POSTED BY: CJones (May 29, 2008 08:15 AM)
Wow! Obviously weather was not a factor in these rankings. You wouldn't catch me dead in the winter in Omaha. Boise, or Des Moines.

POSTED BY: John (May 29, 2008 10:23 AM)
If you believe that Houston should be #1 because of Humidity, SugarLand, lack of zoning (i.e. Fast Food restaurants built next to your house), massive highways that are crowded, fake wiry cowboys that drink excessively from the biggest liquor store on the planet - then I suggest you live there and reevaluate your decision...Austin is nice but expensive and the traffic is very nasty at this time due to the influx of families moving here (i.e. people from California say that the traffic is bad!). Most *cool* people (e.g. Musicians and Artists) are boarding the train out of town...

POSTED BY: jack (May 29, 2008 12:12 PM)
Houston, are you kidding me? Terrible traffic, horrible weather and typically #1 on america's fattest list

POSTED BY: Andrew (May 29, 2008 03:27 PM)
Gnats, Mosquitos, and Bugs all love those cities too.

POSTED BY: Bill (May 29, 2008 05:16 PM)
Houston??? - Only if you love traffic,crime, pollution and humidity...Posted by an escapee from Houston.

POSTED BY: assyl (May 29, 2008 05:54 PM)
Yes, Houston is #1. Our city planning has been great in the past 5-10 years. Yes, it gets hot, and we may have a few bugs every now and then. However, the cultural, entertainment & live/work/play aspect of our city is truly underrated. Nice to see that someone credible has noticed :)

POSTED BY: assyl (May 29, 2008 05:55 PM)
Oh, and Austin is a definite #2. You have to experience it to understand. The lake, the weather, the scenery, the people... all very high caliber and unique.

POSTED BY: Jennifer (May 29, 2008 05:57 PM)
Houston is great. Yes it does get humid, yes there is some traffic, yes there are some bugs. You can expect these in every big city. Hello! What do you expect in a tropical climate. The ecomony is great, the jobs are great, the night life excellent. Houston is a great place to live, work and play!

POSTED BY: NO WAY (May 29, 2008 08:01 PM)
NO WAY on Sacramento #8. Second highest crime rate in CA. Massive urban sprawl and major police deficiency. $200 million city deficit projected in next two years. City is NOT how you painted it at ALL....Time for a recount!

POSTED BY: Catherien S. (May 29, 2008 08:03 PM)
Houston? are you kidding me? i lived in Houston for over 20 years and finally got out of there 6 years ago. Besides the nasty hot humid weather, the crime rate has skyrocketed, traffic is just as worst as San Francisco, it floods everywhere during the rainy season ( i mean everywhere), property taxes are crazy high, everywhere you go is crowded, the highways and streets are lined with strip malls (yuck) etc., etc. etc.

POSTED BY: kay (May 29, 2008 09:07 PM)
If you like living in your car, mediocre food (particularly of the ethnic variety), nothing to do, a city that isn't bike or ped friendly - then by all means move to Raleigh or anywhere NC. But can you really take a list that has Houston as #1 seriously?

POSTED BY: lcushr (May 29, 2008 09:09 PM)
I would never live in houston,It is called the city of brown skies for a reason.

POSTED BY: F. (May 30, 2008 01:37 AM)
Man, now the whole world knows how wonderful Houston is. I miss Houston so much and would move back in a heartbeat. Houston is every bit the #1 city which you've pinned it.

POSTED BY: Pete (May 30, 2008 01:39 AM)
Austin is the only city on this list with which I've ever heard or experienced anything nice. Omaha, really? There may be culture, but the folks out there still roll up the sidewalk at dusk.

POSTED BY: Chris (May 30, 2008 02:44 AM)
Wow, that's an amazing list. Obviously quality of life as in climate and cultural amenities wasn't a big factor. Other than Austin, these places would be on my top 100 list of places to NEVER live.

POSTED BY: Carey (May 30, 2008 08:43 AM)
I have to say Houston has really gotten better under the leadership of Bill White. All the fun stuff for young people is inside the loop. I always tell people, if you aren't liking Houston, then you're not living close enough to it!

POSTED BY: Mary Parker (May 30, 2008 12:16 PM)
the energy and excitement here in Houston is like no other! We are working to convert the Astrodome into the worlds largest soundstage to jump start our movie industry. most people that move here never leave.

POSTED BY: JC (May 30, 2008 03:22 PM)
Houston may not have perfect weather or whatever else people want to complain about. If you didn't/don't like it here we're glad you left and happy to have people move to our city with a positive attitude.

