Interesting that the east coast tops off my list. Climactically, I totally get that, though DC is a bit on the warm/muggy side for my taste (it’s up there because it’s got so many smarties, schools, the library of congress, etc, etc). (Chicago was my climate selection, though I was sad to have to choose only city. I like mild summers, snowy winters, and generally cool climates. So, from the description, I really ought to check out Denver, pity it’s thoroughly land locked. Main problems for it were recreational possibilities, and low high school/college graduates).
I’m surprised by the high transportation scores for LA & Seattle (I chose way high on public transit (duh), train access almost there, plane access just below that.
Pittsburgh was 14, Madison 30, Oakland was 40th (big loser on climate and health (primarily air quality)), Champaign-Urbana was 71st scoring a surprising 0% on recreation (no nearby parks, I guess), Burlington, VT lost big on transportation and libraries (97th), Phoenix got a 0% on climate, and while I doubt I’d like it, I doubt it’d be that bad), Albuquerque was 217th. Good thing I’m not living there. =)
I really wish that you could make a section (like say, transportation) multiplicative instead of additive, but, overall, cool thingy. Thank you
24 thoughts on “Best place to live?”
Huh. Interesting.
My first four places were San Francisco, Long Island, Boston, and Pittsburgh…all places where I’ve lived.
For me it would be easier 😉 Vancouver would be too rainy and insufficiently snowy, from what I’ve heard, and Montreal, well, not as sure about this one. I had a bad first impression, and I know nothing of French (though, I’m sure I’d learn). But Toronto made a very favorable impression.
it’s true. vancouver is more rainy than snowy. if SF gloomy fog and rain makes you depressed, you will need a shrink if you move to vancouver… however, it’s still a nice place to visit at the right time of year, hehe…
i’ve visited Montreal twice this year… i definitely love the slightly european flavour to it… admittedly French is a bit of a barrier for me… i’m sure i’d pick it up too (after all i was required to take 6 years of it)… of course a French boyfriend might help speed the learning process, in a very enjoyable way 😉
when were you last in Toronto? what highlights attracted you the most?
Last in Toronto July ’02. was my tourguide. What I liked most about it was the combination of big city amenities (public transit, walking distance to everything), with the mellow vibe I picked up from the people and the place.
Curious. For me, SF is #1, followed by Boston, LA, DC and NYC. The first Texas city is Dallas way down at #46. I’m actually surprised to see Eugene, OR way down at 90, and Houston way up at 77. The biggest surprise, though, is to see Austin in the middle tier, at #110. Perhaps I am in the wrong city, after all!
I wish I had gotten to live in Boston. Like you, my visits were few and brief. I lived in Amherst, out in western Massachusetts. I absolutely loved living there, blizzards and all.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, and I have to agree it’s a pretty good place to live. I like to say it’s the antithesis of “nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there.”
San Francisco used to be so awesome. But the last five years have really taken their toll. Personally it’s hard for me to be here because many of my friends had to move away because they lost their jobs or couldn’t afford the skyrocketing rent. Also the hordes of homeless people and the associated filth are pretty gross. But it’s still a pretty great city.
I’m starting to think seriously about relocating somewhere, mostly to be closer to family back east. I’ve been thinking about Boston, cause I’m so not a New York kind of guy.
“Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft”
I came out here in no small part to internalize some bits of the culture. I feel progress has been made on this endeavor, but I definitely plan to spend less time living in this area than I did in pittsburgh.
i was definitely very unhappy to have to uproot and move out of Bay Area… but looking back, i think i did become lazy and if it weren’t for the events that took place, inertia would have kept me complacent… personal growth would have been slow, at best…
it’s true. i lost my job, couldn’t afford rent, and moved back to canadia… sad… but it was a good kick-in-the-butt reminder that there are other places to experience…
Seattle’s pub-transpo system was actually pretty darned good last I was up there… then again, it *is* coming up on about 10 years since last I was up there, so.. it _may_ have dropped considerably… but, I sure as heck can’t see how it would’ve worsened so much that AC transit or Muni’d’ve surpassed it…
I’d heard that it was basically a bus network, and a short decorative monorail. And that the highways were quite congested. Mostly I get this from http://www.thestranger.com and the conversation thereon a couple of years ago regarding proposed rail transportation.
Huh. Interesting.
My first four places were San Francisco, Long Island, Boston, and Pittsburgh…all places where I’ve lived.
