One Person’s Take on Best US Cities to Live In

 

 As a city lover and aspiring real estate guru, I’m a sucker for these quizzes that purport to tell you what is the perfect city for you to live in. Some are more rigorous, others less serious, but they are all a bit of a window into what you prioritize in a residence and what city best suits those preferences. 

Of course, different people’s preferences are different. Indeed, any one person’s own preferences evolve over time, as you go from young to old, single to having kids, being all about the night life to being early to bed. That’s the fun of these quizzes, is that they try to take your unique preferences at this present point in time and match you with the perfect city for you for now. 

So it’s a fool’s errand to try to break down all of these variables into a singular “correct” answer for all. Which is not what today’s post is. But what it is, is an attempt to deconstruct different criteria against what is out there, necessarily influenced by my own biases and takes. But that’s basically what my blog is, is one big thought experiment from a particular perspective (mine) at a particular point in time (now). 

So with all those caveats, and at the risk of enraging boosters of certain cities, let’s dive in, and consider this a snapshot in time that I can come back to in the future with fondness (or cringe). 

1. Multi-modal. If we’re talking cities, then we have to talk about not having to rely on a car. So the place has to have reasonable transit service and enjoyable to walk around in. Points for places like Jersey City and Chicago, whereas thanks for playing Houston and Orlando. 
2. Diversity. Another important characteristic of cities is that you meet people from all walks of life. Alas, while some places are an absolute smorgasbord of cultural backgrounds (hello Miami and LA), other places are more homogenous (sorry Omaha and Portland). 
3. Weather. This one’s tricky, both because some folks like hot while others like it cold, and because climate change is shifting northward what is considered mild. Let’s play it safe and say we would downvote the extremes like Phoenix and Buffalo, while preferencing places like Salt Lake City and Charlotte. 
4. Housing. This category interplays with where jobs and amenities are (see below), so like the point above there is a bit of Goldilocks you’re aiming for: can’t be exorbitantly expensive, but if it’s dirt cheap it’s probably because you’re getting less for your cost of housing. Definitely San Francisco and Seattle are unattainable for most, while choosing into places like Des Moines and Tulsa is a value play for some and not enough for others. 
5. Jobs. Most of us have to work, and depending on your industry it’s not just about employment in your town but access to common places where work might bring you. Philly’s perfect, as a big city that’s centrally located between NY and DC. More geographically remote places like Fargo and Sioux Falls may have low unemployment but only because a lot of folks have left to seek out more job-dense locations. 
6. Amenities. This is probably the category with the most personal takes, since “amenities” can mean nature, shopping, high culture, and/or low culture. Let’s aim high and demand cities with major league sports teams and a critical mass of arts. So Colorado Springs and Fresno might be found lacking, whereas Boston and Pittsburgh are flush with things to do.

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out Philly does well from this lens: a big and ethnically diverse city full of amenities and economic opportunities, well served by transit, and reasonably affordable (especially when compared to NY to the north and DC to the south). I’d add that Chicago rates highly too, and maybe Miami if “access to economic opportunities” includes global destinations and you’re willing to project that the whole city won’t be underwater or boiling within our lifetimes. 

What are your screens and what city rates high for you?