POSTED BY: Mike Buchlinker (May 30, 2008 06:32 PM)
Boise is indeed home to a growing creative class, if what you mean by creative class means bohemian....We watch as members of the new "creative class" are provided public subsidies in order to make our community "more diverse". If you want to invest in a community on the precipice of decline, with few opportunites (Micron and HP Boise are both packing their bags) come to Boise and help buoy home prices-we'll keep what you can't take with you when you try to leave :)

POSTED BY: tyler durden (May 30, 2008 09:16 PM)
My wife and I moved to Houston from Austin 4 years ago. I thought it was a temporary move but darnit we love it here. Houston is a great place with: 1. 2nd most number of theater seats in the country (2nd to NYC), 2. opera, ballet and symphony 3. The weather allows for shorts 10/11 months of the year. 4. great jobs/economy with low cost of living. 5. very welcoming city overall Houston is a great place to live for it's 4 million residents. I

POSTED BY: Michelle P (May 30, 2008 09:16 PM)
Houston rocks! I've lived here all my life except for a short stint in Phoenix, and I'm never leaving again! For everyone who complains about the weather, look around at all the trees, grass, and lush vegetation EVERYWHERE -- in the heat of summer AND the dead of winter -- and thank the heat and humidity for that! Would you rather live in the desert where it costs a fortune just to maintain a lawn? Or up north where everything dies for half the year? If so, goodbye, good riddance. You enjoy the brown, I'm staying where it's green!

POSTED BY: Robert Hunt (May 30, 2008 10:04 PM)
Grew up outside NYC. Houston in 1993. amazingly affordable, all the serious and world class arts, and you cant pick from all the other fun and funky activities youd like to do...live here, have fun, save $ and travel...

POSTED BY: John Fish (May 31, 2008 10:28 AM)
Every city has it's problems and because of our rapid and continued growth we have ours. Because I sell real estate in Raleigh and throughout the Triangle area I am well aware of ours. Nonetheless, we have a great area to live and work in and I thank you for giving us such a high ranking. For those looking for jobs in software, video games and many areas of medicine and high tech this is certainly a place to start your search.

POSTED BY: Tom (June 01, 2008 11:40 AM)
Boise? Idaho? folks, that's a high-tax, low-wage state run by a bunch of farmer good old boys, who want everyone to work for nothing....healthcare costs are outrageous, and no one is ever put in jail for crimes...just "forgiven".

POSTED BY: TheAnswer (June 02, 2008 10:50 AM)
Houston is still the South. Who in their right mind would move to the South?

POSTED BY: Sally (June 02, 2008 11:56 AM)
what is wrong with the South?

POSTED BY: The South (June 02, 2008 12:13 PM)
Who would move to the South? Hmmm... Maybe someone who doesn't like snow or the yankee yahoos up North? Maybe someone who enjoys a thriving ecomony with sunshine and hospitality? You can keep the North.

POSTED BY: Jack (June 02, 2008 01:21 PM)
You forgot the most obvious question to ask yourself: Do I really want to live in this city? I suspect you'll get a totally different list if you factored that into your equation.

POSTED BY: J.MARTIN (June 03, 2008 01:29 PM)
..I moved to Houston two years ago and the only reason I'm still here is because of the money. ... There is no such thing as nightlife in this city. Also, this city lacks class...

POSTED BY: Al (June 03, 2008 04:24 PM)
Houston has long been the envy of many other cities and now it's really coming into its own. World class in every way. I retired at 37 with an abundance of disposable income so I'm lucky to have the freedom to live anywhere and I have lived all over the western world. On balance I would not ever consider calling anywhere else home.

POSTED BY: Daniel (June 03, 2008 05:51 PM)
Houston has the most horrific drivers I have ever seen. When you put on your turn signal (which no one has a clue what one is), the drivers in the next lane are guaranteed to speed up excesively to prevent you from moving over....It's sad, everyone in Houston feels like they own the entire road, and no one shows a single bit of courtesy...

POSTED BY: Terry (June 03, 2008 10:41 PM)
If multiculturalism for a city was measured as well as friendliness, then Houston would be close to number one. Last year in one publication it was voted in the top five cities with the heaviest peoples. Air pollution, poor infrastructure which is evident in the roads, traffic, lack of a rail system and crime really bring down the quality of life in houston. The heat, humidity and the bugs is a Southern thing, not a Houston thing. With over 165 languages spoken here and a vast diversity of peoples living here, I would say Houston is a city to be Proud of.