You lived in ye ol bay area? When was that, how did you like it, tell me a story, unky greg =)
Canadian Cities?
Aww… no Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver?
T!M
Re: Canadian Cities?
YEah, I was pretty disappointed that the list didn’t include them myself. Maybe they’re afraid they’ll encourage a mass exodus. =)
Re: Canadian Cities?
Tee hee… 🙂
I wonder if there is such a site for Canadian cities… Sometimes I feel rather split between the big 3 in Canada…
T!M
Re: Canadian Cities?
For me it would be easier 😉 Vancouver would be too rainy and insufficiently snowy, from what I’ve heard, and Montreal, well, not as sure about this one. I had a bad first impression, and I know nothing of French (though, I’m sure I’d learn). But Toronto made a very favorable impression.
Re: Canadian Cities?
it’s true. vancouver is more rainy than snowy. if SF gloomy fog and rain makes you depressed, you will need a shrink if you move to vancouver… however, it’s still a nice place to visit at the right time of year, hehe…
i’ve visited Montreal twice this year… i definitely love the slightly european flavour to it… admittedly French is a bit of a barrier for me… i’m sure i’d pick it up too (after all i was required to take 6 years of it)… of course a French boyfriend might help speed the learning process, in a very enjoyable way 😉
when were you last in Toronto? what highlights attracted you the most?
Re: Canadian Cities?
Last in Toronto July ’02. was my tourguide. What I liked most about it was the combination of big city amenities (public transit, walking distance to everything), with the mellow vibe I picked up from the people and the place.
Re: Canadian Cities?
yes, is a very a knowledgeable tour guide! sometimes I take one of his tours to educate myself about my own hometown 😉
Re: Canadian Cities?
me too! i want to move to canadia!
Re: Canadian Cities?
Yes, come to Canadia!
We offer 25% off the listed price of all our merchandise just for Americans! 😉
Curious. For me, SF is #1, followed by Boston, LA, DC and NYC. The first Texas city is Dallas way down at #46. I’m actually surprised to see Eugene, OR way down at 90, and Houston way up at 77. The biggest surprise, though, is to see Austin in the middle tier, at #110. Perhaps I am in the wrong city, after all!
I’ve paid a couple of very brief visits to Boston (mostly centered around Harvard and MIT), what was your impression of the place from living there?
I wish I had gotten to live in Boston. Like you, my visits were few and brief. I lived in Amherst, out in western Massachusetts. I absolutely loved living there, blizzards and all.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, and I have to agree it’s a pretty good place to live. I like to say it’s the antithesis of “nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there.”
San Francisco used to be so awesome. But the last five years have really taken their toll. Personally it’s hard for me to be here because many of my friends had to move away because they lost their jobs or couldn’t afford the skyrocketing rent. Also the hordes of homeless people and the associated filth are pretty gross. But it’s still a pretty great city.
I’m starting to think seriously about relocating somewhere, mostly to be closer to family back east. I’ve been thinking about Boston, cause I’m so not a New York kind of guy.
“Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft”
I came out here in no small part to internalize some bits of the culture. I feel progress has been made on this endeavor, but I definitely plan to spend less time living in this area than I did in pittsburgh.
inertia
i was definitely very unhappy to have to uproot and move out of Bay Area… but looking back, i think i did become lazy and if it weren’t for the events that took place, inertia would have kept me complacent… personal growth would have been slow, at best…
moving away…
it’s true. i lost my job, couldn’t afford rent, and moved back to canadia… sad… but it was a good kick-in-the-butt reminder that there are other places to experience…
Re: moving away…
Well darn, I’m sorry I missed you when you were local 😉
Re: moving away…
Looking to relocate?‘s post (GRIN)
Come to Canadia… see my comments in the Canadian Cities thread of
If choices #1-4 don’t work out, then come hither to my tundra paradise where the anime and video games flow freely.
hrmpf…
Seattle’s pub-transpo system was actually pretty darned good last I was up there… then again, it *is* coming up on about 10 years since last I was up there, so.. it _may_ have dropped considerably… but, I sure as heck can’t see how it would’ve worsened so much that AC transit or Muni’d’ve surpassed it…
Re: hrmpf…
I’d heard that it was basically a bus network, and a short decorative monorail. And that the highways were quite congested. Mostly I get this from http://www.thestranger.com and the conversation thereon a couple of years ago regarding proposed rail transportation.
I missed this post a while ago. I agree with Scott that Austin should be _way_ higher. It’s also supposed to be #1 for singles…