Where is the best place to live in the United States?

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This video is based on Money Magazine’s Best Places to Live lists throughout the years. The most recent edition (2019) can be found here: money.com/collection/best-pla...
...and as I type this I see that the 2020 list is up. All of my points are still valid.
Produced by Dave Amos in sunny San Luis Obispo, California.
Edited by Eric Schneider in cloudy Cleveland, Ohio.
Black Lives Matter.

[@CityBeautiful]

Money's 2020 Best Places just came out: money.com/collection/best-places-to-live-2020/ . None of 2019's top 10 appear on 2020's top 10. Huh...

[@MichiganUSASingaporeSEAsia]

So clearly a lot of flaws in their rankings

[@MichiganUSASingaporeSEAsia]

Grand Rapids city, Michigan beats them all in all data; Holland city, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota is also great choice; Naperville Illinois would be nice but the state takes them down; Boston Massachusetts; Portland Oregon; Madison, Wisconsin; Traverse city, Michigan Out of all, Traverse city, Michigan is the best for midsized city and a tie between Minneapolis Minnesota and Grand Rapids Michigan for the mega cities. 👍

[@Steampunkkids]

City Beautiful when will this air on Nebula?

[@jasonjayalap]

“Thanks to Money mag’s 2019 list, I up-ended our lives and finally we are at new place! What’s this? New edition you say? Let’s see...”

[@johnfitzgerald7618]

The methodology section suggests they arbitrarily weight the different variables they consider, which is a recipe for a poor rating. Either the variables are correlated or they're not. If they're correlated you don't want to weight them differently because they're all measuring the same thing. If they're not correlated you don't want to add them together, since they're not measures of the same thing. Which confirms your point about the ratings representing only one of many possible conceptions of a good place to live. A more defensible approach would be to establish what are the variables that promote desirable social goals -- low crime, for example -- and rank the cities by standardized (not ranked) scores on those variables. Any weights should be derived from regression analysis. So there.

[@Revelwoodie]

Someone should develop a "Best Place For YOU to Live" calculator. Enter some demographic data like family size, age, income, etc. Then answer a bunch of questions, like, "How often do you eat out?" "Do you own a bicycle?" "Do you like live music?" "Do you own a dog?" Etc. THEN it gives you a top ten list.

[@Wewereneveryoung]

You better get on that before someone else does!

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

What a vain ass way to live.

[@Revelwoodie]

@@MilwaukeeF40C Wait, what?

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

@@Revelwoodie "I'm going to have apps do everything in my life."

[@Revelwoodie]

@@MilwaukeeF40C I'm still not sure what you mean. Is it vanity, as you suggested in your first reply? Or laziness, as you suggest now? Imagine you get a high paying job that requires you to relocate to another city. You ask people familiar with that city what neighborhoods are best. They all tell you, "Oh, you just have to find a place in North Bla-bla-bla. That is the best neighborhood." Then you move there. And you find out the reason that neighborhood is so lauded is because of the schools, but you don't have kids. You don't even want kids. You wanted a neighborhood with great bars and restaurants. Or vice versa - You just want a good neighborhood for your kids, and you ended up with a 12 month lease in the hipster brew pub neighborhood because you didn't know better. My point, and I think the point of the video, is that there is no such thing as an objectively "best place to live." It depends on what you want out of life, and the kind of community you will enjoy living in.

[@gg3675]

Imagine a realistic "best places to live" list, it would just be the closest place to work, your friends, and your family that you can reasonably afford haha.

[@declanrg]

Lol I'm sure Facebook knows it

[@IloveNarutois15]

Thats SOUNDS nice but what if there are no jobs

[@_raresis5405]

a microraion basically

[@bradcomis1066]

@@IloveNarutois15 Sometimes the best balance of those factors doesn't lead to distance measured in single or double digits- sometimes its farther. Maybe even another state. Depends on the person and their values. Sometimes one category needs to lose out.

[@melovetorun]

They only put safe cities where there’s no crime.

[@se9865]

Fishers, Indiana is so great that when the kids graduate they all move.

[@justonemori]

omg the next comment after this was somebody that grew up there and is never going back

[@saxyhank]

I live in Clarksville and believe me, I think we all laughed and scoffed at the list when it came out. Great video and the break down is spot on. One thing that I think separated Cville was their "young couples" stat or whatever it was called, they described it like young people flock here for some reason and COMPLETELY left out that Fort Campbell, an Army base, is right up the road and thousands of soldiers live and flood into the area all the time. It's very complex but I find this a very hostile city.

[@Blackgriffonphoenixg]

yuppie magazine writers have no clue about how hard army kids wanna get out the barracks and will marry anyone with a pulse for that sweet sweet BAH and BOS money

[@Itz_Izeck]

Completely agree, clarksvilld has some nice areas but overall id a shit hole

[@winstoncarter2119]

My friend was stationed at fort Campbell, he said it was hell. Very high suicide and alcoholism rates.

[@saxyhank]

@@winstoncarter2119 unfortunately that's true. The vet and enlisted population don't get the care they need and the suicide rate is way higher than the national average.

