NEW YORK, NY (WOWO) Kansas City, Missouri has been named the most livable metropolitan area in the Midwest for 2026, according to a new analysis released by RentCafe.

The study ranked the top 15 Midwest metros using a combination of socioeconomic indicators, quality of life measures, and location and community factors. Data sources included Yardi Matrix, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Cost of Living Index, Census Business Dynamics, and County Health Rankings.

Des Moines, Iowa ranked second, followed by Ann Arbor, Michigan. Columbus, Ohio placed fourth, and Indianapolis finished fifth overall. Minneapolis ranked sixth, with Dayton seventh and Madison eighth.

Other cities appearing in the rankings include Davenport, Iowa at ninth, Lansing, Michigan at tenth, and Fort Wayne, Indiana at eleventh. Omaha, Wichita, Milwaukee and Cleveland rounded out the list, with Cleveland ranking fifteenth.

RentCafe’s analysis reflects conditions as of September 2025 and compares metros across affordability, economic stability, health, and community access