POSTED BY: Jack (June 04, 2008 01:55 PM)
I don't know what criteria they are using, but I lived, or should I say I survived Houston for three and a half years....For one thing, I am a native Texan, and Dallas and Houston ARE NOT part of Texas! I would say they are more of Louisiana than anywhere else! Daniel, you are correctamundo about the drivers!...There is no way I am going to say where is the best city to live...than everybody will move there and make another Dallas or Houston out of it...it will remain my well kept secret!!

POSTED BY: VUMeister (June 04, 2008 03:43 PM)
DARN IT! With all the migration it'll attract . . . there goes Houston affordable real-estate.

POSTED BY: Ty (June 06, 2008 11:11 AM)
All the negative comments here are from people who do not live in Houston. Someone made a comment about the drivers...have you seen what cars look like in NYC, scratched and dented all over. I have live everywhere (Detroit, St. Louis, Chicago, New York, California) and Houston has the best of all those places. Of course it has its negatives, but for young people there is no better place than inside the loop right now. I agree with Jack on one thing, Houston doesnt really look like a traditional 'Southern' city, its way more like a progressive city thats on the east and west coasts. Best city in the south. Please...stick with facts. This is a great place to live and thats why its #1.

POSTED BY: SQUIRLYG (June 09, 2008 10:05 AM)
Houston is a great city if you live inside the beltway and not in the cultural void of the suburbs. I have lived in Houston, Austin and Dallas and Houston is definitely the most cosmopolitan and diverse city in the south. The restaurants are fabulous, the people are friendly, the cost of living is great and you still get a big city surrounding. Kudos to Kiplinger for recognizing this!

POSTED BY: Rick (June 09, 2008 01:52 PM)
When they picked Houston, they have obviously never lived or traveled there. I don't think that they considered high crime rates, high murder rates, gang problems, and terrible weather. They must like killer humidity and large bugs. I am a native Texan no longer living in Texas and I can honestly say that I would never move there.

POSTED BY: Lived there..... (June 10, 2008 04:09 PM)
Are ya kiddin' me??? You seriously picked Sacramento over Portland, Oregon? Might want to have a second look.

POSTED BY: Jesse (June 14, 2008 09:06 AM)
I just have one question for everyone complaining about this list: How many of you have actually been to these places you talk down about? Have you ever been to Omaha? Boise? Des Moines? I've been to all 3. I'm from the east coast and let me tell you, if you like traffic jams, overcrowded schools, high crime rates, overpriced houses, and 100 degree weather with ridiculous humidity year-round, than Omaha, Boise, and Des Moines are not for you. These are 3 of the most beautiful and convenient cities I've ever seen. They EASILY top other such places I heard people rave about...

POSTED BY: Spencer (June 16, 2008 10:57 AM)
They are singing the praises of Kiplinger here in Colorado Springs.....but I'm here to tell you it was a big mistake on several fronts to list it at #5, if at all. This town is...intolerant and so divided along economic lines--old money and retired military soaking up gov't pensions and then real working people trying to just survive in this horrible period of USA recession. There are no "abundant jobs" here !! Where did you get that load of BS? Half a page of classifieds for help wanted ads in the local...newspaper doesn't bode well for prosperity. The city council just cut $9,000,000 from the city budget to get through the year.....there goes the police, public safety and many other programs. Healthcare is nonexistent unless you have the "perfect" insurance. ...There is no help for the people here....The only thing that I see as accurate is our cost of living is reasonable as long as you use coupons for everything. The mountains are beautiful too once you fight the traffic to get through the pass....

POSTED BY: Christine (June 16, 2008 12:16 PM)
I grew up in New York, lived in the Washington DC area for 10+ years, and moved to Chapel Hill 14 yrs ago and love it. The area is so rich with various jobs, homes, students, retirees, it is a unique place and one I am happy to call my new home town!

POSTED BY: jblue (June 17, 2008 09:43 PM)
Lived in Houston 25-years and Austin 31-years. Would pick Houston over Austin by a long shot. Austin has overpriced housing and the worst traffic of all mid-sized cities for the last 5-years. The police force is not active, as evidence to the HIGH property crime rate. Houston is the most affordable place to live in the South. The infrastructure is adequate, and they are always striving to improve. Pro sports , museums, etc

POSTED BY: Santos (June 18, 2008 11:55 AM)
I can believe people are jealous and bitter of our economy, weather, traffic, and other inconsistent factual information about Houston. Yes, we have crime like any other major city, we have sunny days like any other major state from California to North Carolina, we are populated like any other city like New York or Chicago, we have rain like any other city, like Des Monies right now. I could go on...But, one thing distinguishes Houstonian's from any other states or cities, we are a bigger state where we don't run out of land or space..hint..New York, San Francisco, or any other compact city in the USA. Congratulations!!!Houston!!!