[@ZRaddue]

Having been stationed at Fort Campbell from 2007-2012 and lived in Clarksville, I laughed my ass off when I heard Clarksville TN as the "Best place to live." That place is a dumpster fire in so many ways.

[@ashwinp5518]

"White middle to upper middle families that can move" isn't very representive of the US but I'm willing to bet it's fairly representative of Money magazine's employees and audience.

[@shibememes]

White middle and upper middle class perfectly describes Fishers Indiana, which is on the list. Everyone there lives in the fancy new 2500+ square foot houses and move all the fucking time. Honestly people there are not at all aware of how the rest of the country lives

[@evboto.5597]

The guy who wrote the list was indian

[@Slappysan]

@@evboto.5597 Nice bit of info....that changes nothing.

[@Slappysan]

@Sorcize Yes....

[@mikeddh2018]

@Annúmina Mellon "other types"?!

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

I want to visit Dimmsdale to meet Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome

[@MrHelpingHand]

You two would be good friends

[@K.B.Williams]

This guy lol. I've seen you everywhere in youtube the past few years Hmmm 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@lilfr4nkie]

Yo Kim! Thought you was gone after that last operation my boy what’s good

[@cubeofcheese5574]

+

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

@@mikethearchangel11 Gravity Falls, Bikini Bottom and Bedrock will be higher on the list...

[@caddlemen]

I grew up in Fishers, IN, and see no reason to ever go back. I remember they always made a big deal out of those stupid rankings.

[@jillengel4124]

Not where I’d ever live. Worst traffic in the Indy metro area and nothing locates there but chain stores and restaurants.

[@-maxx-]

We just left there to relocate to NYC. Honestly fishers is a pretty great place as far as suburbs go. Obviously not our cup of tea, but we're keeping our house there because I'm pretty confident it's a good investment to hold on to. Good schools, great library, the beginnings of culture, nice parks, good jobs, safe, not entirely as white as you'd think, affordable, clean... Overall extremely high quality of life

[@onlyrog5]

Carmel

[@CynicalHistorian]

My favorite city happens to be where that new Cal Poly pennant in the background comes from: San Luis Obispo. But I'm definitely biased, since i was born there and got my MA from Cal Poly. Even write my thesis on her history. I frequently wish i could move back there. It was some of the best years of my life

[@deutschraven]

We live in the Five Cities area and have unfortunately gotten very used to watching friends move away. Everyone loves it but few can stay.

[@papagunit]

@@deutschraven too small of a town, not enough of an economy. Would need to have some kind of position like a doctor or lawyer. Any other good position would be a unicorn.

[@adrianarias986]

Nah F slo SB for life

[@soupdrinker]

I've seen like 10 people say this, I want to check it out now

[@ChiRedWhiteBlue]

San Luis Obispo is a beautiful place 😌

[@dafff08]

air pollution can also be a quite big factor. my uncle lives in a small polish town, about 15.000 inhabitants. the air there is absolutely atrocious because of all the vw diesels from germany. at least 95% of the cars were diesels. each car that drove by gave you a metallic taste on the tongue and the urge to cough. no doubt that a lot of people will die prematurely due to lung illnesses and other exhaust fumes toxins.

[@jonathankohan7434]

As someone who has lived in Poland, I don't think the blame lies primarily on German diesels. Poland still relies on coal powerplants (this is a partially political issue, as coal mining is a major industry in south central Poland.) Cars in Poland also pollute more on average as the are older and less well maintained.

[@FarfettilLejl]

@@jonathankohan7434 Fortunately the gov has FINALLY understood that coal energy is no longer a viable solution and are starting to invest in renewables and nuclear. Better late than never, I guess

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

I like being around that stuff.

[@FarfettilLejl]

@I HATE TOUCANS there fighting a losing battle. Nothing can stop the revolution now

[@janssen18]

Funny how you specified German diesels even tough traffic is higher in Germany and it seems the air is way better (even in Berlin, Stuttgart,…) :,)

[@daylin1297]

UM... Clarksville TN!? Lived there for 10 years, definitely should not be anywhere near 1st Place... literally dying of laughter rn.

[@shotelco]

Haven't taken the last train to Clarksville since Fort Campbell days. Perhaps it's changed for the better?

[@daylin1297]

@@shotelco I don't even think there are passenger trains in Clarksville anymore lol (moved last year). Best public transportation there are buses that are barely accessible to anyone.

[@NotHPotter]

@@shotelco I moved away in 2018. It was still terrible. Boot Hill is consistently a parking lot, the schools are really inconsistent, and downtown/Riverside are a huge pain in the ass to find parking to do any of the cool stuff they have.

[@plucas9324]

Literally? RIP.

