What are the best places to live as a doctor in the USA in 2024?
The answer to this question is subjective, of course. So, when making this list, we combined many factors such as active job markets, affordable cost of living, high-quality of life, salary growth rate, and access to recreation for providers.
But we didn’t stop here. We recently ran a survey asking our healthcare clients at BellMedEx their top cities to live as physicians in the US.
After carefully analyzing the data from our survey, country-wide surveys, and the facts based on our criteria, we made this list. Also, we answered some questions about cities and states for living as a provider comfortably in the US at the end.
Best Cities to Live and Work as a Doctor in the USA
There are many great cities perfect for physicians in the USA, but let us share 13 best ones to narrow down the huge list for you.
1. RALEIGH, North Carolina
Raleigh is one of the best places to enjoy life as a doctor because of the strong economy, plenty of jobs in healthcare, and small-town hospitality. And as a healthcare provider, you can expect a higher salary in Raleigh than in many comparable cities.
And according to WalletHub, Raleigh is the second most educated city in the US. And many K-12 schools in the city consistently get higher rankings. This great American city offers commendable student life to pursue your healthcare education.
Most importantly, Raleigh is a part of The Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill) with three major research universities, making it a great city for medical doctors.
But that’s not all!
Raleigh offers perfect weather for outdoor activities and a short drive to mountains and a beach. You will absolutely love the thriving food scene in the town. The only cons of living and working in the city are heavy traffic in the downtown area and pollen in Spring.
2. CHARLOTTE, North Carolina
Charlotte is the highest-paying city in North Carolina, especially for healthcare providers. And we listed the city here because of its thriving economics, plenty of medical resources, and improved quality of life for physicians.
Charlotte’s population is also increasing rapidly and so is the providers’ volume. Healthcare providers have started serving suburbs, expanding their service area beyond Uptown. That alone shows the demand and the growth of healthcare providers in the city.
And our healthcare billing clients at BellMedEx in Charlotte are also having a great time there in the city (as they disclosed in the survey).
What’s more; you will find the best craft brew, top-class BBQ and eclectic shopping in Charlotte. The city offers the perfect blend of Southern charm and modern sophistication, with an ever-growing city skyline, vibrant streets, and a dynamic culture scene for healthcare professionals.
3. CHICAGO, Illinois
Chicago is one of the best places to live and work as a doctor in the USA because of the countless healthcare job opportunities. The city also has Illinois’s top medical schools and great hospitals.
Its $69.7 billion healthcare industry clearly shows the city’s commitment to innovate medical excellence.
Another thing we would like to talk about is that Chicago has beautiful suburbs. That’s excellent for physicians who want to live and work just outside the city. Chicago has a diverse population, great educational opportunities, and commendable healthcare facilities. And it has a low crime rate when viewed from the city’s size.
Chicago is famous for Chicago-style, deep-dish or stuffed pizzas. And people living in the city also appreciate the Cubs games, finger-licking food options, friendly residents, and more. The city has a lower cost of living when compared to major cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami.
4. SAN JOSE, California
San Jose is the highest paying city in the USA with an average physician’s compensation of $474,977 in 2024.
Needless to say that the cost of living in the city is also comparatively high. But there’s a shortage of physicians in this city of California. So, physicians will thrive there if they can manage their finances carefully.
San Jose became a major urban center immediately after the Silicon Valley boom took off. Many young professionals started living here to pursue their career. And so the demands for healthcare services also increased! That’s why the city has many great hospitals where you can start or grow your healthcare career as a doctor.
San Jose is known for innovation, cultural diversity, wealth, and sunny weather. The city is surrounded by rolling hills, architectural landmarks, and tech museums. All these things come together to make your life top-notch but at a high price, of course.
5. HOUSTON, Texas
Houston is home to Texas Medical Center (TMC), the largest medical complex in the world. It’s also one of the best hospital cities in America.
The city encourages advancements in life sciences, making it one of the best places to live as a doctor in the USA. And the city is more affordable when compared to others in the list.
The Bayou City has become a global city because of its developments in medicine, research, and culture. Also, doctor’s salaries in Houston are higher than the national average. And the state also offers low tax burdens when compared to others.
Houston is the most racially and ethnically diverse city in the US. It has one of the best food scenes in the country, and probably that’s why the residents eat out more than any American city. The city also offers museums, parks, art galleries, and everything in between.
6. ORLANDO, Florida
Orlando has many award-winning healthcare providers. And its healthcare system offers competitive compensation and benefits to attract and retain doctors.
As per the Medscape Physician Compensation Report, Orlando is among the top paying cities for physicians from all types of specialties.
Orlando is a great place to live as a doctor in the USA because of the quality of life, sunny weather, and attractions. And there are countless parks, social programs, and community centers for your family and friends.
Orlando is home to over 100 lakes, diverse neighborhoods, vibrant sports venues, and ever-thriving entertainment scenes. The city is also famous for being the theme park capital of the world with dozens of theme parks, including Walt Disney World.
7. MIAMI, Florida
Living in Miami helps you live a great life as a physician because of the diverse training experience. As a doctor, you will have the opportunity to encounter different medical conditions and polish your clinical skills in a multicultural setting.
With Miami’s state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, physicians can enjoy countless research opportunities. Working as a medical student or full-time doctor in Miami offers a fulfilling experience combined with unique medical training and exciting lifestyle.
There are countless reasons why Miami is everyone’s favorite; beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, tasty food, iconic architecture, thriving sports, music scenes, and much more. The city is ideal for young professionals and retirees because of its rich culture, stunning shoreline, and mind blowing attractions.
