St. Louis vs. Denver vs. Houston vs. Dallas vs. Birmingham: Which is awesome-er? (best, state) - City-Data Forum

WestCoDude · 03-09-2008, 03:16 PM

If these were your choices, which one would you pick to live in?

Which would be better for a 20-something law student with the following caveats?

*Fairly conservative
*Great access to the outdoors/hiking
*Family friendly
*Good suburbs in which to live--a great urban environment matters much less than good schools, safe neighborhoods, etc.
*Weather doesn't matter much--snow and skiing is awesome but can be sacrificed for an even more awesome city.
*Great church-going/faith-minded population
* Affordability isn't a huge concern--but, naturally, one looks for the most bang for one's buck.
*Good shopping/upscale suburbs and shopping districts, yuppie area
*Good law job market (though....any big city is likely to have this in varying degrees)
* Kid-friendly
*Great sports town
*Lots of parks/green spaces
*Great cultural ammenities (museums, zoos, theatre, etc.)

The most important thing here is a faith/family-centered town with great hiking/parks. These are the cities with the law schools in consideration and, from the looks of things, rather robust law job markets. But.....church, family, parks, suburbs....you get the drift. What would be the best sort of town with that emphasis? Do either of the above cities match up well?

Thanks for your input!

WestCoDude · 03-09-2008, 03:46 PM

Oh....and please explain why you voted as you did. I like all of these cities--but that doesn't mean that I know what's it's like to live in them....

Billiam · 03-09-2008, 03:56 PM

I voted St. Louis. Ive been to all of thos cities and i think the best one overall was St. Louis. And i just think it meets your overall criteria. Not much, but theres my 2 cents

SiddharthaGautama · 03-09-2008, 04:20 PM

My pick would be Denver

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestCoDude

If these were your choices, which one would you pick to live in?

Which would be better for a 20-something law student with the following caveats?

*Fairly conservative St. Louis and Birmingham
*Great access to the outdoors/hiking St Louis is terrible / Denver
*Family friendly All of them
*Good suburbs in which to live--a great urban environment matters much less than good schools, safe neighborhoods, etc. stl worst crime / Denver
*Weather doesn't matter much--snow and skiing is awesome but can be sacrificed for an even more awesome city. not important
*Great church-going/faith-minded population probably dallas
* Affordability isn't a huge concern--but, naturally, one looks for the most bang for one's buck. midwest dallas, st louis
*Good shopping/upscale suburbs and shopping districts, yuppie area dallas and denver
*Good law job market (though....any big city is likely to have this in varying degrees) all cities
* Kid-friendly denver
*Great sports town denver
*Lots of parks/green spaces definitely denver
*Great cultural ammenities (museums, zoos, theatre, etc.) all of these offer cultural amenities

The most important thing here is a faith/family-centered town with great hiking/parks. These are the cities with the law schools in consideration and, from the looks of things, rather robust law job markets. But.....church, family, parks, suburbs....you get the drift. What would be the best sort of town with that emphasis? Do either of the above cities match up well?

Thanks for your input!

WestCoDude · 03-09-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billiam

I voted St. Louis. Ive been to all of thos cities and i think the best one overall was St. Louis. And i just think it meets your overall criteria. Not much, but theres my 2 cents

Thanks Billiam!

Would DC fit my criteria?

I've been there and I can attest that it probably does not. But it is an amazing area for young lawyers....

ajf131 · 03-09-2008, 05:11 PM

St. Louis fits every single category except maybe for the weather and definitely in terms of being fairly conservative. In St. Charles County or maybe Jefferson County, you will find conservative thinking there, but the Metro East, St. Louis City, and St. Louis County all lean to the left. Weather here is pretty crazy. St. Louis has cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers, but the advantage is that its winters are not the worst in the country nor are its summers. the only times I've ever found summers intolerable here are in the last few weeks of August, when it climbs into the 90s and stays there. I love Dallas, Atlanta, and Birmingham, but the summers there are too hot and the winters far too mild for me. In my opinion, other Midwestern cities besides St. Louis you might want to look at is possibly Cincinnati or maybe Kansas City. Both are very similar to St. Louis in terms of weather, but politically are more conservative.

WestCoDude · 03-09-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajf131

St. Louis fits every single category except maybe for the weather and definitely in terms of being fairly conservative. In St. Charles County or maybe Jefferson County, you will find conservative thinking there, but the Metro East, St. Louis City, and St. Louis County all lean to the left. Weather here is pretty crazy. St. Louis has cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers, but the advantage is that its winters are not the worst in the country nor are its summers. the only times I've ever found summers intolerable here are in the last few weeks of August, when it climbs into the 90s and stays there. I love Dallas, Atlanta, and Birmingham, but the summers there are too hot and the winters far too mild for me. In my opinion, other Midwestern cities besides St. Louis you might want to look at is possibly Cincinnati or maybe Kansas City. Both are very similar to St. Louis in terms of weather, but politically are more conservative.