[@314121282192]

@@plucas9324 well, he did say he was dying of laughter not dead of laughter. So for all we know he could have survived his laughter ordeal :D

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

The best place to live: somewhere in the middle of nowhere that still has somewhat decent internet service

[@04smallmj]

How about Big Sandy, MT? It's about an 80 mile journey to the nearest reasonably big town/city yet this company offers fibre internet! www.itstriangle.com/triangle-fiber

[@MintyLime703]

Based

[@thenormalyears]

thats where I live

[@rhinelander7]

As someone who grew up in the Madison area, I can guarantee that Middleton's high ranking has to do with the fact it borders Madison itself. A lot of lists rank the suburbs like Middleton, McFarland, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Monona, Waunakee, and others more favorably than the city itself, despite the fact a lot of these suburbs depend on Madison for things like utilities, transportation, and jobs.

[@carsonwilliams]

I also think Madison is genuinely one the overall best places in the nation for 50% of people.

[@bteeman2758]

I think the Madison area has a lot in general, but I disagree that the city of Madison has significant dependents. Middleton offers a significant amount of white collar job opportunities, same with many of the other suburbs on the west and east. If you work in the university industry than downtown has everything you need, but I’ve learned that many work and live in the same environment. That being said, Madison, Middleton and Fitchburg in particular are very interconnected. Whitney Way is a good example of this. It stretches from Fitchburg up to Middleton and near shore wood hills. To me it seems the same. Just residential space. They all have a ton of industry, commercial, and even more financial based institutions. Growing up in the area it all seems similar to me. Just my 2 cents.

[@carsonwilliams]

@@bteeman2758 Yea as someone planning on moving there as far as mid sized cities in USA goes it's hard to find a city with the same positives it'll be the 5th city I'll live in and I hope it's the last

[@bteeman2758]

@@carsonwilliams I hope you enjoy it when you move. It’s honestly a fantastic city with the right amount of everything.

[@iangraves9440]

@@bteeman2758 And Sun Prairie is Rapidly becoming interconnected with Madison as Well.

[@stevenjlovelace]

Money magazine's "100 Randomly Chosen Cities in the US"

[@jacobmtcastle5741]

100 Randomly Chosen *suburbs* in the US

[@the.abhiram.r]

each city has to be at least 75% white

[@collan580]

I just googled these places and i was like i dont understand what's special about these places. Random suburban towns

[@fenceyhen4249]

@@collan580 This is what the weirdo editors of Forbes or whatever want out of a city I guess. Looks good for the stats but probably oppressively boring to actually live in

[@FSantos3433]

Good comment, man

[@DeLaSoul246]

I just realized that when you put out a video, I say to my partner: "i'm gonna watch my city planner guy!" with the same tone and relaxation my mom and grandma used to have when they said "i'm gonna watch my soaps!" 😂

[@Quintinohthree]

You seem like you need some more city planner guys, gals and assorted others in your life. If you want recommendations, I'm here.

[@DeLaSoul246]

Quintinohthree if that is a serious offer for youtube city planner peeps then yes! I am interested in recommendations!

[@Quintinohthree]

@@DeLaSoul246 Cool. Let's start with Not Just Bikes. Cool dude from London, Ontario who has lived in all sorts of cities all over the world and currently in Amsterdam, highlighting the many ways in which Dutch city planning does things right (and occasionally where other cities have done better). A little different and certainly more politically involved is Donoteat01, a Philadelphian civil engineer by trade mostly illustrating city planning concepts in their political context with cities skylines footage, though the last such video is actually from a while back. His current main project is a podcast (with slides) called "Well there's your problem!" co-hosted with a pair of friends and occasional moderately qualified guests published on a separate channel of the same name which is first and foremost about engineering disasters, but you will find that city planning is engineering too. It's very love it or hate it, you can see for yourself, but I think it's great and worthwhile. Next episode is on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse so you know what to expect.

[@barvdw]

@@Quintinohthree I can support your suggestion on Not Just Bikes. Of course, I'm mostly interested in mobility planning, and this is a great starting point for that, even if it's not just bikes, as the name implies.

[@DeLaSoul246]

Quintinohthree ayy! Thanks I really appreciate it. Saved!

[@wonderbounded]

Unfortunately, Ellicott city, MD has been dealing with a massive flash flood issues in the last 5 years. The Rapid build up of residential areas has result is so much pavement that water can't drain properly into the ground. As a result, rain run off gets funneled down main street. In 2016 a flood damaged ~30 buildings and just as the repairs were completed in 2018 another flash flood came in and once again destroyed main street. Between the two recent floods 3 people were also killed.

[@potroastNthEastcoast]

That new build up? Money magazine articles causing people to flock in droves. School rankings and money magazine have inadvertently added to a problem that has shattered the crown jewel in their most perrenial crowned "city".

[@potroastNthEastcoast]

Heartbreaking we lost amazing businesses like caoco lane and ellicott mills.

[@trackmaster152002]

@@potroastNthEastcoast I think its pretty laughable that people would move across the country based on silly articles like these, but I wouldn't put it past them. I guess its cliche, but people need to consider what's best for them, and this stuff isn't one size fits all.

[@iammrbeat]

Fun fact. I used to live close to Papillion, Nebraska.

[@pongop]

Hey, it's Story Time with Mr. Beat! I teach history, so I've come across your videos when looking for material. Great stuff!

