (Kentucky), Site Selection Magazine
- #3 2020 Top State by Number of Economic Development Projects Per Capita (Kentucky), Site Selection Magazine
- #10 City with Best Work-Life Balance, SmartAsset
2020
- #10 Best Places to Live on a $60,000 Salary, SmartAsset
- # 5 Most Affordable City for an Early Retirement
- #35 Best Cities for First-Time Homebuyers – 2020 Edition
- # 9 The 10 Most Diversified Metro Economies in the US, WalletHub
- #5 Best City to Buy an Affordable Family Home, SmartAsset
- #10 Best Cities for Young Professionals – 2020 Edition, SmartAsset
- #1 Cities Whose Unemployment Rates Are Bouncing Back Most, WalletHub
- Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development, Site Selection Magazine
- First-Rate Economic Development Agency, Southern Business & Development
- #6 Best Pharmacy School in the U.S. (University of Kentucky), U.S. News & World Report
- #2 Best Cities for College Grads, SmartAsset
- #9 Friendliest City in the U.S., Conde Nast Traveler
- #1 Most Favorable State Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, U.S. News & World Report
- #19 Cities With the Youngest Workforces, SmartAsset
- #2 2019 Top State by Number of Economic Development Projects in Micropolitan Areas (Kentucky), Site Selection Magazine
- #7 2019 Top Metro by Number of Economic Development Projects, Site Selection Magazine
- #2 2019 Top State by Number of Economic Development Projects Per Capita (Kentucky), Site Selection Magazine
- #8 2018 Top State by Number of Economic Development Projects (Kentucky), Site Selection Magazine
- #30 Best Weekend Getaways in the South, Country Living
- Top-10 Midwest Success Stories, Manhatten Institute
- #3 Cities with the Best Work-Life Balance, SmartAsset
2019
- #6 Top Manufacturing State (Kentucky), Business Facilities
- #7 State for Foreign Trade Zone Activity – Imports (Kentucky), Business Facilities
- #4 State for Automotive Manufacturing Strength (Kentucky), Business Facilities
- #10 Lowest Industrial Electricity Rates (Kentucky), Business Facilities
- #14 Top State Business Climate, Site Selection
- #4 Top Potential Tech Growth Centers, Brookings Institute
- #11 Best Untapped Cities for Startups in 2020, Fundera
- #19 States Leading the Charge on Renewable Energy, SmartAsset
- #15 Best Cities for Young Professionals, GOBankingRates.com
- #2 Best City for Antique and Flea Market Lovers, Livability
- #26 Best Big Cities to Live In, WalletHub
- #29 Best Places to Live in the USA, U.S. News and World Report
- #6 Cities with the Lowest Startup Costs, SmartAsset
- #5 Economic Growth Potential of Mid-Sized Cities, Business Facilities
- #7 Best Large Real-Estate Market, WalletHub
- #4 Best City for First-Time Home Buyers, WalletHub
- #5 Best-Run City in America, WalletHub
- 2019 Silver Shovel Award (Kentucky), Area Development
- Top 25 Best Places To Retire in 2019, Forbes
- #3 The 10 Safest & Most Dangerous Metro Cities in America for 2019, SafeWise
- #7 Best Cities for New College Grads, SmartAsset
- #7 Top 10 Best Cities in America for Eating Out Affordably, Money
- #2 State for Clean Energy Job Growth (Kentucky), E2
- #36 Top 100 Best Places to Live, Livability
- #6 Cities with the Best Work-Life Balance, SmartAsset
- The 50 Best Foodie Towns in America, The Daily Meal
- #5 2018 Top State for Number of Economic Development Projects (Kentucky), Site Selection Magazine
- #2 2018 Top State for Economic Development Projects Per Capita (Kentucky, Site Selection Magazine
- #2 2018 Top State for Most Top Micropolitan Areas (Kentucky), Site Selection Magazine
- #9 2018 Top Metro for Economic Development Projects, Site Selection Magazine
2018
- #6 Cities with the Lowest Startup Costs, SmartAsset
- #42 Best Place for Business and Careers, Forbes
- #40 Best Cities for Gamers, WalletHub
- #14 Most Scenic Towns in North America, CarRentals.com by Expedia
- #14 Cities That Must Be Seen in 2019, Viewfinder by Expedia
- #2 Most Affordable Cities to Live and Work, BusinessStudent.com
- Top 10 Best Main Street Towns, WhereToRetire
- 100 Best Places to Retire, WhereToRetire
- Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development, Site Selection Magazine
- Top 10 Best Cities for Entrepreneurs, The Penny Hoarder
- #18 Best of the Midwest: Startup Cities, Midwest Startups
- #8 Best City to Live in America, Money
- #18 Best City for Veterans to Live, Veterans United
- #1 Most Affordable Cities for an Early Retirement, SmartAsset
- #6 Best City to Be a Game Developer or Designer, ValueGamers
- #10 Best Large Real-Estate Market, WalletHub
- #28 America’s Best Small Cities, BestCities
- #24 Best Cities for Young Professionals, Thrillist
- #10 Most Affordable College Towns for Renters, Apartment Guide
- #12 Beautiful Biking Destinations You’ll Want to Add to Your Bucket List, Self.com
