Knoxville, a top-10 big city to raise a family (Loudon: crime, homes)

[JMT]

Forbes did another one of their Top 10 lists, this one about the best big cities in America to raise a family (from the 100 largest metro areas in the country). Knoxville came in 8th! Pretty sweet. They used the cost of living, prevalence of home ownership, median household income, housing costs, commute time, crime and the percentage of young adults that graduate high school to come up with their list.

The top 10:

10. Buffalo NY
9. Albany-Schenectady NY
8. KNOXVILLE
7. Pittsburgh
6. Ogden, Utah
5. Provo, Utah
4. Syracuse NY
3. Rochester NY
2. Harrisburg PA
1. Des Moines IA

[hiknapster]

I love these lists when I agree with them and think they are a bunch of bunk when I don't.

Either way, we are number one in my book.

[weisgarber1]

Originally Posted by JMT

Forbes did another one of their Top 10 lists, this one about the best big cities in America to raise a family (from the 100 largest metro areas in the country). Knoxville came in 8th! Pretty sweet. They used the cost of living, prevalence of home ownership, median household income, housing costs, commute time, crime and the percentage of young adults that graduate high school to come up with their list.

The top 10:

10. Buffalo NY
9. Albany-Schenectady NY
8. KNOXVILLE
7. Pittsburgh
6. Ogden, Utah
5. Provo, Utah
4. Syracuse NY
3. Rochester NY
2. Harrisburg PA
1. Des Moines IA

Having visited Buffalo (and not wanting to step on anyone's toes), I personally believe a digit was left off on Buffalo's status. Perhaps it should be 110 (out of 100) instead of 10. Jmho. Buffalo at number ten to me is amazing.

[Brian]

I wonder... if Knoxville would still make in the top ten if the entire metro area (Knox, Blount, Anderson, Loudon and Union) weren't included?

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by weisgarber1

Having visited Buffalo (and not wanting to step on anyone's toes), I personally believe a digit was left off on Buffalo's status. Perhaps it should be 110 (out of 100) instead of 10. Jmho. Buffalo at number ten to me is amazing.

Great bang for the buck. Homes are very affordable. Unemployment rates are good. Pay is very good and so is the cost of living. The burbs are very, very nice as are the schools there.

The only one I think they left off the list was Omaha, Nebraska.

[weisgarber1]

Originally Posted by Brian

I wonder... if Knoxville would still make in the top ten if the entire metro area (Knox, Blount, Anderson, Loudon and Union) weren't included?

You could probably wonder the same thing about many of the "core" cities mentioned in the list.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by weisgarber1

Having visited Buffalo (and not wanting to step on anyone's toes), I personally believe a digit was left off on Buffalo's status. Perhaps it should be 110 (out of 100) instead of 10. Jmho. Buffalo at number ten to me is amazing.

Yeah clearly things like weather and tax burden weren't included in the polling. I've been to Buffalo, and I agree that there are at least 100 other places I'd rather live.

Rochester NY, on the other hand, was a pleasant surprise to me when I visited there although they still have those pesky NY taxes to deal with and those loooong winters (not as much snow as Buffalo, though).

I'm in Utah right now and can definitely attest to the family friendliness of Provo (home of my alma mater).

Still, like hik said, I really do feel that this list is a shot in the arm for those of us who have been saying all along that Knoxville is a very good place to live and raise a family.

[BigJamesJ]

I think Knoxville would have been higher than some of those Northern States...but that is just what I think.

[Pimpy]

That list is terrible. I loved growing up in Knoxville, but I can't imagine being anything but miserable in any of the other nine cities.

[BigJamesJ]

I lived and went to college in Knoxville. Now I moved to Nashville two weeks ago, due to wifes job. I miss it so.
I can tell you though that it should be higher than Pittsburg..ick