These days, American politics is increasingly polarizing. It's not enough to simply befriend only those who share your beliefs — political affiliation now often factors into where people choose to live. The editors of Livability.com used data from geomapping software Esri, nonpartisan watchdog GovTrack, and self-reported political leanings from residents to put together a list of the best cities for liberals, conservatives, and centrists.
The results are roughly what you might expect. On the left, historically liberal cities that also are home to large universities dominated the list, while relatively smaller cities in the South and Midwest proved more popular with those who lean to the right. Check out the full list below. --Samantha Rollins
10 best cities for liberals, 2014
1. Berkeley, California2. Hoboken, New Jersey3. Somerville, Massachusetts4. Boulder, Colorado5. Evanston, Illinois6. College Park, Maryland7. Ann Arbor, Michigan8. Mercer Island, Washington9. Alexandria, Virginia10. Newport, Rhode Island
10 best cities for conservatives, 2014
1. Alabaster, Alabama2. Crestview, Florida3. Clinton, Utah4. Bristol, Tennessee5. Odessa, Texas6. Yukon, Oklahoma7. Slidell, Louisiana8. Olive Branch, Mississippi9. Peachtree City, Georgia10. Benton, Arkansas
10 best cities for centrists, 2014
1. Spokane Valley, Washington2. Bend, Oregon3. Indio, California4. Gainesville, Florida5. Albany, Georgia6. Boise, Idaho7. Muncie, Indiana8. Sparks, Nevada9. Oregon, Ohio10. Wildwood, Missouri
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