# What is the Best City in America? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 29, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426 "2011-03-29T20:30:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/41 "2011-03-30T03:40:19Z")
Off the list above, how about San Diego? ---
**Author:** ![alounacara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@alounacara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alounacara)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/42 "2011-03-30T05:29:56Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Chicago, except that it’s not close to mountains. (It does have beaches.) Thats debatable:D ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/43 "2011-03-30T06:06:19Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Off the list above, how about San Diego? I was going to suggest this. Mountain High is about 2.5-3 hours away from San Diego, the weather is wonderful, the beaches are great, and best of all, you don’t have to live in LA or Orange County. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/44 "2011-03-30T09:34:50Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > I was going to suggest this. Mountain High is about 2.5-3 hours away from San Diego, the weather is wonderful, the beaches are great, and best of all, you don’t have to live in LA or Orange County. Mountain High is 1.5 hours away from Orange County, the weather is wonderful, the beaches are great, and best of all, you don’t have to live in LA or San Diego. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/45 "2011-03-30T14:55:07Z")
Cleveland, counting the outlying areas to meet the population criteria ;). ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/46 "2011-03-30T15:30:51Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > My answer would be Austin, Texas but it would require another 300,000 people moving there to qualify. Maybe if they all moved to the suburbs. … That would be my winner too, on paper. Cost of living is a strike against it, but beyond that it seems like the place to be. However, I mentioned my desire to move there to a friend of mine who lived in Houston for a number of years. Her gut reaction was horror–apparently the heat and humidity really got to her after a few years. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/47 "2011-03-30T15:50:29Z")
I like NYC but it clearly isn’t for everyone. I found Denver, CO really nice when I visited there last year. You have the outdoors. A trendy downtown area with lots of restaurants and bars. The only thing I didn’t like was how friendly everyone was. Coming from NYC, by GF and I thought everyone was trying to get us to join a cult so they could rape us. > [@lindsaybluth](#): > > If you want a blue-ribbon suburban public schools, that’ll be $150 k for a 3bed/1bath or $170k for 3bed/2bath. It’s a notoriously friendly city. Another upside is it’s perennially unpopular, so housing prices will stay affordable. I am horrified by the idea that houses in Pittsburg cost as much as a down payment on a Manhattan studio appartment. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/48 "2011-03-30T16:13:41Z")
Brit here, I’ve visited a fair few American cities but theres none that I would really,really want to live in permamently. My favourites are Orlando,Pensacola, Seattle and S.F. I was surprised that some of the places that look so attractive on t.v. and in the movies are so unpleasant in reality, Miami springs to mind .(Sorry Miamiers, nothing personal) ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/49 "2011-03-30T16:20:59Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > That would be my winner too, on paper. Cost of living is a strike against it, but beyond that it seems like the place to be. However, I mentioned my desire to move there to a friend of mine who lived in Houston for a number of years. Her gut reaction was horror–apparently the heat and humidity really got to her after a few years. No Houstonian would flinch at Austin’s heat & humidity. We may be a degree or so behind in summer temperature, but we’re definitely ahead in the humidity department. Perhaps your friend is an Austin lover who wants to [Keep it Weird](http://www.keepaustinweird.com/) for her occasional visits. It is a very cute little city. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/50 "2011-03-30T16:33:56Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > No Houstonian would flinch at Austin’s heat & humidity. We may be a degree or so behind in summer temperature, but we’re definitely ahead in the humidity department. > > Perhaps your friend is an Austin lover who wants to [Keep it Weird](http://www.keepaustinweird.com/) for her occasional visits. It is a very cute little city. Well, she’s lived in Omaha for over ten years now. I think this puts \*that \*theory right to bed 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/51 "2011-03-30T22:38:35Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Believe when I say I am not trolling or trying to insult Chicago at all. That is where this board is based and I have had some good times there. I honestly don’t know what people see in the place though. I wouldn’t even mention it except people always mention it in conversations like these and I have no idea whatsoever why. It has some big buildings for sure but a whole lot of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture (that is a personal thing I am trying to work through with no success), Chicago style food is downright odd if not plain bad, pockets of poverty are devastating, and Chicago sprawls like no tomorrow. It doesn’t even retain any Midwestern charm. > > What on God’s green earth is so great about Chicago that isn’t done better elsewhere? > > It is like the old joke on how Chicago got its start: > > A