Houston ranks #5 in best cities to live...by Forbes (Dallas: real estate market, mattress)

[MaddieClaire]

5. Houston
One of the country's fastest-growing cities, Houston has added nearly 1 million new people since 2000. Housing affordability and a strong job market seem enough to lure people from all over the country. The city has invested millions over the last five years in expanding infrastructure by adding trains, bolstering the downtown business district and funding the arts, which has helped to centralize--to an extent--the city, which has always been more famous for sprawl and oil. It also helps that on an everyday cost basis, among the cities we studied, Houston is the cheapest place to live.

Just wanted to share.

[Bily Lovec]

no no noooooo...
houston sucks, stay away. its horrible here.. really


;-)

[houstoner]

Sweet. Where's the original article? I want to know what the other top 4 are.

ETA: Never mind, I found it. Most Affordable Places To Live Well - Forbes.com

We beat Dallas. That's really all I was concerned about. Haha!

7. Dallas

Like Houston, Dallas is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, with domestic migrants leading the pack. The city itself is a bit more centralized than Houston, has better air quality and better access to public transportation via its DART train. It trails Houston slightly when it comes to cultural institutions like museums, libraries, parks, sports, theaters and universities, according to Sperling's Best Places. Cost of living is slightly higher in Dallas, which was the main reason it landed behind Houston.

[case44]

Originally Posted by MaddieClaire

5. Houston
One of the country's fastest-growing cities, Houston has added nearly 1 million new people since 2000. Housing affordability and a strong job market seem enough to lure people from all over the country. The city has invested millions over the last five years in expanding infrastructure by adding trains, bolstering the downtown business district and funding the arts, which has helped to centralize--to an extent--the city, which has always been more famous for sprawl and oil. It also helps that on an everyday cost basis, among the cities we studied, Houston is the cheapest place to live.

Just wanted to share.

Good! It's just too bad they're not number one. They deserve to be recognized as a great place to live. The more positive publicity Houston gets, the better. The negative perception that city's had for far too long has got to be erased. People are moving there for a reason, and whatever the reason, it's all good. It's got a lot to offer.

[MaddieClaire]

Originally Posted by case44

Good! It's just too bad they're not number one. They deserve to be recognized as a great place to live. The more positive publicity Houston gets, the better. The negative perception that city's had for far too long has got to be erased. People are moving there for a reason, and whatever the reason, it's all good. It's got a lot to offer.

Here's more:

10 Most Affordable Places To Live Well

1. Minneapolis
The "City of Lakes" is a case study in corporate social responsibility. A large variety of companies--from Target to Cargill--donate huge sums of money to the city's schools, cultural institutions and health services. This positively affects the quality of life and the arts and leisure choices. Housing and cost of living are both affordable, but aren't dramatically below national means.


2. Indianapolis
Based on the NAHB/Wells Fargo housing affordability index, Indianapolis has a higher percentage of homes available to the median-earning household than any other city. When it comes to arts and leisure activities, Indianapolis may not live up to standards set by New York or Los Angeles--it scored 30th out of the 50 biggest cities--but what is available has an affordable price tag: Indianapolis ranks as the 13th cheapest city to live in.



3. Cincinnati
The Queen City is one of the most affordable in the country, in terms of cost of living and housing. Median-earning residents here can afford 76.5% of the homes on the market. Not that they need it (it's the fifth cheapest city to live in), but housing affordability leaves Cincinnatians with plenty of cash on hand. The city is in the bottom half of Sperling's measure.



4. St. Louis
What makes St. Louis a desirable housing market isn't simply the 76% of homes that are available to the median buyer, but its relatively stability; The area isn't as bogged down in risky loans and defaults as other Midwestern cities. The Gateway to the West has a strong ratio of parks and restaurants to citizens, according to Sperling's, and is the 15th cheapest city in which to live, based on rankings of the top 50 cities by the Council on Community and Economic Research.



