Whether you're moving to a different state or, in some cases, a different country , affordability is often a key reason for relocation. Smaller cities and rural towns have recently become hot spots for those looking to escape high prices and overcrowding, but some still yearn for the big city. US News & World Report evaluated 859 cities on its way to ranking the 250 best places to live , and broke out a list highlighting the best big cities to live in. US News & World Report defined big cities