group of people in New York said, “I’m really enjoying the crime and the poverty here, but it just isn’t cold enough. Let’s start another one on the prairie and see if we can fix that”. Chicago isn’t New York though and can’t compete with it. You don’t get any points for being a secondary version of NYC. > > Honestly, besides the usual list of museums of tall buildings, what sets Chicago apart. New York and Los Angeles have their something. New Orleans and Miami have something. What does Chicago have? First off, we don’t _want_ to be a “secondary version of NYC”. We are Chicago, we are unique, we have our own history, and we like our streets clean. Hell, we even like our _alleys_ clean, where our garbage awaits pick-up. Not out in front for everybody to stumble over, not to mention the smell. What is this thing you have about Frank Lloyd Wright? I’ve read you go on about him and Chicago before. Sure, he was a rat bastard, and his buildings are an acquired taste. But it’s not like Chicago is jam-packed with with Wright buildings on every corner like Starbucks or something. Get a grip. And you are just plain wrong about the food. It would take too long to list the world class chefs that reside here. And the little hole in the wall places are a formidable force here too. And if we Chicagoans are a little heftier than coastal folk, it’s because we aren’t friggin’ neurotics about eating and enjoying our food. It’s our food. It tastes wonderful. And we’re gonna eat as much as we want of it, goddammit. What makes Chicago great? Sports, community theater, opera, street festivals, the neighborhoods. Plus we don’t have fucking cobras slithering around. ---
**Author:** ![Hennessy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hennessy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hennessy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/52 "2011-03-31T00:03:00Z")
awwww, whosa cute widdle snake ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/53 "2011-03-31T00:12:54Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > And if we Chicagoans are a little heftier than coastal folk Actually, obesity rates in Chicago [aren’t much different](http://www.venganza.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=482034) than those in New York City and both places are in the bottom quarter. People downstate in Illinois are a little more likely to be heavier than in New York state (by 1.8%), for whatever that’s worth. And I like Chicago plenty but anyone who doesn’t is welcome to stay home. More parking for me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/54 "2011-03-31T02:23:03Z")
> [@lukeinva](#): > > Per the link you sent Eden Prairie, MN is tops. :rolleyes: I live near Eden Prairie. It is so bland, it doesn’t even have a flavor. Montreal gets my vote. Hey, the OP didn’t say “USA”. Runners up are: Washington, D.C. Edmonton, Alb. Portland, OR I rather like the Twin Cities overall, but like most places it is because there are really great pockets of community. Excepting Eden Prairie. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/55 "2011-03-31T21:54:04Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Washington D.C. is one of my favorite cities to visit but it doesn’t do so great based on the criteria you gave in your OP. Traffic, housing costs, and crime rates in particular are some big minuses. Washington D.C. proper is a dangerous basket case of a city statistically speaking. I’ll give you traffic and cost, though I’d point out that excellent public transit makes traffic a non-issue if you let it. I’ve lived in and around DC nearly five years now - never needed or wanted a car. But as for crime - nonsense. Sure, parts of DC are dangerous. Any large city has dangerous neighborhoods that skew city-wide stats. But the bulk of the city is very, very safe. ---
**Author:** ![uzerid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/47e85d/32.png) [@uzerid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uzerid)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/56 "2011-03-31T21:59:54Z")
Most be San something 😃 may be SanFran… ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/57 "2011-03-31T22:01:18Z")
Portland, followed by Denver. Cite: I’m an urban planner, and I know my shit. QED. ---
**Author:** ![Nadir](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nadir/32/7302_2.png) [@Nadir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadir)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/58 "2011-03-31T22:09:04Z")
Denver - a day’s drive from more cool stuff than you’ll ever have a chance to see in a lifetime. If you ever feel the need to “get away,” that is. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/59 "2011-04-02T13:11:47Z")
NYC of course. It’s got everything. If the US ever got medicare (no joke, aside from the fact that SCOTUS is virtually certain to veto it, it is such a distortion of medicare that it does not deserve the name), I would move to NYC the next day. It is not my home town (Philly is), although I lived there for two years nearly 50 years ago. But public transit to die for, museums, wonderful public libraries and concerts and theaters galore. I cannot imagine preferring any other place. Not that I don’t like Montreal, but it is just not in the same league. It is also the best place for walking I have ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426/60 "2011-04-02T13:58:54Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Portland, followed by Denver. Cite: I’m an urban planner, and I know my shit. QED. Haven’t been to Denver so can’t comment, but I found Portland grey and depressing. Mind you I am only a foreigner so my opinion doesn’t count. Loathed L.A. as well, what a let down. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-city-in-america/576426.md?page=4)