[@TrU_homie]

I just saw you on a Supreme Court vid :~> small internet world

[@joez3706]

That wasn't "fun" for me at all 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@clintgolub1751]

Stoooooop

[@JeroenJA]

do you pronounce it like he does in the video? as a european i immiatly recognize is as french as want to pronounce it that way ;-).

[@Galactico42]

I live 20 minutes from Draper UT, and nothing but an Ikea need could persuade me to spend time there on purpose.

[@merlynhall2498]

Yeah I'm in Utah too. He's right though that Draper is probably the most expensive and most white city in the Salt Lake metropolitan.

[@scottanno8861]

Draper is a fine place to be. Not the best, but certainly one of the better places in salt lake county

[@DarrinSmith2520]

I grew up in Draper. It had one street light and the closest "big" grocery store was Reams in Sandy. Most of Draper was farms and dairies. There were more honey wagons on the roads than cars. The past 30 years has absolutely obliterated what it was. I guess to each their own. I moved away some time ago and each time I go back it is more crowded with mcmansions on postage stamp lots. There is no soul or character left in Draper. On the bright side, the home prices are outrageous...

[@noobpwner30]

Lol Draper is like the Karen central of Utah

[@THEBLACKANARCHIST]

Prison

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

The best place is obviously Danville, I mean who wouldn't want to live in the same city as two young geniuses, a fedora-wearing platypus, and an evil scientist?

[@laur-unstagenameactuallyca1587]

lol

[@macmedic892]

He’s just a platypus. They don’t do much.

[@superdestrier9160]

Why is this show having a huge internet resurgence in popularity lately? I see references to it everywhere.

[@ishaanaggarwal8749]

There os actually a city named Danville in Illinois. I got so confused for a second.

[@laur-unstagenameactuallyca1587]

@@superdestrier9160 resurgence? when and how? I don't see a resurgence, lots of people have liked it for ages

[@zsam8095]

I am such a fan of your videos! I moved to Columbia MD over a year ago and this community and history totslly deserves its own video!

[@williamsjc12]

I've always wondered about these websites and rankings. Areavibes and niche always pop up... We were pondering a move last year and was tempted by the list... We almost moved but decided to not to because we would have sacrificed friends, family, and familiarity. Great video! Thanks for sharing this awesome knowledge!

[@KrishnaDasLessons]

My main problem with "Best Places" lists is that they always refer to unwalkable, ugly, disconnected suburbs as "best places" even though the only people that live in those areas are the super-wealthy, and diversity actually automatically comes from that since the upper-middle class has greater diversity than before, (however a lot of these cities still have large White populations). Instead of relying on best places rankings to find out where to live next, look at other factors such as the walkability of the area, the density of the area, costs, etc. I would preferably just live in the city center than living in a suburb which people think are "great".

[@zico739]

Not to mention devoid of culture and anything interesting.

[@Blaze6432]

Almost every Upper Middle Class area here and where I've visited has almost always been overwhelmingly white.

[@linuxman7777]

Just because it is a Suburb doesn't mean it is uninteresting, disconnected, or bad urbanism. Some of that list had very gorgeous walkable downtowns.

[@baderinwa1]

I hate the suburbs. I am fortunate to live in a great walkable community, near the city center. In fact, I don’t even own a car. Living miles away from the city and being car dependent is not a life that I would choose.

[@correctionguy7632]

imagine a town with developed cycling and public transport infrastructure, mixed zoning, walkable neighborhoods, lots of parks and 100% white. is it too much to ask for?

[@dhwdhhskcbfusbsmsss]

Love the way you break down the needs and the biases - but the Columbia, MD bit sounds pretty interesting - would love to hear your thoughts on that!

[@andrewl.9736]

Columbia, interestingly, is pretty much the exact opposite of the stereotypical rich, white neighborhood he keeps reminding us of. It's an incredibly diverse area with a variety of upper, middle, and working class homes.

[@Adolar]

This is a great critique! Love the channel ❤️

[@VazDraeStudios]

Aww, glad to hear I live in a great city with your grandparents! Love from, Madison!

[@balazslajtha3586]

There might be a reason for last year's best city to be objectively downgraded the following year: all the shallow people who use these lists to move to the "best city" based on a magazine. Due to this influx of population, they might also have been disqualified in the diversity round.

[@addanametocontinue]

Considering it's already been shown the list of cities isn't even consistent from year to year, I'd say that theory goes out the door. There's simply little rhyme or reason to the lists.

[@raz3000]

I was thinking the same thing. The list is a negative indicator for the future

[@joez3706]

@@addanametocontinue very true, I think it is just a scheme to sell magazines. 🤔

[@rayr8530]

@@joez3706 definitely! Pretty sure is a huge reason the magazine gets sells, people get excited by rankings like school rankings which suck 😂

[@raney150]

I don't think many people are moving because they saw a city in a ranking list.