POSTED BY: Laura (June 18, 2008 02:38 PM)
I lived in Houston for 17 years and for the last 13 have lived in Kansas City. Houston has a lower cost of living but I can't BELIEVE you have rated it number one. The air polution makes it unbearable for people with lung problems, the crime rate leaves insurance policies high and dry...and excuse me...did anyone notice what happened during hurricane a couple years ago? The only reason one would live in Houston is money and unfortunately with this economy, we are driving people to their last resort.

POSTED BY: m (June 19, 2008 01:26 PM)
Just moved from Michigan to Houston for a job change- A little hot but never been happier

POSTED BY: N/A (June 19, 2008 01:32 PM)
Why weren't the crime rates posted along with the other stats?

POSTED BY: Wes Kerlin (June 19, 2008 01:56 PM)
I can not believe my beautiful and thriving Anchorage, AK did not make the top ten. Sacramento? I lived there and never felt safe anywhere in town...Top ten best places to live?

POSTED BY: tomcat29 (June 19, 2008 01:57 PM)
First of all, instant loss of credibility with Houston as no. 1. One of the most God-awful cities I have ever had the displeasure of living in with the absolute most miserable weather... unless 97 degrees with 97% humidity is your cup of tea. And there is no way...anyone [in their right mind] would ever choose Houston to live in over Colorado Springs....

POSTED BY: RaleighNative (June 19, 2008 02:03 PM)
I live in Raleigh and agree that it is a very nice city, but Fayetteville?..

POSTED BY: Mike (June 19, 2008 02:06 PM)
I have to agree with the assessment of Houston. I brought my fiance down her and she loved it! Nothing of what she had in mind. People are scared of big cities with crime, pollution, and congestion. Well, they are making strides in every category mentioned. Houston has humidity and heat, but embrace it since it's here to stay. There is always an air conditioned place to rest yourself in - it having also having the distinction of the most air conditioned place in the world. I work downtown and love it! The Discovery Green park is absolutely lovely and as been occupied every since it opened. Crime is relevant but has to do with time and place of where you're at. Lived here all 42 years and I've never been accosted. The cost of living here is very reasonable and I believe it will get better since the housing fiasco. The traffic isn't bad if you live within the loop. But then there are always alternative routes. Houston is a great place to live, with plenty do see and do, nice weather for most of the year, and most people are friendly and helpful. So, come on down!

POSTED BY: Ken S (June 19, 2008 02:21 PM)
Last time I checked Houston had the dubious distinction of being the city with the worst air pollution in the US.

POSTED BY: Jim (June 19, 2008 02:26 PM)
...Houston as #1 - that's hysterical. I guess traffic, air pollution, lousy climate, hurricanes, flash floods, proximity to the border conflict, and having the worst obesity rating in the country had no influence. It offers excellent restaurants but not much else. Money Magazine recently rated San Francisco as the best city to live in, but the closest these deep thinkers came was Sacramento, which doesn't compare in quality of life. All in all, you get what you pay for. Oh well, at least they didn't select Buffalo...

POSTED BY: Jim (June 19, 2008 03:11 PM)
I know you are looking at cities...but the best place to live in the count is Bend, Oregon, population 75,000. It is a "WOW" place.

POSTED BY: KGB (June 19, 2008 03:22 PM)
Houston number 1?...Houston is a mess and expanding completely out of control. The climate is miserable and the crime rate is scary. It is a smaller but equally crazy Los Angeles. If you like refineries just move near the Ship Channel. Austin on the opposite end of the spectrum, is the best city in the country to live. Young, vital and growing. Near thousands of acres and lakes and parklands. Very literate and wired. And the safest, lowest crime rate, large city in the US. There is no economic depression in Austin. Land is plentiful, beautiful and affordable. The music scene is exceptional. The cops are very laid back. There is almost no racial tension. And it has the best looking women between 18 and 40 in the whole country period...

POSTED BY: Valerie (June 19, 2008 03:36 PM)
Laura, sorry you didn't like Houston, but you did the right thing...love it or leave it! Yeah Houston!

POSTED BY: CP (June 19, 2008 04:05 PM)
Born 50 years ago here in Sac, now live in a suburb (Roseville). We have never had a major disaster such as earth-quake, hurricane etc. as far as I can remember. It gets warm (90+) in the summer and does not snow in the winter. You can enjoy yourself year round here. Whats not to love. We are a few hours from San Francisco and the Wine country one way, a few hours another way to Tahoe & Reno. With the Capitol of California down town and the should have been 2002 NBA champs (yeah got ripped off by the refs) on top of all that thrown in Hmm, sounds pretty good to me.

