Yingna Cai // ShutterstockBest county to live in for every stateWhat makes a county a great one to live in? To determine the best county in each state, Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live using 2025 data from Niche, which ranks counties based on various factors, including public schools, jobs, and the cost of living. Read on to find which county is the best to live in for each state. Heidi Besen // ShutterstockNorth Dakota: Cass County– Population: 189,286– Median household income: $75,023– Overall Niche grade: A– Public schools grade: A-– Best places to live: Clara Barton (A+), Longfellow (A), Hawthorne (A)Fargo, North Dakota, is the county seat of Cass County. Nejdet Duzen // ShutterstockWisconsin: Ozaukee County– Population: 92,345– Median household income: $96,734– Overall Niche grade: A+– Public schools grade: A+– Best places to live: Mequon (A+), Thiensville (A+), Cedarburg (A+)Ozaukee County is on Lake Michigan, north of Milwaukee.