Kiplinger's ten best cities 2009 (life, people, quality, schools)

[ComSense]

Raliegh is always atop the lists in "best of". Nobody can argue that Raleigh shouldnt be in the top 10. But D.C.?

[Thomas R.]

Originally Posted by ComSense

Raleigh is always atop the lists in "best of". Nobody can argue that Raleigh shouldnt be in the top 10. But D.C.?

I was a bit surprised by that too. I guess it's the "creative class" aspect they're using.

[14thandYou]

Originally Posted by jufrbo

DC, really?

Why not?

[14thandYou]

Originally Posted by ComSense

Raliegh is always atop the lists in "best of". Nobody can argue that Raleigh shouldnt be in the top 10. But D.C.?

We've got a great economy, high quality of life, robust job market and great culture.

But of course, who'd want any of that?

[AK123]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

How did you go from this:
2008
1. Houston,TX
2. Raleigh,NC
3. Omaha,NE
4. Boise,ID
5. Colorado Springs,CO
6. Austin,TX
7.Fayettville,Ark
8.Sacramento,CA
9. Des Moines,IO
10. Provo,UT

To this:
2009
1. Huntsville, Alabama
2. Albuquerque, New Mexico
3. Washington, DC
4. Charlottesville, Virginia
5. Athens, Georgia
6. Olympia, Washington
7. Madison, Wisconsin
8. Austin, Texas
9. Flagstaff, Arizona
10. Raleigh, North Carolina

Not saying either list is wrong or right, but the cities seem to be random

I suppose you could move to a new city each year the list comes out! That wouldn't be very economical though...

Originally Posted by waronxmas

By matter of function, college towns can only be good 9 months out of the year. The rest of the time they are dead, dead, dead.

Originally Posted by grapico

They are always dead if you are over 25.

I'd get bored. In fact, I did. And it was one of the larger of the college towns.

[ComSense]

Originally Posted by 14thandYou

We've got a great economy, high quality of life, robust job market and great culture.

But of course, who'd want any of that?

What comes to mind when I think of D.C.? Crime, road rage and high cost of living.

[rnc2mbfl]

Originally Posted by 14thandYou

We've got a great economy, high quality of life, robust job market and great culture.

But of course, who'd want any of that?

Each year, it seems that the methology for identifying cities is tweaked to keep the criteria up to date. So, while Austin and Raleigh are the only two cities who made the top ten both years, I'd imagine that the others didn't completely fall off the radar screen. They might just be a bit lower. That's just a hunch.

14thandYou: I agree but I'd add good public schools, terrific health care, lowest metro crime rates in the state, amazing university options, highly intelligent populace, terrific parks and recreation, etc. to your list.

Despite the fact that Raleigh seems to get on everyone's list year after year after year, it still amazes me how it seems to fly under the radar to many people. Of course, that's not true for everyone since it's the fastest growing metro in the country.

[ComSense]

Originally Posted by rnc2mbfl

Each year, it seems that the methology for identifying cities is tweaked to keep the criteria up to date. So, while Austin and Raleigh are the only two cities who made the top ten both years, I'd imagine that the others didn't completely fall off the radar screen. They might just be a bit lower. That's just a hunch.

14thandYou: I agree but I'd add good public schools, terrific health care, lowest metro crime rates in the state, amazing university options, highly intelligent populace, terrific parks and recreation, etc. to your list.

Despite the fact that Raleigh seems to get on everyone's list year after year after year, it still amazes me how it seems to fly under the radar to many people. Of course, that's not true for everyone since it's the fastest growing metro in the country.

I think '14thandYou' was talking about D.C. and I believe you are talking about Raleigh, correct?

[14thandYou]

Originally Posted by ComSense

What comes to mind when I think of D.C.? Crime, road rage and high cost of living.

Well, that explains it then. You don't understand DC. Got it.

[14thandYou]

Originally Posted by ComSense

I think '14thandYou' was talking about D.C. and I believe you are talking about Raleigh, correct?

Correct; I was speaking about DC. I've never set foot in Raleigh so can't make any informed comments about it.