POSTED BY: bluestreak (June 19, 2008 04:15 PM)
...Houston is a swamp and it has swamp-like weather, from humidity to heat...crime also is a major concern. worse yet, it's in texas.

POSTED BY: CDH (June 19, 2008 04:44 PM)
I have lived in Houston/Sugar Land for almost 14 years. Bravo for recognizing everything this city has to offer. Arts, medicine, diversity, great jobs, a reasonable cost of living and an overall outstanding lifestyle. Thanks for recognizing this city for its true value instead of knocking it for it's heat! There are lots of ways to break the heat in this fabulous city- and it makes for wonderful winters!

POSTED BY: elan (June 19, 2008 05:05 PM)
Shhh - let's not tell too many people, Des Moines is fantastic city,has lots of theatre, programs for kids, lots of art, and fabulous sports teams. And a Red Rossa Pizza restaurant - what more could you ask for! Additionally, drive ten minutes and you are in the country - with cows, horses, and definitely plenty of deer. Housing is affordable,, and the neighborhoods take pride in keeping their homes nice. We will survive the flooding, that's part of our spirit here. Did I mention that people are friendly and courteous? If you signal a lane change, other drivers actually slow and let you in the lane. But please, don't all move here at once.

POSTED BY: dallasite (June 19, 2008 05:28 PM)
Houston over Dallas? Dallas has higher HH income, a fantastic creative environment and affordable cost of living. I've lived here off and on for more than 30 years, and it's never been as richly rewarding as now. Interesting creative artists and business people are making this city liveable for diverse groups. The public schools are going through a major reform and showing results. Plus, we don't have the humidity of Houston!

POSTED BY: sherelle walker (June 19, 2008 06:03 PM)
I just moved down here to Houston this past January and I love it. I am from Ohio where there are no jobs and the weather is sooo bad. I got a job right away when I came down here and I never seen housing so cheap in all my life. The way they give away apartments down here is great. And my son loves it to because there is so much to do. I have not had a board day since I crossed the Texas border. The weather is hot but it's better then the snow, my son and I have not worn our winter coats or boots in six months and we love it. I think that we are here to stay.

POSTED BY: sherelle walker (June 19, 2008 06:06 PM)
Re: Just moved to Houston and loving it. And also to add a note there is crime everywhere you go. Cleveland OH has a lot of crime..going on. And that is a very small town with high housing, from mortage to rent you can't make it there. And there are not a lot of jobs there either. One must branch out of Ohio to make it in this world if you want something.

POSTED BY: LAH (June 19, 2008 06:15 PM)
..Have fun hugging trees in CS.

POSTED BY: Pretty funny... (June 19, 2008 06:47 PM)
...don't think Boise is the panacea for economic development and life as a whole. We are experiencing the same problems here that most cities are. We have lay-offs occurring at the few major companies in the area with "very few" opportunities for meaningful employment and crime is on the rise as well. The building boom is gone and we are starting to see more foreclosures in the valley. Before you jump that fence, best look at how far you will be from other major city centers for employment. Unless you like working for fast food companies and bragging about your advanced degree, Boise may not be heralded as the place to be.

POSTED BY: Lora (June 19, 2008 07:30 PM)
I must say I'm not a bit surprised that Fayetteville, Ar is on the list, but you forgot to talk to the working class. You know the ones of us who actually live here and don't work for Wal-Mart , Tyson or the U of A corporate. Every thing here has gone up in the last few years. The cost of living, housing, ect. However I am still making the same salary as I was 10 years ago and so are most of the people I know. I even work in Healthcare. So don't kid yourselves unless you've got lots of 'green' and are being moved here by some big corporate job. This is not one of the best places to live. Believe me!! I live here.

POSTED BY: Dave (June 19, 2008 07:40 PM)
It seems Business Week has also just recognized Houston as one of its best cities to live in (obviously for various reasons) in the country. These magazines must be insane, or so say some of the people commenting here. If you have lived in Houston and you would never want to move back, I completely understand your questioning of such a list. Frankly, these lists don't mean all that much, unless of course you are somewhere in the country and desperate for a change. What kind of change? A change to a place where you will be accepted. A change to a place where you have a good quality of life (not all of your money tied up in a mortgage perhaps?) A change to a place where you can find things to do. Culture. Good schools for your children. There a lot of places in our fine country that you can find those things and most would probably say it is in their own backyard....I could go on all day about the good things about Houston, much of which can counteract perceived negatives. Heat and humidity. Yes, we have it here in the South, along the Gulf of Mexico, just like Miami, Tampa and New Orleans. It's hot and humid just like it is in the entire Midwest in the summertime, we just happen to have it a few more months out of the year. However, from October to April, we have really great weather. You like 75 degrees in January? It happens here all of the time...Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country.