8. JACKSONVILLE, Florida
Jacksonville is a great place to live and work as a doctor in the US because of the high physician’s salary and annual pay growth. You’ll have a lot more opportunities in Jacksonville as a physician than any other city in the country.
What’s more is that the Westside of Jacksonville offers lower cost of living even with quick access to great hospitals and practices. Physicians should move to Jacksonville to enjoy some Florida sunshine, commendable healthcare system, and high income.
Jacksonville has 22 miles of coastline! That’s more than enough reason to start living in the city for a physician who loves beaches. The city also offers diverse neighborhoods, an art and culture scene, tastiest food, beautiful green parks, and much more.
9. ATLANTA, Georgia
Physicians like living and working in Atlanta because of the growing economy, high educational standards, and great hospitals. For example, Emory Healthcare is the largest healthcare system in the state, which is a part of the top-class Emory university.
The cost of living in the city is 6% higher than the national average, but you should be willing to pay a little higher for a quality life.
What we like the most about Atlanta is that its 47.9% area is covered with beautiful green trees. And it’s home to the world’s busiest and most efficient airports. The city’s navigation system is also commendable. It’s a perfect city to move to as a doctor if you love high-speed of life and healthcare career growth.
10. CINCINNATI, Ohio
Cincinnati offers a low cost of living with big city amenities for physicians at a higher salary than the cities with comparable size. The city has a special research focus along with the country’s biggest hospital systems, making it an ideal place for physicians to live and work in the US.
One factor you must consider when choosing a physician-friendly city is your kids’ access to the best schools in the state. There are 66 amazing public schools where you can enroll your kids with confidence in quality education.
Cincinnati is famous for its running scenes, unbeatable food, amazing architecture, surrounding hills, and beer of course. And thanks to its medical colleges, it’s a wonderful city to comfortably live as a doctor in the United States.
11. Green Bay, Wisconsin
Wisconsin is one of the highest paying states for physicians in the USA. And its major city, Green Bay, respects doctors the most when compared to other cities, taking the lowest adverse actions against doctors.
There are many hospitals and practices in Green Bay that deliver exceptional healthcare services. Living in the city is also great for physicians and other professionals because you’re always surrounded by green trees. And it has a lower cost of living than the national average.
Green Bay is known for its contributions to agriculture and industry, especially paper-making. As for food, the city takes pride in offering the world’s tastiest beer and cheese curds. It also offers great cruise tours, kayaking experiences, and much more.
12. AUSTIN, Texas
Doctors tend to live where they’re paid higher for their healthcare services. And Austin offers higher salaries to physicians working in internal medicine and general surgery than other major cities like Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and more.
Another great thing about Austin is that there is no income tax here. And that means you will save a lot of money as a physician. Other types of tax are also comparatively low, making it one of the most affordable places to live as a doctor in the USA.
Austin is a city with the most beautiful skyline. And it offers great life to medical college students, high-tech workers, and blue-collar workers. And it’s famous for stadiums, universities, theaters, Texas State Capitol, and Congress Avenue Bridge, and other historic landmarks.
13. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah
Salt Lake is one of the healthiest cities in the USA, representing its commitment to a strong healthcare system. The city has excellent hospitals, commendable medical schools, and enough healthcare providers to serve the patients.
What we like the most about Salt Lake is the robust public transportation, making it easy and affordable to navigate through the city. Although there’s competition in healthcare jobs in the city, you can still crack it if you are good enough.
Salt Lake City is a modern city surrounded by the Wasatch Mountain Range and the Great Salt Lake. It offers outdoor adventures like no other on the list, offering ski-resorts, canyons, and hiking places. It’s a place for fresh minded physicians who want traditional culture and natural beauty in an urban setting.
FAQs About Living as a Physician in the USA
Let us answer some of your questions about places to live as a doctor in the US.
Where do most doctors live in America?
According to Statista, most doctors in America that are professionally active are in California (125,566), New York (93,231), Texas (74,597), Florida (65,555), and Pennsylvania. On the other hand, Wyoming (1,533) has the least number of active physicians in the country.
What are the best states for physicians in the US?
According to WalletHub’s list of the best states for physicians are Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Utah, and Indiana based on 19 key points including, average annual wage of physicians, the quality of the public hospital system, and more.
What are the highest paying states for doctors?
According to the Physicians Thrive Physician Compensation Report 2024, the best states with highest median salaries for physicians are Wisconsin ($397K), Indiana ($372K), Georgia ($363K), Connecticut ($362K), Missouri ($361K), South Carolina ($360K), Florida ($359K), and California ($358K).
What are the worst states for doctors in the US?
According to Becker’s Hospital Review, the worst states for doctors in the US are New Jersey, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and New Mexico based on competition, opportunity, and the overall medical environment.
Conclusion
| Place | Why the best place for doctors? |
| Raleigh, NC | Strong economy, healthcare jobs, and higher salary |
| Charlotte, NC | Thriving economics and medical resources |
| Chicago, IL | Countless healthcare job opportunities |
| San Jose, CA | Highest paying city for physicians |
| Houston, TX | Home to Texas Medical Center and affordable |
| Orlando, FL | Award-winning healthcare providers and attractions |
| Miami, FL | Diverse training experience and state-of-the-art healthcare facilities |
| Jacksonville, FL | High physician’s salary and 22 miles of coastline |
| Atlanta, GA | Growing economy and great hospitals |
| Cincinnati, OH | Low cost of living with big city amenities |
| Green Bay, WI | Lowest adverse actions against doctors and surrounded by green trees |
| Austin, TX | Higher salaries and no income tax |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Strong healthcare system and outdoor adventures |
