Most vibrant medium-sized city downtowns (less then a million people metro) (best city, real estate)

[MattDen]

What are some of the most vibrant downtowns for less then a million people in the metro area.

[2KidsforMe]

Charlotte NC comes to mind. Lots of shops & places to eat. Nice skyline, thriving banking community, and it's growing & growing.

[Cosmic]

I am starting to think this word Vibrant is CodeSpeak for Jammed, Over Priced, Stressful, Hectic.

Just folks trying to get out of some God forsaken place they made Jammed, Over Priced, Stressful, Hectic to some new Paradise place that they will remake into, you guessed it, Jammed, Over Priced, Stressful, hectic.
.

[carolinajack]

Charleston SC,

Charlottesville VA

Raliegh Durham NC

Alexandria VA

Nashville TN

[Ben Around]

Madison Wis.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Ben Around

Madison Wis.

Best city in America under 500K people, FAR AND AWAY. I just hope it doesnt experience a massive population growth.

[dullnboring]

Another vote for Madison here. I'd also like to add:

Greenville, SC
Asheville, NC
Burlington, VT
Louisville, KY
Portland, ME

[Bhaalspawn]

Originally Posted by carolinajack

Alexandria VA

Don't mean to be a stickler or an **** here, but Alexandria doesn't count because it's part of the Washington D.C. metropolitain area which is jam-packed full of people. I suspect that the original poster was interested in smaller cities where the metropolitain population is under 1 million and where the quality of life is high (in contrast to Alexandria where the cost of real estate or an apartment is insane).

[GreggB]

Madison Wisconsin. Sometimes reffered to the "Paris Of The Midwest".

[SpeedyAZ]

Omaha, NE has a pretty good downtown/ old town area. So does Madison, WI and Ann Arbor, MI.