POSTED BY: kaylee (June 19, 2008 09:34 PM)
They mean Fayetteville, Ark. not North Carolina. My sister lives in Fayetteville, NC and I think it is very nice there, but it's way to hot and humid for me in the summer.

POSTED BY: joe murfy (June 19, 2008 09:50 PM)
..NC is a great place to live, further west, the better!!!! somebody slap congress and make them lower fuel prices

POSTED BY: mark (June 20, 2008 12:38 AM)
Focusing primarily on buying power will naturally lead to puzzling results like this. When I think of a city that's a great place to live I think of density, public spaces and vibrant community. Such qualities highlight the strengths of a city: interaction with (and of course, commerce with) many different people, many opportunities available in almost anything you want to do, from jobs to recreation. These things need density to survive, but density drives up cost of living and thus decreases buying power. Looking at buying power is almost a way to find anti-cities: enough space and few enough people that there's no competition for resources. Consider a capitalist view of the situation. If the price is low, not enough people are interested in the place...Having a glitzy downtown and maintining low city density does not make a city a great place to live. It makes it a suburb, dressed up as a city.

POSTED BY: jon frodema (June 20, 2008 01:53 AM)
Absolutely baffled by your choice of Houston as a best city...no zoning, every neighborhood looks practically the same, nothing but crowded, endless ugly strips of fast food chains and cookie-cutter housing complexes that all look alike, baking in that humid sun, devoid of seasons...nothing much but gun dealers, pawn shops and air-conditioned super malls...the worst of America would be more like it...

POSTED BY: Pdr (June 20, 2008 10:08 AM)
Although I've never lived in Houston, I've heard all the negative comments from many Texas friends. AND yes, I would agree Austin is a much better city (except for the price of housing). I've visited many times such cities as Boise and Omaha and would agree those are very nice mid-size towns - during most seasons AND not the winter (especially Omaha!). I lived in Colo. Spgs for seven years in the late 90's to 2004 and think that is a very nice city. Fresh air, the rockies, lots of outdoor activities. The only drawback is the traffic - its a nightmare like Austin's! mainly because they are widening all the major roads and work moves at a snail's pace. And yes, the last two winters have not been very nice either! I've also live in/around Fayetteville and Sacramento and am surprised about their status of being a Top 10 city. No way!

POSTED BY: Spud (June 20, 2008 11:00 AM)
I have lived in Houston since early 80's. Personally, I prefer to live somewhere else... if I can afford it !!! However, I am still in Houston today and will be for a long time to come because it has one of the lowest cost of living there is. There is more job opportunities here especially if you are in oil-related industries. The city is also very diverse as far as race and ethnic is concern. Weather wise, if you can put up with about 4 months of hot, humid and mosquitoes infested weather, the rest of the year is very pleasant. Oh yes, we do have occasional hurricanes during the summer but that is because we do not have snow storms.

POSTED BY: lrvp (June 20, 2008 12:02 PM)
I've lived in Houston for 20 years and I have to agree it is a great place to live. My reasons are: Golf year round, Fishing year round, Great restaurants, Professional sports, Great museums, Great symphony, Great ballet, Great theater, Great parks, Reasonable housing, Great business climate, Great job market, Ethnic diversity, Friendly people The heat from May thru September is pretty bad, but the weather from October thru April makes up for it. Besides, Houston is the most air conditioned city in the world. I'll never leave.

POSTED BY: Jim M (June 20, 2008 02:24 PM)
...Houston?? Have you ever been in Houston in the summertime, when it turns into a swamp? And how 'bout that traffic?? And Austin?? You're about 20 years too late on that one. Austin used to be a great little party and music town, but not anymore! Since the explosion of hi-tech there in the 90s, it's turned into a highly congested, expensive dump. (I know about both towns, by the way, because I lived in East Texas for 20 years.)...I live in Vancouver WA, a suburb of Portland, and I am shocked, shocked, that Portland didn't make the Top 10 and these towns did. Clean, well planned, mass transit rich, bike friendly, lots of green space, some of the finest restaurants in the country, the Beer Capital of the World (more breweries in P'land than any other city in the WORLD), and close to the spectacular new wine regions of Oregon and Washington. Boy, did you miss the boat on this one...

