The Favorite and Least Favorite Cities:

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KennyFlys

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Just Half Say There's No Place Like Home


Least Favorite (1 Being Least Favorite):
  1. Houston, Las Vegas & Riverside, CA - 23% (Three way tie)
  2. Los Angelos - 21%
  3. Baltimore - 20%
  4. St. Louis - 18%
  5. Pittsburgh - 17%
  6. Minneapolis - 16%
  7. Kansas City, MO - 15%
  8. Cincinatti - 13%
  9. Cleveland - 10%
  10. Detroit - 8%
Most Favorite (10 Being most Favorite):
  1. San Antonio, TX - 29% (tie)
  2. Sacramento, CA - 29% (tie)
  3. Portland, OR - 31%
  4. Phoenix - 33%
  5. San Francisco - 34% (tie)
  6. Tampa, FL - 34% (tie)
  7. Orlando, FL - 34% (tie)
  8. Seattle - 38%
  9. San Diego - 40%
  10. Denver - 43%
And, Mari chooses to live in the sticks. :)
 
Strange list, that can manage to characterize Phoenix as near-best, while (at the same time) calling Houston worst. And Sacramento?

Some kind of strange methodology.
 
SCCutler said:
Strange list, that can manage to characterize Phoenix as near-best, while (at the same time) calling Houston worst. And Sacramento?

Some kind of strange methodology.
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I think Kenny made a mistake, the percentages in all cases refer to the percentage of people surveyed who would like to live in the cities listed. So Detroit is the least favorite, and Denver is the most favorite.
 
Yep, it really didn't make a lot of sense as I saw the lists. While Houston may not be ideal, I didn't see it as that bad. I lived in Denver for many years. I sure as heck never saw it as the best city but it had Atlanta beat.

I'd have to say the list is pretty subjective and even my own statement is based on personal opinion rather than any real objective data. But, that in no way takes away from my strong opinion that Cooper's has the world's best BBQ. I'm gonna get some more tomorrow just to insure my opinion remains valid. :D
 
wbarnhill said:
I think Kenny made a mistake, the percentages in all cases refer to the percentage of people surveyed who would like to live in the cities listed. So Detroit is the least favorite, and Denver is the most favorite.
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The way I saw the listing, it appeared to be two separate polls with the former ranking only the least favored and the latter ranking the most favored.
 
KennyFlys said:
The way I saw the listing, it appeared to be two separate polls with the former ranking only the least favored and the latter ranking the most favored.
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The subtext of the Houston photo says:

10. (three-way tie) Houston, Las Vegas and Riverside, Calif. - 23 percent of Americans would like to live here

So I think it's the same poll, just they decided to run with the top 10 and bottom 10, instead of publishing all of the numbers. Wonky in my opinion, but *shrug*
 
I dunno, having lived in Pittsburgh for a year and the Baltimore metro area for 12 (including time in the city), I like both places. I guess I'm weird.

The 10 favorites were hard to argue with, but I'm not really enthralled with Sacramento, and Tampa could be desirable only to someone who has never been there.

IMHO, Florida is one big trailer park/strip joint/gator wrasslin' place. There are pockets of class, like Orchard Beach (on the coast adjacent Vero Beach), but in general - yuck. One man's opinion, mind you.
 
I'm not big on warm climates, but San Diego is about as close to perfect as I've found on earth. I'd probably stick to La Jolla, but the general area, si, esta muy bien.
 
SCCutler said:
Strange list, that can manage to characterize Phoenix as near-best, while (at the same time) calling Houston worst. And Sacramento?

Some kind of strange methodology.
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Well, at least they got the Houston part correct...I spent a year there one winter...It sucked then and as far as I know it still sucks.
 
My least favorite is Okla. City OK, I lived there too long.

My favorite cities are Santa Ynez and San Luis obispo. CA( spelling ?)

As I age, I find my self being drawn to a town or area where the wind doesn't blow all of the time.

Kevin
 
KennyFlys said:
Denver - 43%

And, Mari chooses to live in the sticks. :)
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Haha. I don't live that far in the sticks... about 30 miles from Denver. Denver is a great place to live. This is the middle of winter and it's supposed to be sunny and 60 tomorrow. :)

I've gotta agree with Houston being number 1 too. Of all the big cities I've spent much time in, Houston has got to be my least favorite.
 
Favorite cities?
None.
It's kind of like trying to pick your favorite way to crash your car.
 
I re-read the list as "Infiltration (%) of hippies and their socialist schemes", and it made a lot more sense to me.

Sacramento better than anywhere... pfah! These voters used darts and a map at 50 paces to cast their opinions.

