Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
If you're white, then these are excellent cities to live in.
As an East Asian person, I felt Portland was and is pretty great so there's that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by saibot
How in the heck is San Francisco in the top 10?
*that*'s what surprises you on the list?
SF has a lot going for it despite it being quite expensive which has exacerbated its issue with homelessness, though that issue is also partially from transplants coming in because it's a pretty interesting and attractive place with relatively moderate weather and beautiful scenery and maybe one of a handful of large walkable expanses in the US.
As an East Asian person, I felt Portland was and is pretty great so there's that.
*that*'s what surprises you on the list?
SF has a lot going for it despite it being quite expensive which has exacerbated its issue with homelessness, though that issue is also partially from transplants coming in because it's a pretty interesting and attractive place with relatively moderate weather and beautiful scenery and maybe one of a handful of large walkable expanses in the US.
It's the one on the list that I am most familiar with. Maybe 10+ years ago it was an attractive place, but these days I would pick San Diego all day over San Francisco.
Huntsville sits squarely in the fundamentalist Bible Belt region there, where church going rules, and folks who don't "fit in" are given a long stare by locals.
I've been to Huntsville twice, and it does have some great companies and high - paying jobs, as well as some affordable real estate (compared to out west and the northeast).
A family could carve out a good living there.
But best in the US? If this is the case, I'd say the definition for "best" has been lowered to "slightly above average."
I'd probably fit in with Huntsville just fine in some ways. Actually lived there very briefly as a kid.
But #1?
yeah I don't think so.
Green Bay is a generally nice area like most of Wisconsin, but its suburbs are definitely better than the city.
San Fran #10? Nashville higher than the Twin Cities? Fayetteville, Arkansas #7?
It's the one on the list that I am most familiar with. Maybe 10+ years ago it was an attractive place, but these days I would pick San Diego all day over San Francisco.
I'd still go with San Francisco. Just recently went to San Diego, and there's a lot to like, but it just doesn't click with me.
I like San Francisco more and I think it'll be better if its housing prices drop significantly so a greater diversity of people in different industries can live there which it has to some extent though via remote working / WFH rather than something a bit nicer like more construction.
I'm most amazed that the Wisconsin metro near the very top of the list is Green Bay rather than Madison. Aside from pro football, Madison has much more to offer in terms of its economy, recreation, culture, educational assets and other factors. Madison has a high cost of living by Midwest standards, but is much more affordable than the coastal areas with the highest rankings.
The newest U.S. News list just got released which I thought might be of interest here.
Top 10:
1. Huntsville, AL
2. Colorado Spring, CO
3. Green Bay, WI
4. Boulder, CO
5. San Jose, CA
6. Raleigh & Durham, NC
7. Fayetteville, AR
8. Portland, ME
9. Sarasota, FL
10. San Francisco, CA
Large cities in the top quintile
5. San Jose, CA
6. Raleigh & Durham, NC
10. San Francisco, CA
13. Austin, TX
16. Grand Rapids, MI
18. Boston, MA
19. Washington, DC
22. Portland, OR
23. Salt Lake City, UT
24. Jacksonville, FL
25. Nashville, TN
26. Pittsburgh, PA
27. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
30. Charlotte, NC
Grand Rapis and SLC really aren't large cities/metro areas.
Grand Rapids = 1,087,592 2020 pop.
SLC = 1,222,540 2018 est. pop.
The OP incorrectly calls these "large cities", but if you read the article, you'll see these are listed as metropolitan areas, with "large" defined as 1M plus population.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