[@aerob1033]

So, to play Devil's Advocate a little: While I personally dislike Money Magazine's lists, or US News and World Report, or most of the lists I have seen, I wish there were some resources which took this topic more seriously. Could be a nice website for some tech venture capitalist to fund or something. Plug in your occupation, adjust some dials for what you care about most (i.e. walkability, diversity, home purchase price, school standardized test results, etc), and so on, the website spits out a list or a map of some of your best choices. Kind of like Nate Silver's old attempt a ranking system for NYC neighborhoods. There are a lot of unattached people who might like to find some data-driven ideas for where to move.

[@nikkimcdonald4562]

Well I was going to suggest Tn but it's getting crowded around here..might I suggest north Carolina.

[@the.abhiram.r]

niche

[@della1822]

Such good points!!!! Good information too. Thanks!

[@andydrew03]

Very true, being close to family, friends, and work are usually more important than the criteria of most lists. Also some places might be quite liveable but still be very boring depending on your interests.

[@DJTI99]

Columbia, MD was the most shallow, status-obsessed, aspirational town I've ever lived. In a normal town, people go out to the park on a nice day. In Columbia, people would go to the mall and try to outspend their neighbors. And Ellicott City was great, until they started over developing, especially up the hill from Main St. All that impermeable pavement from newer developments caused two 100-year floods in two years.

[@mikeddh2018]

As a Baltimorean I have to agree. I didn't start to visit those places until I was an adult so the status obsession with Columbians didn't affect me.

[@DJTI99]

@@mikeddh2018 I grew up in PG County, just south of DC. I lived in Columbia because it was close to my job. It really solidified my view on the suburbs. I've written a screenplay for a horror movie about living in a suburb with a Homeowners Association. Also, I kinda miss Baltimore sometimes. Every once in a while in my dreams, I hear the voice of John Waters trying to seduce me back there.

[@ElectroGhandi]

I live in Baltimore as well and I agree. Columbia is definitely one of my least favorite places. Completely devoid of any character whatsoever.

[@joefuckingflacco11tds-0int4]

Ellicott City gets flooded, rebuilds, then gets flooded again 2 years later.

[@joefuckingflacco11tds-0int4]

@Sorcize No.

[@samlee6152]

2:47 As someone who has lived in both Evanston and Rogers Park, yes there is a massive difference between the two!

[@ram_bam]

You're taking everything Money Magazine worked for. Subbed.

[@JDalmasca]

Watching this from Columbia, MD right now! It is an awesome place to live.

[@Moogleboy29]

I grew up in Chanhassen, MN and I remember it making those tops spots in the list. They put up banners on all the light posts even. I haven't lived outside of MN so I don't have a great frame of reference for how much better or worse it is than other suburban areas of the country. But, Chanhassen is home to the world headquarters of the Church of Eckankar. They are a strange and somewhat secretive cult that believes, among other things, in ley-lines and that Chanhassen is the spiritual/energy center of the world. Absolutely bizarre.

[@brandonmathieu1892]

Hey, I'm from Maryland! I haven't spent too much time in Ellicot City or Columbia, but the Columbia mall is pretty large and has this very interested "tiered" build to it. Also, I am definitely willing to bet that the largest industry that employs people who live in Columbia is government -- a lot of the NSA and NSA contractor workforce live in Columbia. It's very close by to where they work, and it's more affluent, less crime, and better schools than most of the other surrounding neighborhoods/cities close to Fort Meade.

[@billamos5125]

Hi, Dave! Another great video. My city, Boise Idaho, is highly ranked on a lot of these lists. It's a nice place to live in, certainly. But I miss Madison a lot. If you like sunny, hot, and dry (this is the high desert, where practically every green thing was planted *on purpose*), this city is for you. Me, I like green and cool. But you're right: my best city is the one I live in. Yun and I have no plans to move. Come by and visit sometime! And keep up the good work!

[@goldenstarmusic1689]

Twin cities metro resident here. It's a great place to live with a bucket load of fascinating history, infrastructure, and green space. There's a reason we rank so highly for pedestrians and cycling too. I would argue however, that due to the accompanying bucket load of issues we're still working through, there are other suburbs and cities in this metro, and even the state of Minnesota at large, which would be better choices for this list. Currently, Chanhassen and Eden Prarie are car dependent suburbs by and large. This is going to change in the very near future, as the Metro LRT Green Line is 50% complete in expansions running all the way through Eden Prarie, so these growing economies will be supported by an improving metro network. However, cycling and pedestrian accessibility changes on a city by city basis. Cities and suburbs like Richfield have rapidly improving, incredible infrastructure for cycling and roads, with some of the most two way cycle paths of any suburb in the state, connecting through major streets and neighborhoods. Honestly, any content on the Twin Cities metro would be awesome. Thanks for your great content and analysis!