(I <3 Los Angeles, but you're free to hate it -- more for me :D )
 
jmaynard said:
I'd rather spend a winter in Houston than in Minneapolis.
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Sorry to say there is no winter in Houston. Advance apologies to the Texas POA'ers, but Houston is flat, hot, humid and everything has spines, scales or stings.

Gary
 
Gary said:
Sorry to say there is no winter in Houston.
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No winter by definitions of frozen Northerners, perhaps. This is not a bug. This is a feature.

Advance apologies to the Texas POA'ers, but Houston is flat, hot, humid and everything has spines, scales or stings.
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I never had to get up at 5 AM to shovel humidity out of my driveway while I lived in Houston.
 
jmaynard said:
I never had to get up at 5 AM to shovel humidity out of my driveway while I lived in Houston.
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:D True, but in Houston, you have to drink a quart of water to re-hydrate after crossing the street. I'll take the snow.

Gary
 
I gotta say, I loved San Antonio when I was there, even though I felt both extremes of cold and hot within a few months of each other.
 
jmaynard said:
I never had to get up at 5 AM to shovel humidity out of my driveway while I lived in Houston.
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But you did have to wake up at 5am to conduct any normal outdoor activity, like running or yardwork.:yikes:

I am definitely not one for the hot climates. I'd probably die in a week if I lived in Tx. I overheat just thinking about heat. 0degF - no problemo. 100degF - Mama, mama, I'm comin' home!!!!
 
flyersfan31 said:
I am definitely not one for the hot climates. I'd probably die in a week if I lived in Tx. I overheat just thinking about heat. 0degF - no problemo. 100degF - Mama, mama, I'm comin' home!!!!
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Doesn't the Matrix have air conditioning? ;)

I haven't spent any time in Denver, but I have spent time in Phoenix. Love it, and would definitely move there in a second. Houston has no appeal to me (sorry, Jay).

What makes a city liked has more aspects than just its temperature. Phoenix is hot, but not humid, and the atmosphere there is very nice. I also like the architecture, and people I always found to be extremely friendly. When I was there some years back, one of the tires exploded on my trailer (no doubt due to the 120F outside air temp). While I was changing it, three people stopped to ask if I needed help. That's NEVER happened to me anywhere else, and I've had a lot of broken down cars.
 
Of the list, these would rate with me:
Portland, OR (haven't been but have only heard really really great things about it)
San Francisco - (just love it here. too spendy)
Tampa, FL - (I wouldn't live in Tampa itself, but Sarasota/Bradenton/Treasure Isle are nice. It would be low on my list but I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand)
Seattle - loved my day here - July. Wonder what the other 364 days are like.
San Diego - southern Cali in general is just lovely - and perfect weather.
Denver - haven't spent any time here but my visit to Breck/Vail/Boulder in 2007 was quite nice...

I have enjoyed my visits to Atlanta, it seems like a fun place to live. I wonder why it doesn't rate at all?

I also wonder why metro DC isn't on the list. My number one gripe is the traffic - and it's a big gripe - but I'm sure the above popular places aren't that great for traffic either. DC has mild winters usually, and the hot hot hot part of the summer is usually just July and August (unlike Atlanta which seems to start early and go later...). The job market is great, even in this recession, and the cultural events and choices are superb.

The traffic is a major downer though. Unless you live fairly close in, there is a big disincentive to take advantage of everything this area can offer.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
What makes a city liked has more aspects than just its temperature. Phoenix is hot, but not humid, and the atmosphere there is very nice. I also like the architecture...
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:eek:

When I think "Phoenix Architecture" I think "Flat roof hidden by lots of protective walls."

Or Cabelas.

Or U of P Stadium.

Or Canals.

And you're right -- 110 is a Dry Heat. It makes it feel like 100!

Put me down for New York City as Best.

No other "city" comes close --- spend enough time in Manhattan and every other "city" will seem a pretender...

I vote Washington, DC as worst (Albany, Atlanta, Salt Lake, etc are barely "cities" -- more like "Suburb hubs").

DC: All the sophistication of the South and all the grace of the North....
 
dmccormack said:
:eek:

When I think "Phoenix Architecture" I think "Flat roof hidden by lots of protective walls."

Or Cabelas.

Or U of P Stadium.

Or Canals.
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Hmm... I suppose it depends on where you go exactly. My strongest memories are of my friend's house, which is a lot more of traditional architecture to the area. I liked it quite a bit.

And you're right -- 110 is a Dry Heat. It makes it feel like 100!
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The one thing about the summer is that when you get out of the car, it feels like getting into your car after it's been sitting in the sun anywhere else. Still, I don't mind it.

Put me down for New York City as Best.

