Still looking for a city that meets all these criteria (low crime, chapel)

[djohanna]

Thanks for taking to time to answer my question if you do. Here's a list of things I desire in a city:

-greenery (so, Colorado is out, so is Southern California. No deserts for me).
-generally educated/smart populace (which usually means less crime)
-an alive art scene (and not just old people who paint landscapes, no offense to them)--a place where i can easily find a figure drawing class to drop in at, for example, so it can't be too small of a city
-not too sleazy/raunchy. i don't want to drive by a strip club on every other corner. new orleans and portland are out. maybe las vegas and los angeles would be out for this reason alone.
-not extremely expensive. boston and washington, d.c. are out (even more expensive than vancouver, bc!)
-low crime rate.

[cjg5]

Either Seattle or Portland may fit the bill for you.

[amaiunmei]

Not Seattle ... the art scene in Seattle has largely left (most of the artists I know who left went to Portland).

[313Weather]

Minneapolis or Atlanta may fit your bill the closest, granted no city in the US meets your entire criteria.

[ckhthankgod]

Except for size, I would guess that places like Boulder or Ithaca would fit everything. Perhaps look into major college towns that may be big enough for you. I'm also thinking that places like Ann Arbor, Madison, Champaign-Urbana and similar places would work too.

[CowsAndBeer]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Except for size, I would guess that places like Boulder or Ithaca would fit everything. Perhaps look into major college towns that may be big enough for you. I'm also thinking that places like Ann Arbor, Madison, Champaign-Urbana and similar places would work too.

Good list of small towns, but I'd knock Champaign-Urbana off of it (just doesn't measure up to the rest).

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by djohanna

Thanks for taking to time to answer my question if you do. Here's a list of things I desire in a city:

-greenery (so, Colorado is out, so is Southern California. No deserts for me).
-generally educated/smart populace (which usually means less crime)
-an alive art scene (and not just old people who paint landscapes, no offense to them)--a place where i can easily find a figure drawing class to drop in at, for example, so it can't be too small of a city
-not too sleazy/raunchy. i don't want to drive by a strip club on every other corner. new orleans and portland are out. maybe las vegas and los angeles would be out for this reason alone.
-not extremely expensive. boston and washington, d.c. are out (even more expensive than vancouver, bc!)
-low crime rate.

Durham/Chapel Hill/Carrboro NC hits all of your criteria.

[steel03]

You are describing Minneapolis.

[Tor_Nado]

The correct answer is Minneapolis

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Seattle and Minneapolis are the two cities that leap to mind.