America's Most Miserable Cities - Pittsburgh Didn't Make the List (Philadelphia: foreclosure, homes)

[subdivisions]

America's Most Miserable Cities - Forbes.com

Forbes ranked America's most miserable cites, based on weather, commute times, crime, tax rates, and toxic waste.

Guess what? Despite all the bitching and moaning on this site about all 5 of the above items, Pittsburgh didn't make the top ten.

However, a number of cities that are often used to paint Pittsburgh in an unfavorable light did make the list. These include:

#4 - NYC (land of everything exciting, unlike Pittsburgh's provincial dullness)

#5 - Philadelphia (a "true" eastern city, unlike Pittsburgh's provincial midwesterness)

#7 Los Angeles (wasn't this supposed to be paradise on earth for at least one City-Data Forum troll?)

And last but not least, the oft mentioned...*drum roll*

Charlotte, NC, coming it at #9. Yes, Charlotte, which is supposed to be just like Pittsburgh except 1000 times better in every imaginable way.

[MissShona]

Ha; I saw that story too. In all honesty, I did not expect to see Pittsburgh on the list. But Modesto, CA and Charlotte, NC were real surprises to me.

[BrianTH]

And I always think of where I was born (Detroit) when people lament about Pittsburgh's decline after the steel industry collapsed. As this index rightly shows, Detroit has done a far worse job handling a similar problem (the collapse of the auto industry).

So while Pittsburgh certainly isn't perfect, it could also be much, much worse.

[BrianTH]

Oh, and I am personally not surprised to see some of the places which were part of the housing-fueled boom (like Stockton, LA, and Charlotte) hit this list--I expect even more will in the near future.

[guylocke]

Forbes ranked America's most miserable cites, based on weather, commute times, crime, tax rates, and toxic waste.

Guess what? Despite all the bitching and moaning on this site about all 5 of the above items, Pittsburgh didn't make the top ten.

Charlotte, NC, coming it at #9. Yes, Charlotte, which is supposed to be just like Pittsburgh except 1000 times better in every imaginable way.

HAH!! You really made me laugh subdivions. Very cute post, thank you. What you said is so true, lol!

[subdivisions]

Originally Posted by guylocke

HAH!! You really made me laugh subdivions. Very cute post, thank you. What you said is so true, lol!

I'm glad I could brighten someone's afternoon on this cold, snowy day!

[SteelersFan09]

I was surprised to see providence on this list. I almost moved there instead of PGH because everyone told me it's a great place to live,ect. I'm definitley NOT miserable here, so maybe I made the right move after all.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Oh, and I am personally not surprised to see some of the places which were part of the housing-fueled boom (like Stockton, LA, and Charlotte) hit this list--I expect even more will in the near future.

Stockton? Not exactly the garden spot of the earth, and I doubt had much of a housing boom.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Stockton? Not exactly the garden spot of the earth, and I doubt had much of a housing boom.

This is from the slide show accompanying the Forbes article:

"The population of the Stockton metro area soared 28% over the past 10 years as people looked for affordable options to the pricey Bay Area. The population flow helped home prices jump 158% between 2000 and 2005, but they have fallen the past two years, as Stockton has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country."

[alleghenyman]

Stockton does not have high incomes and homes are expensive, hence the defaults.

I lived in NYC for four years and I liked it at the time, but I am not surprised to see it on this list. The only thing I miss is the variety of restaurants. Crime, taxes, corruption, commute times, expensive everything, miserable winters, sweltering, stinking summers, no open space, abrasive locals...... you can have it.