America's Dream Cities (Pittsburgh, Forest Hills, Rochester: 2014, crime, public schools)

[WILWRadio]

Found the following report and was shocked to see Pittsburgh rated so low by the people that were polled that actually live there. This ranking seems to contradict all the good things I have read about the region over the last few years. I thought people in general were pretty happy living in the Pittsburgh metro area?

The Burghard Group | Strengthening Brand America

http://strengtheningbrandamerica.com...eport-2013.pdf

[SlurmsMcKenzie]

I find such a list including Buffalo near the top, and to a lesser extent Rochester and Hartford, odd. Perhaps the standards of the American Dream are lower in these places?

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by SlurmsMcKenzie

I find such a list including Buffalo near the top, and to a lesser extent Rochester and Hartford, odd. Perhaps the standards of the American Dream are lower in these places?

Were we reading the same list? My list puts Buffalo at 34 out of 52. Rochester is confusing to me as well. Where do you see Hartford?

[ctoocheck]

This rating looks pretty much like BS, nothing you should take seriously

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Two observations:

1. This list doesn't make a lot of sense. Some of those top cities are hell holes.
2. This forum doesn't realize that not everyone is as gung-ho about this city as they are. There are still many problems for many people here.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

Found the following report and was shocked to see Pittsburgh rated so low by the people that were polled that actually live there. This ranking seems to contradict all the good things I have read about the region over the last few years. I thought people in general were pretty happy living in the Pittsburgh metro area?

The Burghard Group | Strengthening Brand America

http://strengtheningbrandamerica.com...eport-2013.pdf

When I was in Pittsburgh earlier this month, most of the random people I struck up conversations with seemed to be enjoying themselves, and didn't have anything really negative to say. One person did complain about the gas tax increase, and my brother's fiancee wants to get away from Forest Hills, but that's pretty much it.

[WILWRadio]

Apparently the list was compiled based upon a series of questions asked to those being polled in each metro area. So, things like economic conditions or crime may not even be weighted into the study at least in terms of the actual statistics that bear out whether or not a particular area is good, mediocre or bad. It is based upon people giving either favorable or unfavorable opinions for each topic and question posed. That is why I was really confused as to why Pittsburgh is at the bottom of the heap. It looks like a lot of the people that were polled in your area gave it a bad grade.

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Were we reading the same list? My list puts Buffalo at 34 out of 52. Rochester is confusing to me as well. Where do you see Hartford?

Hartford is rated number 1. It certainly does not rank well if you look at the tax structure, corporate taxes or percentage of people living below the poverty line within the city limits. But after looking at what kinds of questions were asked, I can see why now it scored so high. People that live there really like the quality of life taxes be damned among other things. It is far from a hell hole though the city itself has some rough areas. But overall the area does have a very high standard of living with some of the best private and public schools in the country.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

Hartford is rated number 1. It certainly does not rank well if you look at the tax structure, corporate taxes or percentage of people living below the poverty line within the city limits. But after looking at what kinds of questions were asked, I can see why now it scored so high. People that live there really like the quality of life taxes be damned among other things. It is far from a hell hole though the city itself has some rough areas. But overall the area does have a very high standard of living with some of the best private and public schools in the country.

Well, I'll be darned. Thanks. My eyes just skipped over it as I read down the list!

[SammyKhalifa]

Pittsburgh as city has a bit of an inferiority complex, too.