# Which of these major U.S. cities would you live in if you had to? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 26, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278 "2011-05-26T13:15:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/81 "2011-05-27T02:16:08Z")
I’ve had my lifetime fill of Massachusetts city living, so Seattle please. > [@CitizenPained](#): > > BOSTON! > > Best little city ever. If anyone was curious, CitizenPained is being very literal: my town of less than 10,000 people is within 2 miles of Boston land area-wise. Boston is very small. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/82 "2011-05-27T02:22:00Z")
I grew up outside Chicago, so that’d be my second choice, but I’ve always loved Seattle. Just never got around to saving the money to move there. \>.\< ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/83 "2011-05-27T02:24:48Z")
I said Miami. I’m perfectly happy in Chicago during the three months of the year with decent weather, but otherwise would prefer somewhere warmer. Today it was in the 40’s with rain and strong winds, and it’s already late May. :mad: Plus I lived in Florida for a while, so I do have some idea of what it would be like there. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/84 "2011-05-27T02:36:10Z")
I thought we were supposed to pick a city other than where we currently lived, so I didn’t pick DC. I like NY but it is too damn cold in the winter. San fran & LA would be next on the list but I’m scared to death of the earthquake that’s due to hit any decade now. So I ended up in Atlanta. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/85 "2011-05-27T04:38:14Z")
San Francisco by a mile. Runners up would be Boston, NYC and Seattle. I’m a coastal type of person. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/86 "2011-05-27T12:17:21Z")
I’m kind of surprised that San Francisco is winning. The summers are too cold, and they’ve essentially surrendered the whole city to bums. ---
**Author:** ![phantom\_lamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@phantom\_lamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phantom_lamb)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/87 "2011-05-27T12:44:10Z")
It’s hard to vote because I’ve only visited two of these cities (DC and NYC). So I have to judge based on pictures and movies. But my choice, based on my modest knowledge of what it’s like to actually live in these places, would be Las Vegas I suppose. Seems like a place I would like. San Francisco too perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/88 "2011-05-27T13:58:39Z")
I chose NYC, but could definitely live in DC, Philly, Boston or (if I may be permitted to cheat and name some place not on the list), my home town, Providence. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/89 "2011-05-27T15:51:26Z")
Really hard to choose. I already live on the outskirts of the Los Angeles metroplex. I could easily see myself relocating to San Diego, Seattle, Las Vegas or San Antonio. You couldn’t pay me enough to live in New York City, Philly, Miami or DC. Final vote goes to Seattle, with San Diego a close second. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/90 "2011-05-28T02:52:32Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Then move to Forks. The dreariest place in the lower 48. Too many freakin vampires. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/91 "2011-05-28T16:38:07Z")
> [@Pitchmeister](#): > > Carfree in San Diego? Where exactly were you’re planning to live? Unless you’re in the Gaslamp, you can’t get to a supermarket without a car, let alone anything else. If you’re looking for carfree options, I would have thought San Francisco is almost as good as you can get (apart from NYC, of course, the correct choice in the poll). Ocean Beach? Doesn’t get any more carefree than that; does it? (At least that’s how it was 18 years ago when I lived there) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/92 "2011-05-28T17:03:59Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Seattle. > > If Seattle were to vanish, San Diego (where I spent my first 54 years). I’ve lived in Washington all my life, and would really like to live in Seattle. I’ve always liked the city when I’ve visited. I also think it’s interesting the number of Seattle Mariners who come from other parts of the country and go on and on about how they love the city and in fact come back to live there after their playing days are over, even if they finished their careers elsewhere. And San Diego is my second choice. For the weather. ---
**Author:** ![Z.R.Test](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a5b964/32.png) [@Z.R.Test](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Z.R.Test)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/93 "2011-05-28T17:26:54Z")
I lived in Boston for over 12 years and loved it except for the traffic, pollution, summer humidity, winter slush, intolerance, racism, crime, cockroaches, tiny apartments costing a bazillion dollars, noise, homeless people, harrassment by police, preponderance of idiots and lack of parking. So I picked San Francisco, since it has no winter slush. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/94 "2011-05-28T17:45:04Z")
> [@Z.R.Test](#): > > I lived in Boston for over 12 years and loved it except for the traffic, pollution, summer humidity, winter slush, intolerance, racism, crime, cockroaches, tiny apartments costing a bazillion dollars, noise, homeless people, harrassment by police, preponderance of idiots and lack of parking. > > So I picked San Francisco, since it has no winter slush. :DGood one, because it has all the rest- in spades. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/95 "2011-05-28T17:47:58Z")
Of the choices, I’ve been to Seattle, San Francisco, Vegas, and DC. I don’t think I’d live in DC. I’d like a vacation home in Vegas, but I couldn’t live there year round. I think I would love NYC, but ultimately, I’m a West Coast guy. Between Seattle and Frisco, I think I’d choose Seattle because it’s closest to family and where I live now. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/96 "2011-05-28T18:33:19Z")
As you can see from my location, I have lived in many of these cities: NY, LA, CHI and now Las Vegas. I love all of them and could easily move back to any of them without an iota of regret - would be happy to do so! I chose NYC - but yes, give me a salary of at least $400,000/yr to do so! Nothing beats NYC - sheer variety of everything, from food to culture to life experiences. Everyone should live there at least a year, just to understand what it is all about. But man - money flies out of your pocket when you live there, and that is just the basics. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/97 "2011-05-28T19:25:23Z")
Seattle sucks. You’ll hate it, so stay away–and tell all your friends to stay away too. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/98 "2011-05-29T21:24:37Z")
New York! Other top contenders were Boston, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Seattle though. ---
**Author:** ![stint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@stint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stint)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/99 "2011-05-29T21:59:03Z")
Charlotte. I have some family that lives there (I’m from WV). Plus, it’s only a few hours from the beach. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278/100 "2011-05-29T22:52:31Z")
I’d stay where I am, NYC, at least for now. In addition to the many external reasons to live here (the people, the culture, the political climate, the food, the history), there’s one much more dear to me that matters: my entire family – small though it is – lives close by. But I’m also aching to leave, not because I dislike Manhattan, but 'cause I’m somewhat sick of living in _any_ city. I yearn for peace and quiet. Of the other options on the list, my top runners-up would be Seattle, Boston, or San Francisco. They’re places that have always intrigued me and I’ve visited Boston enough to know what a cool place it is, despite their woefully wrong-minded sports followers. 🙂 Too far south is out, mostly for weather-related reasons. And, well, I kinda have to live in a blue state. I suppose it’d be more politically smart to infiltrate the opposition’s territory. Still, I gotta live where I can feel some level of sympatico with the general population. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-major-u-s-cities-would-you-live-in-if-you-had-to/583278.md?page=6)