5. Houston
One of the country's fastest-growing cities, Houston has added nearly 1 million new people since 2000. Housing affordability and a strong job market seem enough to lure people from all over the country. The city has invested millions over the last five years in expanding infrastructure by adding trains, bolstering the downtown business district and funding the arts, which has helped to centralize--to an extent--the city, which has always been more famous for sprawl and oil. It also helps that on an everyday cost basis, among the cities we studied, Houston is the cheapest place to live.

6. Milwaukee
Milwaukee has a strong tradition of charitable giving and civic involvement; both have helped create cultural institutions and fund the arts. In Sperling's Best Places rank, the city is 21st for its combination of museums, sports outlets, libraries, universities and parks, though if access to good beer were a category, there's no doubt the city would perform even better. Cost of living sits right about at the national average, according to The Council on Community and Economic Research.

7. Dallas
Like Houston, Dallas is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, with domestic migrants leading the pack. The city itself is a bit more centralized than Houston, has better air quality and better access to public transportation via its DART train. It trails Houston slightly when it comes to cultural institutions like museums, libraries, parks, sports, theaters and universities, according to Sperling's Best Places. Cost of living is slightly higher in Dallas, which was the main reason it landed behind Houston.

8. Pittsburgh
There's a lot more to Pittsburgh than its post-industrial reputation and the hometown Steelers football team. Institutions like the Carnegie Museum, the Andy Warhol Museum and the Mattress Factory (a contemporary art museum) enrich the city's art scene. The area's cost of living is actually a touch above the national average, according to The Council on Community and Economic Research, but housing is the 11th most affordable in the country, based on NAHB/Wells Fargo figures.

9. Columbus, Ohio
Home to Ohio State, the biggest university in the country, Columbus offers residents access to the top-notch facilities that come with such a huge institution. The city scores well in health care, based on access to the Ohio State University Medical Center, especially the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, which are top national centers. Cost of living is just below the national average, and 76.4% of homes sold last quarter were available to the median-income earner, making it the seventh most affordable real estate market of the 50 we measured.

10. Atlanta
Atlanta is a case study in how land use and development can be managed to keep housing prices affordable. More houses have sold in Atlanta over the last five years than just about anywhere else in the country, and it's the nation's fastest growing city of more than 5 million people. Quality-of-life rankings and arts and leisure marks are toward the middle, but the city ranks 11th best when it comes to cost of living. Sort of takes the sting out of the Braves, Falcons and Hawks all missing the playoffs.
(what about the severe water shortage?)

[davidt1]

Few of these surveys take into account property taxes. I would really like to know how they define "everyday cost basis."

[lukeache]

Originally Posted by MaddieClaire

Here's more:

10 Most Affordable Places To Live Well

1. Minneapolis
The "City of Lakes" is a case study in corporate social responsibility. A large variety of companies--from Target to Cargill--donate huge sums of money to the city's schools, cultural institutions and health services. This positively affects the quality of life and the arts and leisure choices. Housing and cost of living are both affordable, but aren't dramatically below national means.

I am sorry but this ranking is BS. I live in Minneapolis and housing here is very expensive. A home that goes for $100 K in Houston goes for $220K here and although the job market is OK, Houston has 3 times the number of Fortune 500 companies. Taxes here are very high! Don't be fooled!

[crbcrbrgv]

I disagree with Minneapolis. It is a cheaper place to live well however Houston has Minneapolis beat by a long shot. Houses are more expensive in Minnesota and everything that is taxed is taxed at an insane rate. "Social responsibility" really translates into socialism in Minnesota. Oh, and by the way if you don't like winter sports and activities you are going to be rather bored for a good four months of the year. And to me sitting around a fire watching nana make a quilt while grandpa makes another batch of lutefisk does not equate to an active lifestyle.

[Wysiwyg]

dang, houston can't even top this list?!
maybe next year

[Guerilla]

Originally Posted by Wysiwyg

dang, houston can't even top this list?!
maybe next year

So number five is bad to you? Out of all U.S. cities? Why are you even in the Houston section? All you do is post negative comments about it.