No other "city" comes close --- spend enough time in Manhattan and every other "city" will seem a pretender...
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Having spent the first 18 years of my life in New York City, I do agree that every other city really is just pretending. That said, I would have to really be in love with someone to move back there. Costs too much money, roads suck, parking sucks, takes too long to get everywhere, GA airports are expensive and not easily accessible, hard to get hangar space... I can go on and on. I'll gladly take people there and show them around, and I go back frequently since most of my friends live there, but I wouldn't want to live there again if it was avoidable.

Then again, really I want to live NEAR a city, but not IN a city. My current setup is pretty good in that regard, now if only I could convince my friends to come out and visit a bit more often...
 
Ted DuPuis said:
Having spent the first 18 years of my life in New York City, I do agree that every other city really is just pretending. That said, I would have to really be in love with someone to move back there. Costs too much money, roads suck, parking sucks, takes too long to get everywhere, GA airports are expensive and not easily accessible, hard to get hangar space... I can go on and on. I'll gladly take people there and show them around, and I go back frequently since most of my friends live there, but I wouldn't want to live there again if it was avoidable.

Then again, really I want to live NEAR a city, but not IN a city. My current setup is pretty good in that regard, now if only I could convince my friends to come out and visit a bit more often...
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Yep -- exactly. NYC would be SO much better if it were like Pittsburgh in that regard. Downtown one minute, deer hunting in open country 25 minutes later...

Pittsburgh is unlike most Eastern Seaboard cities this way. From center city Baltimore, DC, Atlanta, Boston, all of NJ -- it takes a while before you're truly out.

It takes FOREVER to leave NY. If you live there and you're not wealthy, you're stuck.

If you do have the coin, it has to be great...
 
jmaynard said:
I never had to get up at 5 AM to shovel humidity out of my driveway while I lived in Houston.
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True... But our pavement doesn't melt up north. We can also put our seatbelt on and hold the steering wheel without asbestos gloves. It's nice being able to go sit outside and enjoy the day in the middle of august too.
 
The other areas I like besides Denver, where I am now, are San Francisco (where I have also lived) and Seattle (where I have visited and which appeals to me). Portland might be nice too but I have never spent any time there besides at the airport.
 
I like living in Tulsa and don't like Oklahoma City.
I like Tucson and Phoenix.
I like NYC, but don't want to live there. It has no peer in the US.
Boston - same as NYC. Like it, won't live there, has no peer.
Paris is beautiful. London is not.
 
dmccormack said:
Put me down for New York City as Best.

No other "city" comes close --- spend enough time in Manhattan and every other "city" will seem a pretender...
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If everything else is pretending, then they can stop. Manhattan in particular, and NYC in general, are crowded, unfriendly, dirty, smelly, and expensive. I can deal with the place, but there's no way in hell I'd live there.
 
fgcason said:
True... But our pavement doesn't melt up north. We can also put our seatbelt on and hold the steering wheel without asbestos gloves. It's nice being able to go sit outside and enjoy the day in the middle of august too.
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You need heavy gloves and mittens to put your seat belt on and hold the steering wheel in winter up north, lest you get frostbite...and it's nice to be able to fly in January without waiting for the ramp to be plowed and de-iced.
 
jmaynard said:
If everything else is pretending, then they can stop. Manhattan in particular, and NYC in general, are crowded, unfriendly, dirty, smelly, and expensive. I can deal with the place, but there's no way in hell I'd live there.
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You're right... cities with deserted streets (most every city west of the Hudson after 5 PM) are so much more livable.

:rolleyes:
 
dmccormack said:
You're right... cities with deserted streets (most every city west of the Hudson after 5 PM) are so much more livable.

:rolleyes:
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There's more to life than the center of a city. I lived in Houston for 41 years, and went downtown less than 100 times in total. Cities where you don't have to go to the crowded, dirty part are indeed quite livable.
 
AuntPeggy said:
I like living in Tulsa and don't like Oklahoma City.
I like Tucson and Phoenix.
I like NYC, but don't want to live there. It has no peer in the US.
Boston - same as NYC. Like it, won't live there, has no peer.
Paris is beautiful. London is not.
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London is not beautiful in the way Paris is, for certain. But it's incredibly, incredibly interesting. I love London and came thisclose to living there for a while. I've spent a lot of time on the ground there, at least.

I'd probably pick Florence as a place to live, if I were to move to Europe though. Either that or the south of France. Wild Card - Munich. Very livable city and close to tons of great things to do and see - and a world class airport.
 
dmccormack said:
It takes FOREVER to leave NY. If you live there and you're not wealthy, you're stuck.

If you do have the coin, it has to be great...
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Not completely sure what you mean there. Having money doesn't get you out of town quicker, because wealthy people still have to deal with traffic. In fact, depending on which less affluent area of NYC or the surrounding area you're talking about, it puts you closer to the only important broadway around (an airport).

