The Nicest Places in America is our yearly search for communities where kindness thrives, differences are embraced and people come together to make life better for everyone. This year’s top five Nicest Places are all over the map, just as they always are. (Although we laugh every year at how the great state of Tennessee tends to be overrepresented—kudos to all you Volunteers!) Their inspiring and heartwarming stories show what’s possible for all of us, no matter how challenging the world may seem right now.
Read on to check out 2025’s winners—including Asheville, North Carolina, which nabbed this year’s No. 1 spot. Then scroll down to submit your nomination for 2026’s Nicest Places in America—our 10th annual celebration!
Visit Our 2025 Winners
The Road to the Nicest Places
It all starts with you. Ever since we introduced our annual contest in 2017, we’ve asked you all to be our team of citizen journalists, reporting back to us about places where nice things are happening. You know, the places where you just want to be—if not as a full-time resident, then as often as you can. This year, we received more nominations for one place than ever before: Five people told us incredible stories about Asheville, North Carolina, and the surrounding area. We couldn’t have done nine years of Nicest Places in America without you and, of course, our dedicated judges. Hats off to you all!