POSTED BY: SC (June 21, 2008 10:52 AM)
CJones has obviously never lived in Boise. I have lived in the Boise area for almost 20 years now and the worst winter weather we have had is snow that stayed on the ground for a whopping 7 days. Weather-wise, Boise is hands down the best place to live. You get all 4 seasons, but not any extremes in them. In fact, I remember wearing shorts to school in January a couple times! The air is still very clean. Affording a house near your work is not impossible (my husband's commute is just 15 minutes each way to work and we have a 2500 sf 3-yr-old house on the area's median salary). Our school district is fantastic, we bike to the library, and the civic leaders are working hard to make sure that the continual growth does not lead to the bad things it has in other larger cities. Boise definitely deserves to be among the top 10 cities to live. I definitely consider myself very lucky to call Boise "home".

POSTED BY: CLogaholic (June 21, 2008 11:11 AM)
I bought a house in Houston in 1988 on 1/2 an acre of land 6 miles from downtown for $20,000, so yes it's very affordable. What really makes a city great is the people living there and the friendly atmosphere. With the breezes off the Gulf Coast and the abundant shade trees here summertime really isn't so bad. Now if someone could just find a way for the ants and mosquitos to kill each other off!

POSTED BY: vk (June 21, 2008 11:55 AM)
Houston: One of the most polluted cities in US (actually #4 by ozone)

POSTED BY: ATX guy (June 21, 2008 10:12 PM)
Jim, Austin is a DUMP??...Best place to raise kids in the country. I agree it's not the same as it used to be, but it is now growing into a world class city, while still retaining it's character. I also like what Houston has done with itself. MUCH better town than it used to be. I enjoy taking my wife and kids with me while I'm on business trips. Thanks for imparting your worldly perpective to us. "E. Texas"...Whatever...

POSTED BY: Ed (June 24, 2008 10:02 PM)
I live in Houston now. I moved here a few years ago from Los Angeles. People are complaining about the traffic and crime. This is a cakewalk compaired to Southern California. Im home in 20 minutes from work, instead of 2 hours.

POSTED BY: Homer (June 24, 2008 10:08 PM)
Neb, Colo and Iowa great places to live? Their is nothing to do expect grow vegtables or shovel snow in Colo...

POSTED BY: BKM_PaloAlto (June 29, 2008 02:04 AM)
Best places to live - if you're an Anglo-Saxon Christian. For the rest of us ethnic types, I would hesitate to live in any of these cities, except perhaps Sacramento, CA.

POSTED BY: Ross (June 30, 2008 09:28 PM)
...Houston? Come on

POSTED BY: anonymous (July 01, 2008 09:40 PM)
Giving the whole state the same standard of living index number is not fair to the cities in the certain state...

POSTED BY: Tony (July 02, 2008 09:01 PM)
Tsk tsk tsk. To those people who hate Houston,...Its your loss not ours. HOUSTON #1.

POSTED BY: Annette (July 06, 2008 11:40 PM)
...I've been to Houston AND Austin and I can't believe these 2 cities made the cut over Sioux Falls, SD. where I live now. What a shame to pick 2 cities from the same state when I wouldn't live at either place.

POSTED BY: R (July 09, 2008 02:24 PM)
People- this list was not formulated to tell you where the nicest place to live is. This was researched and provided...as a tool for readers looking for inexpensive housing markets with opportunities for work and high earning potential. Many of these cities do not currently have reputations as great cities because they are either up and coming or being revived. The reason Houston has been voted number one is because it is cheap, jobs are available and it is a place where there are (or will be) fun things to do. I searched for this list because I am a 23 year old looking for a new place to start a life. I have no money and would like a better job. I grew up in Boston and currently live in DC. I think the greatest city to live in would be New York: There is entertainment everywhere, lots of people, diversity and history. I also love Boston and find the DC area to be very nice. However, they are all really, REALLY hard to make it in as a young person with a starting salary and no financial cushion due to their high costs of living. I think Houston could be a great place to start off given the criteria I am looking for. No matter what, these lists are always going to be disputed, but if you want to read about the safest and least polluted towns go read a Better Homes and Gardens article cuz you picked the wrong one here.

POSTED BY: Hugo (July 10, 2008 05:13 PM)
PLEASE think about Austin too folks...great recreational opportunities, best musical venues and the hill country is beautiful...oh and it also doesn't boast some of the WORST air in the nation (as does Houston) ....

POSTED BY: David from Brooklyn (July 15, 2008 12:40 AM)
COlorado Springs even near the list? No way! There's useless public transportation; high and rising utility costs; unruly traffic; cracked roadways; zero snow removal; high cost of food & clothing; etc.

POSTED BY: Joe (July 26, 2008 04:29 AM)
Yes, Raleigh is a bit lacking on the cultural end of things, as someone pointed out. However, the area has been the #1 place in the country for high tech job growth for several years running, and the cost of living is very low. That's what pushed it up so high on the list. Considering that one of the main focuses of the article is the economic advantages of moving to different areas, those are two weighty factors.

