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Somehow this thread devolved from debating walkable, commuter friendly, fun suburbs to promoting which is the most unaffordable, family-oriented, sterile suburb with access to a park and ride. No offense to any particular suburbia intended.
In all fairness, there's a lot of subjectivity in people's preference of suburbs.
metrics for ranking:
-Amenities
-Diversity
-QOL
-Nigh life
-COL
-Schools
-Downtown/market square
-Natural scenery
-Outdoor recreation
-Families
I know the conversation will eventually stir this way but I would like to omit the main city as being a reason why such and such suburb is ranked high. I want to rank these cities burbs based on the burbs alone just to say how they stock up against one another. Chicago would probably win off that metric alone. So I want this list based solely on their burbs.
Going by the metrics, I'd throw these places out, Chicago: Evanston
Using the OP’s criteria, Milton isn’t a good choice because it lacks a downtown area and it’s far below the state average for Hispanic residents.
I think Waltham meets the OP’s criteria best in general. Moody Street is very vibrant and has a good mix of shops and restaurants. Prospect Hill and the Charles provide good outdoor recreation opportunities. The schools are fine by MA standards. Though as others have mentioned, the COL there has increased a lot over the last decade.
Edit: On second thought, Malden might be even better than Waltham as it’s more diverse, a bit cheaper, and has better-ranked schools. I think Waltham is a bit better for outdoor recreation and I like the retail diversity on Moody, but DT Malden is still pretty hopping and the city has the Middlesex Fells right there.
Last edited by Boston Shudra; 10-31-2020 at 06:02 PM..
Going by the metrics, I'd throw these places out, Chicago: Evanston
Philadelphia: Cheltenham
Atlanta: Decatur
DC: Silver Spring
Vegas: not sure
Boston: perhaps Milton
St. Louis: University City
DFW: not sure
Houston: not sure
Cheltenham Township has a non-trivial Black population, largely found around the historic village of La Mott, named in honor of Quaker abolitionist Lucretia Mott and also home to the training grounds for Pennsylvania's Black Civil War regiment, Camp William Penn. Its schools are decent but taxes are high.
You might also include Ardmore, a census-designated place in Lower Merion and Haverford Townships, in this grouping. It's home to a Black community that dates to just after the Civil War, the oldest and largest such community on the Main Line. One of the seven members of the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners is Black; he represents the district that includes South Ardmore (the area in question).
Also, Cheltenham doesn't have a "downtown" or "town center" to speak of, while Ardmore definitely does; it's home to the Lower Merion Township municipal building, a concert venue and a popular brewery, all walkable from its Regional Rail station.
One of the most impressive suburbs in the US is not even mentioned here. That would be Bellevue,WA. The only suburb that matches it would be Buckhead, GA but even that isn’t fair as Buckhead is in Atlanta city limits.
One of the most impressive suburbs in the US is not even mentioned here. That would be Bellevue,WA. The only suburb that matches it would be Buckhead, GA but even that isn’t fair as Buckhead is in Atlanta city limits.
Atlantans use Buckhead at their will depending on how the story flows but Buckhead is not a suburb even though it looks like and functions like a suburbs of Atlanta.
Atlantans use Buckhead at their will depending on how the story flows but Buckhead is not a suburb even though it looks like and functions like a suburbs of Atlanta.
Bellevue is arguably not a suburb, either. It’s a city in its own right.
Bellevue is arguably not a suburb, either. It’s a city in its own right.
Bellvue is its own thing but Buckhead is in Atlanta's city borders... I know it looks like a suburb with mcmansions or an edge city of DC with the skyscrapers and parking garages but its actually within the city limits of Atlanta... remember that Atlanta is the least dense major city.
May I ask an inquiry? If you prefer a more tranquil life style and less tech culture then why wouldn't you move to an area that provides that on a normal day?
Because I want that lifestyle to exist here....I'm not really into moving elsewhere.
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