- #6 State with the Best Community-College System, WalletHub
- #3 Best Cities to Raise a Family, Zumper
- #3 Safest City in America, SafeWise
- #31 Most Educated Cities in America, WalletHub
- #9 City with the Most Diverse Industries, Business Facilities
- #6 Economic Growth Potential of Mid-Sized Cities, Business Facilities
- #9 Best Cities for Remote Workers, moveBuddha
- #4 Best-Run City in America, WalletHub
- #21 Best Places to Live in America, U.S. News & World Report
- #6 City with the Best Work-Life Balance, SmartAsset
- University of Kentucky Top School for LGBTQ* Students, Campus Pride Index
- #3 Best City with the Highest Salaries and Lowest Costs of Living, GoBankingRates
- #8 Best U.S. Destination, Lonely Planet
- Top 12 Global Destinations to Visit in 2018, Newsday
- Top 9 Destinations to Visit in 2018, Vogue
- #10 Top Destination on the Rise, TripAdvisor
- #2 Best Midsized City for New Grads, OnlineDegrees
2017
- Marketing Slogan of the Year Winner, fDiIntelligence
- #26 Most Exciting Food City in America, Zagat
- #8 City with the Lowest Startup Costs, SmartAsset
- #6 Best Large Real Estate Market, WalletHub
- #19 Best City to Buy a Home Big Enough to Raise a Family, SmartAsset
- #2 Automotive Manufacturing Strength (Kentucky), Business Facilities
- #6 Top Manufacturing State, Business Facilities
- #5 Best Cost of Doing Business (Kentucky), Business Facilities
- #8 Lowest Industrial Electricity Rates (Kentucky), Business Facilities
- #7 Best City for FDI Strategy, Business Facilities
- #19 Overall Best City of the Midwest, Midwest Startups
- #30 Best City for Startups, Midwest Startups
- #17 Best City for Startup Resources, Midwest Startups
- #24 Best City for Economics and Demographics, Midwest Startups
- #5 Best Run City, WalletHub
- #31 Best City to Live In, USA Today
- #7 Best City for New Grads, SmartAsset
- #7 Top Small American City of the Future 2017/18 for FDI Strategy, fDi Intelligence
- #4 Top Mid-Sized Metro for Economic Development, Site Selection Magazine
- #8 Best City to Start a Business, HeroPay
- #2 State for Economic Development Projects per Capita, Site Selection Magazine
- #4 State for Total Economic Development Projects in Micropolitan Areas, Site Selection Magazine
- #7 State for Total Economic Development Projects, Site Selection Magazine
- #32 Most Recession-Recovered Large City, WalletHub
- #34 Best Place for Business and Careers, Forbes
- #46 City with the Best Cost of Business, Forbes
2016
- #1 Chamber of the Year, Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
- #1 Best Midsized City for New College Grads Starting Careers, Onlinedegrees.com
- #8 City with the Lowest Startup Costs, Smart Asset
- #14 City with the Fastest Growing Rate of New Startups, FiveThirtyEight
- #34 Best Place for Business and Careers, Forbes
- #19 Most Caring City, WalletHub
- #22 Best City for Families, WalletHub
- #4 Most Pet Friendly City, WalletHub
- #2 Most Charitable City in America, Deseret News
- #25 America’s Best City, Bloomberg
- #5 Best City for 20-Somethings, Move.org
- #5 State with the Best Shools, WalletHub
- #22 Best Job Opportunities in America, Niche
- #21 Best County for Millennials/Young Professionals, Niche
- #1 Best Large City and #10 Overall Best City for First Time Home Buyers, WalletHub
- #29 Best City to Buy a House, Niche
- #44 Best Large City to Start a Business, WalletHub
- #31 Lowest Cost of Living, Niche
- #46 in Cost of Doing Business, Forbes
- #54 in Job Growth, Forbes
- #42 Best City for Millennials/Young Professionals, Niche
- #6 Best Run City, Wallet Hub
- #16 Best Large City to Live In, Wallet Hub
- #81 Top 100 Best Places to Live, Livability
- #19 Best College Town in America, Best College Reviews
- #30 Best City for Women in the Workforce, Nerd Wallet
- #31 Best Mid-Sized City to Make a Living, Money Geek
- Best Places to Retire, Forbes
- Top Retirement Destination by Where to Retire
- #1 In Projects per Capita and #5 in Number of Projects, Site Selection Magazine
- #39 Best City for People with Disabilities, WalletHub
- #49 Best City to Live in America, Niche
- #62 Best City to Raise a Family, Niche
- #72 Safest City in America, Niche
- #58 Best Foodie City, WalletHub
- #7 Best City for Families – Education and Child Care, WalletHub
- #51 Best City for an Active Lifestyle, WalletHub
- #40 Fastest Growing City, WalletHub
- #10 Best Large City Real-Estate Market, WalletHub
Town Branch Park Flyover from Town Branch on Vimeo.
If you are looking for some of our older rankings, you can find them HERE
For more information about any of the information on this page or if you would like to find out why the Bluegrass is the perfect place for you, please contact Gina Greathouse at 859-225-5005.