[@basedmuscleman6539]

as a minneapolis resident, based

[@charliewennerstrom8010]

@@basedmuscleman6539 as a chanhassen resident, based

[@johnbolton2149]

As a person whose dad twice moved our family to Mpls suburbs bc of these stupid lists, by no fault of the state of MN’s, it is one of the last places in the country I’d ever willingly live. It was a white-topia when I lived there (zeeeero diversity), and it is the absolute worst climate in the country for any major metropolitan city. Never have I been as depressed as I was those 5.5 total yrs between October 1st and the end of May. The ppl are also more similar to Canadians (same accents) than they are similar to Americans. 🥶😞

[@LucasDimoveo]

Boulder, Colorado and yes, it is pronounced as "Luis-ville"

[@tonysoviet3692]

Agreed. Having been to Denver and around Colorado for camping, I would definitely suggest Colorado as the place to be for anyone. You will be happy in Colorado whether you're a naturalist, urbanist, camper, hiker, party-goer, or anything really. Good mix of level-headed politics too.

[@icarusgotooclose]

But boulder has its own issues! Average house prices over 1 mil due to a refusal to build any new housing despite 100,000 working there who can't afford to live there. Very hypocritical for a place so pro environmentalism to basically force people to car commute to work due to their refusal to densify.

[@jerimayavondristen9955]

Boulder is cool but its actually too small for me considering how far it is from Denver. Also believe it or not i think some higher buildings would make the town look much more like a city and give it less of a sprawling suburbs feel(which i don't like). Its a decent spot overall though for sure.

[@icarusgotooclose]

@@jerimayavondristen9955 I agree! It's obsession with not growing taller, and not densifying is ruining the city and has made it a wealthy white enclave more concerned with property values that anything else.

[@icarusgotooclose]

@Sorcize if the big metro areas on the front range don't densify were going to end up a horrible traffic clogged nightmare like California. There is a massive shortage of housing and the plan so far has just been sprawl sprawl sprawl. Or in boulders case: go sprawl over there. At least Denver is starting to try to densify.

[@ClassyRatedPG]

As an Australian who has never been to america, and always wondering where id live if i moved to america, Madison, Wisconsin was my greatest discovery for a place that is still quite a decent size city and looks nice.

[@seansoraghan3245]

Gets too cold for me

[@johnbolton2149]

If you have a cheese-phobia like me (idk how everyone doesn’t 🤮) the entire chz worshiping state of Wisconsin is a no-go.

[@jacobosebastian818]

Great Video!!!

[@ramseyrodriguez8515]

It’s the first time I actually want to sign up Nebula. You got me!!

[@MMP773]

Please do make that video on Columbia! I’ve wanted to hear your thoughts on it for months.

[@Truth-of-the-matter]

These lists are best for families who want a single family dwelling, live in a fairly small town and desire a local "feel." Unfortunately those who are not married or have kids typically don't fit well in these communities. I myself see location as the most important aspect before the size of the place I live in. Being walkable, having access to major airports, having many different cultures and not being car dependent is the most important aspects to me. Simply put I desire the European lifestyle here in America.

[@uknowwhatful]

I am pleasantly surprised to see Cal Poly banner in your background. I am an alum and live in SLO. Love your content.

[@discoverglobeliving]

Hey! Great question. Choosing the best place in the U.S. involves lots of factors, especially for retirement planning. Thanks for the insights!

[@MarkLiederbach]

Greetings from Madison, WI 🧀🍻🛶🏈🚴‍♂️

[@danieltheuri2143]

As a premier league fan, thank you for the footballing metaphors. Much appreciated!

[@plannerduck3136]

Go Mustangs! I did not realize you were a fellow Cal Poly SLO alumni! Also, great video and makes a good point on the bias these lists have. My county has been identified as a best place to live, however most people said questioned the reasoning because it is so expensive to live here.

[@ocmf9280]

Amazing video!

[@pavelow235]

"Best place to live"? Where your neighbors love you.

[@philipvargas478]

@@HELLO7657 no

[@drumsnbass]

Where your neighbors are Far away...

[@livethefuture2492]

so basically nowhere? although to be fair, that more depends on your own personality, and how sociable you are.

[@behindyou666]

@@HELLO7657 What is wrong with you? Most people don't care about the so-called "race" the other person has.

[@KateeAngel]

Or where you don't have to interact with them

[@michaelkirschner]

This also sounds like it could be the subject of a "Citations Needed Podcast"

[@muhilan8540]

Yes!

[@lt2143]

Cool video with many interesting points. One should take these best of lists with a grain of salt.

[@ruperterskin2117]

Cool vid - thanks.

[@technosaurus3805]

I have lived all over the US and Middleton Wisconsin _was_ actually pretty amazing.

[@Wells306]

Hopefully Money Magazine isn't like JD Power rankings where companies **cough, GM and Hyundai, cough** pay to get ranked.

[@AB-pr4uc]

Seems in this case too, if you want something done right you have to do it yourself. I really wonder why all the people in charge of these lists are so incompetent. Indiana having some of the best towns? There's no way.

[@justonemori]

Those hundreds of "initial quality" awards that GM has are testament to JDP's incompetence.

[@thenormalyears]

@@justonemori they do have "initial quality" but GM cars quickly fall apart like all American cars

[@kamdenzephyr]

I live in Lakeville, Minnesota. it’s nice up here For-sure a very rich community, but the snow and cold is terrible. I am 23 I went to school and it was humongous compared to my small school in Audubon, New Jersey where I grew up before I moved to Minnesota.

