Best metros for QOL

[march2]

I rank metros and have done some since 1985. From my lists taking into consideration economy, overall cost of living/buying power, housing costs, transportation, recreation, education, health care, climate/weather, and crime; combined with the Consumer Preference Index (polling and census info of what the average American considers "Quality of Life", which is recalculated every 5-10 years), here are the top 3 metros (in no particular order) from my last ranking in 2015 in the population parameters you listed:

Large: Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Atlanta

Medium: Charlotte, Cincinnati, Kansas City

Small: Omaha, Knoxville, Asheville

COL doesn't seem to be as important of a factor of Quality of Life here on C-D as it is nationally. It affects too much of the average person's life to be ignored to the degree it is. I know that won't fly very well on here, lol, but demographic trends and being able to afford more on less AND still enjoy great recreational assets within a strong economy says otherwise. Though NYC, SF, SEA, and LA have their merits, the blind love fest some have with these areas ignores key QOL factors. The Seattle/Tacoma area would've been on this list 5-10 years ago. But the overwhelming rise in the COL and its associated negative effects has made it much less desirable and eroded at their QOL. Anyway, great thread!

[projectmaximus]

Not considering COL, for me among the places I have been:

Large: NYC, SF, Chi

Medium: Portland, Denver, Sacramento

Small: Honolulu, Charleston, Chattanooga

For the small category there are many other contenders that I've never been to and could quite possibly make the top 3. Omaha, Tulsa, ABQ, Greenville, Boise, etc.