The best city??????
 

Hi Everyone. <BR>I and my wife need your help to find out the best city to live in the USA. We are planning to move to San Diego and I'm 31 and my wife is 26 so, would you think that San Diego be the best city to live in or you have any better suggestion. <BR>let's vote, would you? <BR>Thank you for putting your idea down.........

St. Augustine, Florida

Okay Mitch, how do you define "best"? You can't! It's VERY subjective. San Diego is nice, so enjoy.

Houston.

Boston is a great, fun, young city!!! Check it out!

If you wanted answers that mean anything, you should have asked for the best city, but included the phrase "other than the one you live in". <BR>Then you wouldn't get answers like Houston.

I'd vote for San Francisco, if you don't have kids and just want to have a great life for a few years. Hubby and I took the cable cars home from work on nice nights, ate great food constantly, had a short, public transit commute, and got plenty of exercise. Then the kids came, and we couldn't afford SF and moved. But those were wonderful times!

New York City, if you have cash.

OK -- All these votes are for great cities, but they are SO expensive to live in! (New York, Boston, San Diego, San Francisco ... by the time you pay your bills, there is not much left over to enjoy the city!) <BR> <BR>What about a great city to live in that has a relatively reasonable cost of living?

The best price/value combo in terms of city living is Vancouver, WA. You get all the benefits of living close to Portland, OR, one of the country's most attractive cities, and still reasonable housing costs (we like the Cascade Park area best) in Clark County. And your wallet benefits in other ways--Washington state has no income tax; Oregon no sales tax (yet)--so if you live in WA and shop in Oregon, you get the best of both worlds. Not to mention the pleasures of being an hour from the gorgeous Cascades and just over an hour to the beautiful beaches. <BR>Of course, if you can afford it, the Pearl District, NW and SE areas of Portland are fabulous places to live... <BR>BTilke

I recall past editions of the Rand McNally Places Rated Almanac and Money Magazine ranking each of the following as the 'best city in the US' at different times: Pittsburgh, Burlington VT, Rochester MN, Seattle. Now there's a diverse bunch for you. <BR>I think San Diego lacks energy and character, but then I'm a traditional easterner, and love the unique qualities of New England. <BR>Mitch, each person has to define his/her own tastes. <BR>If you like SD, doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Depends on what you are looking for. If money is no object, NYC with a winter place in Key West. If you like to see the sun set on the water, San Francisco. <BR> <BR>Now if you have other priorities, like making a living or raising children, then you'll have to consider other factors.

Seattle. If you hate steamy heat and icy winds, this is your town. If you like breathtaking scenery and want to see it more than once or twice a year, this is your town. In the Seattle area, if you can afford to live in close proximity to where you work or have a reverse commute, go for it!

Be prepared for high real estate prices and rental rates in San Diego. I just went and looked at a house last weekend in San Diego that was 1,200 sq ft and was listed for $479,000. Granted it had a view, but wasn't in the best neighborhood. And as far as apartments, plan on putting your name on a waiting list.

The "best" city would depend on many factors. A major one would be what you and your wife like to do in your spare time. What's your income? Profession? Do you plan on having children? Do you like long commutes? Urban living? Country living? <BR> <BR>Other considerations? How old are your parents? Their health? Do you have siblings closer to home that can get to them faster if there's a problem. At your age now, that's probably not an issue. Give yourself 10 - 20 years. <BR> <BR>If you have children, how far will they be from grandparents. I'm not an advocate of living next door to your parents by any means. But if they are only 1-3 hours away, visits are day trips. More than that become weekend visits.

Dont come to the San Francisco Bay area. We are trying to get rid of some people. We are by far the nations most expensive housing market. <BR> <BR>Here are some reasons to avoid San Francisco and the 10 counties that surround it: <BR> <BR>1. TOO EXPENSIVE-coldwellbanker.com just released figures on housing sale prices and San Francisco ranked 3rd at $911,000 for a typical 4-bd/ 2-bth home. By the way 1st was Palo Alto( $1.2M) and 2nd was San Mateo( $993K), both suburban areas of the Bay area. We pay about $2 a gallon for gas and its a known fact in CA that we pay through the nose for everything. The Bay area has the highest average income west of manhattan but it also has the highest cost of living west of manhattan. <BR> <BR>2. OVERCROWDED-The 2000 census counted 7,037,000 people in the Bay area ranking it 5th in the Nation-demographics.com estimates the Bay to surpass Chicago and DC within 15 years. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose will be the nations 3rd Metro to surpass the 10 million mark in population, Do you really want that? Didnt think so. <BR> <BR>3. TERRIBLE TRAFFIC-We have 4.3 million cars,ranking 3rd ahead of Chicagoland. The San Francisco Bay area is home to the second most congested highways in the nation according to the Texas Institute of Transportation( meaning the most cars on the road per lane on average). LA is 1st( but thats not a surprise). The Bay Bridge in Oakland is the widest freeway in the world-with 30 lanes-22 westbound and 8 eastbound( its in the Guiness Book)and its backed up solid for miles every workday and many weekends. There is a 25-mile long line of traffic between Oakland and San Jose every day. <BR>The list of Traffic jams goes on and on. <BR>We also have 250,000 commuters from the inland valleys outside the bay metro boundries who commute into the area everyday. <BR> <BR>4. NATURES FURY-Earthquakes, Floods, Massive Fires, mudslides etc. You can do better than that. Try Arizona or Colorado. I hear its nice there. <BR> <BR> <BR>See? dont come here, life sucks-wink