POSTED BY: Ex-Raleigh (July 29, 2008 11:59 AM)
Moved back from Raleigh, NC to New England area. Agreed the winter here in NE is bad but it has culture, academics (at all levels), medical system, history and on top liberal states says everything about it. You won't find this in Raleigh area. Oh yes, there are lot's of insects too there. Won't go back there!

POSTED BY: Zack K (July 30, 2008 09:16 AM)
I agree with Hugo. I live about 30 minutes outside of Houston, and am not very impressed with the city, outside of the job opportunities it provides. The traffic always sucks, and the air just.....TASTES foul. Not to mention I was robbed at knife-point while working. I've visited Austin and the people are much nicer, the scenery much prettier, and the city cleaner and less cramped with more stuff to do.

POSTED BY: Fernando (July 31, 2008 12:46 AM)
People have no clue! The spirt and energy of Houston is unrelentless, the vegetation is amazing, the neo-deco/super mod architecture (that's poppping up everywhere) is incredible, and the crime is not that bad! It's a city, what do you expect? It's not like any other city, that's for sure- I've lived in New York (Brooklyn) for four years now and I'm dying to finish grad school and move back and be able to afford the best housing in the nation: a REAL place for artists = affordability and a pioneering spirit!

POSTED BY: Jordan (August 15, 2008 03:01 AM)
I am a San Franciscan, and you have got to be kidding?

POSTED BY: SLJ (August 15, 2008 12:00 PM)
I was surprised to not see San Antonio, TX, on the list...the cost of living is EXCELLENT there and there are always things to do! The River Walk is beautiful and it's growing like weeds! The house market is the best I've seen yet! You can get a brand new 1500 sq ft home with front and backyard space for $125,000 in a great neighborhood...the other states don't know what they're missing!

POSTED BY: Wil (August 17, 2008 01:05 PM)
Been in San Francisco (live in Marin) for 30 years. It's nice, but way overated. Boise is a wonderful town and would rate it higher than SF. Not quite sure how Houston got the top spot though. Also, find it difficult to understand how Sac made the top 10.

POSTED BY: Jim (August 18, 2008 02:09 PM)
San Francisco is a disaster waiting not to mention its far left vent. Houston I give a zero. The rest make sense.

POSTED BY: JAB (August 19, 2008 10:59 AM)
San Antonio didn't get rated b/c the pay scale isn't as good as the others. The companies here do not pay at a rate that other growing cities do. Companies here take advantage of the low cost of living by not paying as well as they should.

POSTED BY: dns (August 20, 2008 08:48 PM)
Houston has zero zoning, limited transit and pollution. Airport not linked to transit. Provo is too small. Fayetteville is a dump and small. Omaha has the market district which is great, but still small and no great university. Austin and Sacramento have a surprising amount to offer, but they're hot as blazes in summer, so you need to a summer place at the beach or in the mountains if you live there.

POSTED BY: AAM (August 21, 2008 10:22 AM)
The most surprising city on the list is in the no.1 spot, Houston. I've only visited Houston but, would not want to live there. Friends who are military lived there and rated it at the bottom of the dozen places they lived. Pollution, traffic, heat & humidity, and crime are reasons they put it at the bottom.

POSTED BY: Reggie (August 21, 2008 10:50 AM)
I've lived in 16 States, 3 foreign countries, and 25 different cities. I have decided to settle in Colorado Springs. Traffic is the lightest I have ever experienced in a city this size or larger. The city has very low crime compared to other large cities. There are tons of parks in and around the city with over 80 miles of bike trails in the city itself. There are virtually no flys, gnats, or other pests (havn't seen a roach in two years!). The climate is mild in summer and winter (there is regular winter snow but it dissapears quickly in the 90% sunny weather). There are great community and outdoor activities all around. The mountain air is great. No wonder another national magazine ranked Colorado Springs the no.1 large city to reside in 2006....Colorado Springs is diverse with a large portion of people with foreign heritage (Germany, India, Russia, Korea, Phillipines, Mexico...). The only ethnic group that seems to be under-represented is African-American (compared to the national average). The jobless rate is lower than other large cities. Overall, this place is wonderful...

POSTED BY: IndianolaTexian (August 25, 2008 04:51 PM)
Austin: went to school there. A lot of kids go there but never grow up - that's why there is a bumper sticker that says "Keep Austin Weird". Dallas: got my first job there. More ice and heat than you'd expect. Houston: we left when they put metal detectors in the elementary school. San Antonio: we call home now. Less traffic, pollution, crime, and weird; yet very affordable.