Now, the very rich may go up to White Plains to get on their Citation, but it takes just as long to get there as it takes someone who's going up to fly the 152, assuming they're both driving.

Having the money just makes NYC a place you can afford to live in, it doesn't make it a great place to live. You have to want what it has to offer and be willing to sacrifice what it can't offer in order to live there.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
Not completely sure what you mean there. Having money doesn't get you out of town quicker, because wealthy people still have to deal with traffic. In fact, depending on which less affluent area of NYC or the surrounding area you're talking about, it puts you closer to the only important broadway around (an airport).

Now, the very rich may go up to White Plains to get on their Citation, but it takes just as long to get there as it takes someone who's going up to fly the 152, assuming they're both driving.

Having the money just makes NYC a place you can afford to live in, it doesn't make it a great place to live. You have to want what it has to offer and be willing to sacrifice what it can't offer in order to live there.
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Right -- I meant that if you are wealthy enough you'll have a driver and can relax while driving out of town.

If you're really wealthy you'll have a slip along the Hudson and access to helicopter service from one of the several pads.

Back in the Good Old Days even The Little people (with sufficient cash in hand) could run Park to the Pan Am building and take the PA Helicopter to JFK.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
Not completely sure what you mean there. Having money doesn't get you out of town quicker, because wealthy people still have to deal with traffic.
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Not if you're wealthy enough. If you're wealthy enough (see Donald Trump) you get out of town on your helicopter.
 
KennyFlys said:
Just Half Say There's No Place Like Home


Least Favorite (1 Being Least Favorite):
  1. Houston, Las Vegas & Riverside, CA - 23% (Three way tie)
  2. Los Angelos - 21%
  3. Baltimore - 20%
  4. St. Louis - 18%
  5. Pittsburgh - 17%
  6. Minneapolis - 16%
  7. Kansas City, MO - 15%
  8. Cincinatti - 13%
  9. Cleveland - 10%
  10. Detroit - 8%
Most Favorite (10 Being most Favorite):
  1. San Antonio, TX - 29% (tie)
  2. Sacramento, CA - 29% (tie)
  3. Portland, OR - 31%
  4. Phoenix - 33%
  5. San Francisco - 34% (tie)
  6. Tampa, FL - 34% (tie)
  7. Orlando, FL - 34% (tie)
  8. Seattle - 38%
  9. San Diego - 40%
  10. Denver - 43%
And, Mari chooses to live in the sticks. :)
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woodstock said:
Of the list, these would rate with me:
Portland, OR (haven't been but have only heard really really great things about it)
San Francisco - (just love it here. too spendy)
Tampa, FL - (I wouldn't live in Tampa itself, but Sarasota/Bradenton/Treasure Isle are nice. It would be low on my list but I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand)
Seattle - loved my day here - July. Wonder what the other 364 days are like.
San Diego - southern Cali in general is just lovely - and perfect weather.
Denver - haven't spent any time here but my visit to Breck/Vail/Boulder in 2007 was quite nice...

I have enjoyed my visits to Atlanta, it seems like a fun place to live. I wonder why it doesn't rate at all?

I also wonder why metro DC isn't on the list. My number one gripe is the traffic - and it's a big gripe - but I'm sure the above popular places aren't that great for traffic either. DC has mild winters usually, and the hot hot hot part of the summer is usually just July and August (unlike Atlanta which seems to start early and go later...). The job market is great, even in this recession, and the cultural events and choices are superb.

The traffic is a major downer though. Unless you live fairly close in, there is a big disincentive to take advantage of everything this area can offer.
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San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Denver, Raliegh, and Washington, DC are high on my list. I'd not put Cincinnati at the bottom, though I do think Columbus is pretty decent. I really don't like SoCal.... so much so that I would have turned down a job had it required a move there (something about living on a plate margin....). I like Boston, too, and NY to a degree (though I much prefer the northern suburbs....). Phoenix - no, it's also a better place to visit than to live.

I've found San Antonio to be a much better place to visit than to live. It's a great place to live if you're part of the "clique" or living in the "bubble" ('09 zip code).

AuntPeggy said:
I like living in Tulsa and don't like Oklahoma City.
I like Tucson and Phoenix.
I like NYC, but don't want to live there. It has no peer in the US.
Boston - same as NYC. Like it, won't live there, has no peer.
Paris is beautiful. London is not.
Click to expand...

I actually put Paris and London on par. Paris seems to have a bit more obvious attention to the arts, but London has real charms. Both are expensive. I like Geneva better, and parts of the South of France. I'd live in Tuscany. Oslo and Stockholm would also be pretty high on my international list.
 
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