Well B2B, <BR>youve certainly convinced me...Im not gonna move to your area any time soon. But I do love San Francisco and the bay. <BR> <BR>Now, having said that, I would like to suggest that you consider moving to Portland, Oregon. Its really nice and I think youd love it. <BR> <BR>I live in Las Vegas having moved here from Portland 8 months ago. It was not worth the trip in my estimation. Just not a great place for tree-lovers and cool weather lovers-what were we thinking?

Phoenix is the best place to live! I couldnt stomach california any longer so I moved here and havent looked back since! <BR> <BR>We have more fun things to do and Phoenix is more exciting than San Francisco-what a dreary place. We have sports teams and cheap homes. Youll love the sunshine and our restaurants are better than anywhere Ive been.

Kathy - I live in Las Vegas as well and would move back to the Pacific Northwest in a minute if I had the opportunity. Unfortunately I'm having no luck finding a job up there. In the meantime, I guess I'll just be stuck out here in the desert.

<BR>Boise, Idaho. <BR> <BR>What a great place to live. Plenty of recreational resources all around you (snow skiing, water skiing, rivers, hiking, camping, fishing, you name it), plus a surprisingly developed fine arts scene. Sun Valley is just 2.5 hours away. <BR> <BR>For the cost of our home here in the Bay Area, my sister owns a nice home in Boise and a cabin on a river an hour out of Boise. <BR> <BR>Good luck whatever you do! <BR>Shel

<BR>I am in the same situation as Mitch. We are considering moving to SACRAMENTO area. Please give any feedback. Thanks!

Im a bay area refugee( gucci-clad refugee that is) recently relocated to Las Vegas and can honestly say that I feel like Ive moved to hell! Life sucks here and I would give anything to move back to my little $600K bungalow in the Berkeley foothills. The only advantage is that from the money we made from our bungalow, we were able to buy a huge 3,500 sq. ft. executive-style home with a pool in Vegas. The disadvantages are many like the incessant heat which would be okay were I a damn cactus and its sad when our cultural events revolve around faux-replicas of other places like NY and Paris. Well, at least we have AC?

Miranda-My heart bleeds for you! And to think there are people in this country who can't make it on minimum wage, don't have decent health care coverage, childen who go to bed hungry every night, people living in boxes under overpasses...Be thankful for what you have and quit your bitchin honey, you have it a lot better than a lot of people! You are proof positive that money can't buy class and character!

Excuse me George-What the hell is your problem? <BR> <BR>This messageboard is not meant to fix the world and the ills of social injustice. You need to get off your high horse and get a clue on life-HONEY. <BR> <BR>You dont know what Ive ever done to help improve the quality of life for the poor in all the places ive lived in so mind your own business. <BR> <BR>Am I not allowed to post my opinions on this topic? AND just because I do, does that mean that I am ignorant to societies problems-NO,and NO. <BR> <BR>Take your preechie attitude and kiss my ass. I dont need your permission to breathe nor do I need your permission to speak my mind. Excuse me, We've worked damn hard for the things we have and I'll be damned before I let some little Know-nothing finger pointer tell me about myself. <BR> <BR>

I live in San Diego and let me tell you it is the most beautiful place I have ever lived or been to or even seen. Can't beat the weather, SO much to do. The cost of living is a little high, but that is the only possible drawback I can think of. Good luck to you.