[@bonquiqui874]

Please do a video on Ellicot City/Columbia!!! It’s absolutely beautiful but definitely white and affluent

[@drumsnbass]

I grew up in Rogers Park and can assure you it’s quite different than Evanston. Even Evanston’s is not close to be homogeneous, with poor and very wealthy ares.

[@raney150]

Evanston is very similar to a lot of neighborhoods in Chicago though. It could easily be mistaken as just another dense Lakeshore neighborhood to anyone who didn't know better. They even have an 'L' line going all the way through the suburb.

[@pretty.noodles3540]

@@raney150 Right, but Rogers Park is a really shite comparison.

[@tekuaniaakab2050]

“I’ve made a video ranking the best cities in the world...” Me: Alright yeah let’s go!!!! “...you can only watch it in Nebula” Me: AW CMON

[@raz3000]

A great hook to the service I list admit. Kudos to the guy for branching out

[@botanrice8340]

@@raz3000 agreed

[@onefake]

Don't worry, you're not losing much. It's not any better than all the other best cities in the world lists out there.

[@shardtheduraludon]

Dan S What qualifications you got?

[@mx0r]

@@raz3000 I think, it is even the best Nebula hook of all I've heard.

[@steveparker2938]

Papillion, Nebraska is also near Offutt AFB and thus is home to a lot of military families. When stationed at Offutt AFB many moons ago, I lived in Bellevue and friends lived in Papillion. BTW, Papillion is butterfly in French. It is a very nice place but there are the Nebraska winters to contend with.

[@tomdiperna964]

I'm from Louisville, CO and it is indeed pronounced like Lewisville, Texas. Also, Louisville is outside the Denver beltway and is more of a suburb of Boulder. Boulder, where I live now, being the actual nicest pace to live :)

[@jimmybuckets5863]

If the criteria is dispensaries per capita, Boulder would indeed be number one ;)

[@DubiousGamingOnline]

@@jimmybuckets5863 We have quite a few here in Louisville as well. I live here and there's 4 within a mile of my house.

[@thomashiggins9320]

Louisville is also fairly affluent (a *median* income of $70,000 per year), has a decent downtown/Main street type of area, and is located between Boulder and Denver -- which, despite their problems, consistently have some of the best economies and lowest unemployment rates, in the United States. It is very much a suburban residential community, about 91 percent white, with 3.6 percent Asian, about 5 percent Hispanic, and the rest bits and bobs of other ethnic groups. Louisville is a pretty tedious place to live for anybody who isn't raising children, and you need a car to get anywhere, but if you have one, it's a quick drive to the *far* more interesting urban centers of Boulder and Denver. You do see people on bicycles, up there, but they're usually adults in expensive cycling spandex, with bikes that cost at least hundreds of dollars, if not thousands. You don't see very many *kids* on bicycles, because it's too far for them to get anywhere. In short, Louisville has exactly everything Money Magazine wants -- it's an almost entirely white, affluent suburb near even *more* affluent urban areas, where you can't get anywhere without a car. I worked in a business park in that town, briefly. I was glad to put Louisville in my rear view mirror.

[@aleciooday3872]

worked for the City of Boulder, great job, pay was lacking. had close friends who lived in nearby Louisville. that entire area was hyper White and had many unwanted encounters w "Karens" offering me opinions i didn't ask for. and so many privileged trustafarians. no thanks.

[@titanispi1998]

It would be nice if the rankings would get to 100 and then have a dynamic filter on a website that people could enter their preferences. Like was said, some people value the outdoors while others a concert. Let people pick and they recommend what fits their chosen lifestyle.

[@barkboingfloom]

Moving to Minnesota or Wisconsin might nice, if you don't mind super cold winters with lots of snow.

[@RFGfotografie]

Great video :)

[@dhawalruud1]

I'm moving to SLO soon, and I definitely noticed the Cal Poly flag in the back! :D

[@errhka]

SLO should be at the top of this list - the fact it's not even on the list shows they have no idea what they are talking about.

[@ntutak]

Go Mustangs!

[@jthummell]

I lived in Bentonville, if you like city life do not go. But if you love family and want to have a bunch of kids, great for you. You will have to drive everywhere, there is no public transport, and for a large town, there is a crap ton of traffic. Also, cleanest Walmarts anywhere. I'll stick to the crappy Walmarts of the Northeast.

[@PaulWiele]

I'm from Nashua, NH -- Money's Best Place to Live 1987 and 1997, and frequently found elsewhere on the list. I'd guess most people would call it "pretty good" on most of the features you listed but be surprised that it made it to the top of the list. Like many small-to-medium Northeastern cities (dare I say "like many places that had a period of urbanization before there were cars"?), it feels partially like its own entity and partially like a distant suburb of larger cities. I liked growing up here, I like living here now, but I know there are ways it can be improved and other places I would also be happy.

[@spencerkooiman1542]

I grew up in Lakeville MN, the south suburban edge of the twin cities. Honestly, I would recommend any of the suburbs in twin cities metro, except a handful.

