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Currently looking at these 4 cities and curious which would be picked by the majority of folks here. Some of the main factors that I am taking into consideration are:
1. Employment, or how easy it is to get a good paying job (bachelors degree, finance/accounting, some analytical experience).
2. Cost of living - the lower the better obviously
3. Professional sports (hockey and football, but dont care about baseball)
4. Climate - the drier the better. I also like all 4 seasons and dont mind the cold cause I know how to dress up)
5. Outdoors. Would prefer some quality wilderness/national parks nearby
Where do I live now? NY metro area and I honestly believe that literally anywhere is better than this s##thole.
I suppose firstly, why exactly do you hate NY metro? It would help us figure out what you'd like based on what you don't like about NY metro. Could you list what you hate about NY?
When it comes to reasons why NYC is out of favor with me.. Well, don't even know where to start There are just so many things wrong with this city.
The greater New York area is in a major decline, starting with the economy. Unemployment rate is still around 9% and job competition is fierce because of overpopulation. I do have an ok job in the outer Jersey, but then again my upper 40's don't really get me anywhere around here.
Infrastructure - falling apart. Everywhere you go there is a line (and I mean HUGE lines). City itself is filthy and people for the most part are very impatient and ready to snap. The boroughs outside Manhattan are also very poor and probably more than half are recent immigrants trying to get by.
Climate is ridiculous due to extremely muggy subtropical heat..
I guess I'm reaching this stage in life when I think about where I would like to be and settle down with the family and it is going to be most certainly in the deep west.
Meaning climate-wise specifically. No 4 seasons, you'll have a handful of times a year you can wear a coat without sweating. For Outdoors and nearby wilderness, I'd strongly suggest Phoenix. Woods are nice, but getting woods, deserts, chaparral, and all the transitions in between within 50 miles of downtown is a unique bonus for PHX.Life's cheap and crime's pretty low, only barrier besides the heat I can think of is how completely different PHX is from New York.
I pick Denver for myself, even though Seattle and I have a pleasant history.
I've only been to Phoenix once, passing through, and have only been to MSP Airport, so I am no authority on those (though I do business in Phoenix daily).
Denver is the only place I've had a good paying job, and I don't have a degree. So your experience will not reflect mine.
You can live cheaply here, if you try hard to do so, and concede some things. You can do this in Seattle as well, but would have to put up with worse traffic to do so (likely).
Seattle doesn't have NBA or NHL. The Avs and Broncos are loved in Denver.
Denver is dry. Seattle is not. Denver has 4 seasons, sometimes all in the same week. Look at the current 5 day, for example. Seattle has two seasons, grey, and slightly less grey. If you can handle cold, you'll be fine here.
Denver has quality wilderness and national parks within driving distance. Seattle is almost like living in a national park.
For the OP, I'd definitely say Denver fits you best.
1. Employment: Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, Phoenix
2. Cost of living: Phoenix, Minneapolis, Denver, Seattle
3. Professional sports: Denver, Minneapolis, Seattle/Phoenix
4. Climate: Denver, Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis
5. Outdoors: Seattle=Denver (DEN is much closer to mountains, but SEA has water), Minneapolis=Phoenix
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There are just so many things wrong with this city. 