Ive live in Portland, OR and think its a pretty great place to live. Lots of trees and beautiful hillsides and rivers. Not to mention a busier downtown area than San Diego( I moved here from SD in 1999) that reminds one of San Francisco. Oh well, to each his own. <BR> <BR>

To Paul from Phoenix- <BR> <BR>The desert heat must be melting your brain away! I had to laugh when you said that there is more to do in Phoenix than San Francisco. I've been to both places many times and can't even believe you would even compare two. <BR> <BR>Phoenix, in my opinion, is the lamest major city in the country, and ugly to boot. The metro area is comprised of cheaply built tract homes with zero character, strip malls, and dust. There is no "there" there. Whenever I've been there, even during the winter, the place feels abandoned. I've always wondered where people go just to relax and be outdoors. Encanto Park is boring. <BR>After you hike Camelback Mountain where do you go next? Back home to your walled up, air-conditioned tract home I assume. <BR> <BR>And to say that the restaurants there are better than in SF is a joke. I know there are some fine restaurants in the area, but all I see are Chili's, Applebee's, Village Inn, etc. And why is it that all the good restaurants in Phoenix are in a strip mall or a resort? <BR>As for the many sports teams in Phoenix, all team owners know that there is so little to see or do in Phoenix that it's residents have no choice, but to go to a game or two once in a while, thus sports teams abound. How's that Cardinal stadium issue going, anyways? <BR> <BR>Don't get me wrong, Phoenix is a nice place to visit, but after two day, I can't wait to get the heck out of there. <BR>

Joe, you took the thoughts right out of my mind and plunked them down. <BR>I used to live in PHX, and I'm not a PHX-basher. I actually like PHX a lot. <BR>But to compare it to SF for restaurants and activities is, indeed, a bit comical. <BR>PHX has less in the way of cultural activities and good restaurants than any other city in the US's top 15 metro areas IMO. <BR> <BR>And while my relatives live in San Diego, I have to chuckle at Elizabeth's hyperbolic comments too about SD. If it's the msot beautiful place she's ever seen, she needs to get out and travel a bit more. SD is not on most people's list of most beautiful/picturesque cities in the US. It's harbor looks nice with the sails and all, but it has nothing unique over lots of other Californian cities, and it's not nearly as beautiful (from a distance) as San Francisco. Chicago's skyline is the msot beautiful (viewed from the lake). DC certainly has the corner on architectural aspects of beauty. <BR>And what about the REALLY beautiful cities: Sydney is like something out of an artist's imagination; Paris....well, you get the idea. <BR>SD is great for what it is. But what makes it special and unique? I've never figured out the attraction for some people. Great weather can be found lots of places. Coastline? Plenty of that, too.

Top Ten Reasons to Stay The Hell Away From Phoenix: <BR> <BR>1. Strip malls, strip malls, and more strip malls. <BR>2. A gas station on all four corners of every intersection; a 7-11 on every block. <BR>3. The local newspaper is for idiots; the local news is for idiots who can't read. <BR>4. Dinner at Applebees is considered living large. <BR>5. Did I mention the heat? <BR>6. Guns, guns and more guns! <BR>7. Nothing to do. Ever. Nope. <BR>8. Even the swimming pools are hot. <BR>9. Would you like stucco with your windowless tract home, maam? <BR>10. Front lawns made of rocks.

I too live in Las Vegas and enjoy it here very much unlike the others that posted above. It took me five years to actually enjoy living here but as they say, home is where the heart is! We have a very good local economy. No state income tax. Can get to San Diego, LA, San Fran, and Phoenix in less than an hour and the flights are inexpensive. My husband grew up in San Diego and said he would not want to move back because of the unbearable traffic and the cost of living is ridiculous. My inlaws moved here recently from S.D. and were paying 800/mo. electric bills for a 1200 sq. foot home with a pool. I would think very long and hard before moving there. But it is beautiful. Good Luck.

Believe me if my hubby and I thought we could afford to buy a house there we would be in S.D. tomorrow! <BR> <BR>Enjoy!

Miranda, honey if you are that unhappy and can afford it, move back! Life's too short to live somewhere you hate....at least not longer than you have too!

I grew up in San Diego, but have visited many cities around the country. Of course it depends on what you like, but you can not beat the weather in San Diego. There isn't as much to do as in some other Metropolitan areas but there's enough to keep you busy, especially if you like outdoor activities. With the desert to the east, Mexico to the south, and Los Angeles/Orange County to the north you are within driving distance of an awful lot of fun and adventure. The fairly recent renovation of the Gaslamp area downtown was a huge plus for the city and is a wonderful place to spend an evening. The only other place I would consider living is San Francisco. It is a wonderful city but a bit too cold and pricey. I like the charm and character of some eastern and southern cities but hate the humidity. The seemingly constant rain up north also can become a real drag.

Coeur d'Alene, ID <BR>Beautiful, clean, mild winter (sort of), <BR>on a huge lake, decent progressive <BR>radio stations, affordable, Aryan nation <BR>stuff is overblown. Close to Canada <BR>and Washington. Green and lush. <BR> <BR>I live in San Diego now. No longer <BR>affordable and horrendous traffic. <BR>Crowded all the time, but summer the worst.

NYC - nothing else compares

You tell him Miranda! Just in case you're new here, certain people tend to get bent out of shape if someone happens to mention that they have a bit more material wealth. I can't figure it out but apparently it's a real sore spot with some. Just wanted to give you a heads up.