I think St. Louis is considerably more conservative than you give it credit for being. Outside of St. Louis City--which isn't exactly your traditional wine-sipping liberal vote, it's mostly the minority Democratic vote--the area is fairly conservative. On the other hand...you're right. KC and Cincy are more conservative but that might just be because they are smaller metro areas......

CMDallas · 03-09-2008, 06:40 PM

All I iz going to say is: I iz Biased...

edit: oops...I thought you were doing a poll for the heck of it...uhh... I would go with... Dallas

...or Houston...or Denver...a 3 way tie...

*Fairly conservative
yeah sure...the suburbs, city proper Dallas i pretty Liberal (same with Houston, and St.Louis. I think all of Denver is actually pretty liberal though). Birmingham would be the best here...followed by an Equal Dallas, Houston, and St. Louis
*Great access to the outdoors/hiking
Denver beats everyone here...maybe...St.Louis Next...
*Family friendly
yeah Sure...all of them I guess.
*Good suburbs in which to live--a great urban environment matters much less than good schools, safe neighborhoods, etc.
yeah sure...St.Louis is supposedly Dangerous, but the Suburbs should be fine.
*Weather doesn't matter much--snow and skiing is awesome but can be sacrificed for an even more awesome city.
Denver...
*Great church-going/faith-minded population
Birmingham first, followed closely by a tie between Dallas and Houston.
* Affordability isn't a huge concern--but, naturally, one looks for the most bang for one's buck.
DFW, Houston, Birmingham probably best
*Good shopping/upscale suburbs and shopping districts, yuppie area
Dallas, I didn't know prior to joining this forum...but apparently we have some nice shopping areas ad a good Fashion industry...Houston does too though...
*Good law job market (though....any big city is likely to have this in varying degrees)
Yeah all i know is DFW and Houston are good.
* Kid-friendly
yeah...but thats anywhere.
*Great sports town
that Spells Dallas, Denver too...
*Lots of parks/green spaces
err...in any city...nahh...if your willing to drive a bit...Denver...
*Great cultural ammenities (museums, zoos, theatre, etc.)
Sure all of them...Birmingham probably is weakest here...
Houston has the NASA
Dallas has the State Fair
Denver has those nice Mountains...
all have zoos

WestCoDude · 03-09-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMDallas

All I iz going to say is: I iz Biased...

edit: oops...I thought you were doing a poll for the heck of it...uhh... I would go with... Dallas

...or Houston...or Denver...a 3 way tie...

*Fairly conservative
yeah sure...the suburbs, city proper Dallas i pretty Liberal (same with Houston, and St.Louis. I think all of Denver is actually pretty liberal though). Birmingham would be the best here...followed by an Equal Dallas, Houston, and St. Louis
*Great access to the outdoors/hiking
Denver beats everyone here...maybe...St.Louis Next...
*Family friendly
yeah Sure...all of them I guess.
*Good suburbs in which to live--a great urban environment matters much less than good schools, safe neighborhoods, etc.
yeah sure...St.Louis is supposedly Dangerous, but the Suburbs should be fine.
*Weather doesn't matter much--snow and skiing is awesome but can be sacrificed for an even more awesome city.
Denver...
*Great church-going/faith-minded population
Birmingham first, followed closely by a tie between Dallas and Houston.
* Affordability isn't a huge concern--but, naturally, one looks for the most bang for one's buck.
DFW, Houston, Birmingham probably best
*Good shopping/upscale suburbs and shopping districts, yuppie area
Dallas, I didn't know prior to joining this forum...but apparently we have some nice shopping areas ad a good Fashion industry...Houston does too though...
*Good law job market (though....any big city is likely to have this in varying degrees)
Yeah all i know is DFW and Houston are good.
* Kid-friendly
yeah...but thats anywhere.
*Great sports town
that Spells Dallas, Denver too...
*Lots of parks/green spaces
err...in any city...nahh...if your willing to drive a bit...Denver...
*Great cultural ammenities (museums, zoos, theatre, etc.)
Sure all of them...Birmingham probably is weakest here...
Houston has the NASA
Dallas has the State Fair
Denver has those nice Mountains...
all have zoos

Wow....good summary. Thanks a lot!

goozer · 03-09-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestCoDude

Would DC fit my criteria?

I've been there and I can attest that it probably does not. But it is an amazing area for young lawyers....

I agree that DC is a fantastic place to work as a young lawyer. I think that it is also possible to work for a few years in DC at a law firm, the federal government, Congress, or a public interest/non profit organization and develop the experience that would permit you to move to your "dream" city down the road. I also think that as a law school graduate, your career should be an important consideration, particularly as you have not yet "specialized" in any area of law. DC might not meet all of your criteria, but you will meet many educated young people from all walks of life. It is a fascinating place to live and work as a young attorney.