WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – U.S. News and World Report rated Woodbury as one of the best cities to live in for 2025-2026, ranking the city 54th nationally and fourth in Minnesota. In the report released today, only Plymouth, Maple Grove, and Eden Prairie ranked higher in the North Star State.

The digital media company said, “For the 2025-2026 Best Places to Live rankings, we selected 250 major cities to find the best places to live. To make the top of the list, a place had to have good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market and a high quality of life.” 

US News uses five weighted indexes, Quality of Life, Value, Desirability, Job Market, and Net Migration. They state, “To top the list, a place must earn high scores in criteria such as desirability and quality of life.” Each index is based on public data and weighted based on a survey of what is important to Americans. 

The highest-ranking states are located in the South, which reflects the inclusion of weather and average monthly temperatures in the scoring system.