[@coltone.5826]

A response to Madison WI being a government and collage town: this has historically been the case and continues to be true but a big driver of recent growth in the city is EPIC, a huge employer of young graduates in the business of healthcare software. (Their campus is aesthetically interesting and worth a look.)

[@beneverson5141]

it's not just epic...it's the entire tech industry

[@postmodpen1169]

Yes I do love my hometown, very beautiful and cozy city but not great oportunities and the avarage income is pretty low. I hate big cities but I will need to move into one to have a decent income :(

[@stevans79]

I don't like the weather, but I really liked Missoula, Montana. I lived in college housing in the downtown area and walked or rode my bicycle everywhere. Each weekend in hiked up the mountain, in the downtown area, or rode along the bike paths to the outer parts of town.

[@samkuzel]

It is an injustice that Dave isn't afforded the time and funds to deliver a video every dang week. I get so excited when I get the notification a new City Beautiful episode is uploaded

[@DanielLoveReel]

I lived in Columbia MD for a few years and hated it so much. I've never lived somewhere so soulless. I moved there thinking that was the right place to live for someone in my position with a new kid and small family but I hated it so much. It was awful.

[@kayleed2497]

Bentonville being on it is so funny to me. I’m from Fort Smith and this was a big deal in the area 😅

[@zesolodar]

but isnt it becoming a pretty good place to live? im a mountain biker and bentonville is becoming a destination spot so ive heard good things in terms of that regard but not actually living there. ive heard walmart has actually done alot for the city. i know they spent about 13 mil on the trail system

[@ShingiSamudzi]

@@zesolodar Bentonville is a great place to live. The Walmart money being invested into building out amenities is great, plus the university in nearby Fayetteville puts it on par with any of the midwestern government + university towns. And given how broke the government is right now, walmart is probably the better blue chip employer

[@Aptenodytes]

@@zesolodar lol she has no clue what shes talking about. I live in bentonville and graduated from BHS. Easily the best city ive ever lived in. Northwest Arkansas carrys the entire state.

[@rossedwardmiller]

I live in Maryland. The location of Howard County - where both Columbia and EC are located - allows quick commute to baltimore and dc, but also Annapolis and Frederick which are both great small cities. All that said, there are parking lots in Columbia larger than many neighborhoods in baltimore and dc.

[@adithyaramachandran7427]

Troy, MI is a nice place. You have many sidewalks, bike paths and even a transit center with 5 trains a day. That's pretty good compared to most suburbs in the midwest. Problem is the winter is quite cold so you need to have a car for those months. But in summer I can walk to the grocery store or nearby restaurants. There are about 10 restaurants within a 2 mile distance (half hour walk).

[@BrentFreyEsq]

7:53 "It has a historic main street made for a magazine cover" Then shows main street with "tripping hazard" uneven sidewalk warnings and enough power cables to block out the sun. lol

[@notthatguy4703]

The architecture is gorgeous tho, no idea what's going on with the cables

[@NK029]

Also, miraculously not flooded.

[@jeffreywoods2]

And the Caplan building in that photo shows flood damage lol, that was a comically bad picture to choose

[@mikekaszniak7311]

“These are not big cities like LA, NYC, or Chicago” Fulton River District being literally in the heart of downtown Chicago: “I’m sorry what?”

[@Veaseify]

Yeah, they are saying don't move to Chicago - but if you have to, then Fulton River is your best bet.

[@dominicpinchott7432]

@@Veaseify It's really not. The neighborhood is more of an afterthought that didn't fit with anything else. No parks or arts. Accessibility is terrible. The streets are very busy and dirty. It's probably the worst part of downtown in modern Chicago.

[@Veaseify]

@@dominicpinchott7432 I assume you are a Chicagoan so I will take your opinion as fact. Weirdly it was a highly rated area in those '10 best places to live in the USA' even up to 2019. Based on the relative affordability of decent housing, public transport links to the Loop and its proximity to Google's HQ.

[@dominicpinchott7432]

@@Veaseify I think that magazine is the only thing that would call it a neighborhood. It's not even remotely cohesive or distinct. More of leftover stuff that didn't fit in a real neighborhood. I'd love for more people to see this great city, but hate for them to start their journey in Fulton Market. Mostly it makes me question the magazine's rankings even more. I'm a dedicated downtown city living sort of person and that is one of the least desirable places to be. I'm also a little disappointed that City Beautiful didn't pick up on such an obviously poor choice. The ranking system needed a human touch. I can also say that the vast majority of Google employees I know live elsewhere. Only one I know of in that neighborhood.

[@Veaseify]

@@dominicpinchott7432 I got my ranking from Money Magazine so for whatever reason it must have been seen as an up and coming area at one time.

[@chophosho5935]

I subscribed after your EPL analogy. Go Blues!!!

[@Communistgunmc]

This is exactly the video I needed

[@benkizer9509]

I grew up in Omaha, and there's this thing called "brain drain" that hurts the city and state of Nebraska as a whole. I relocated to the West Coast. Better scenery, better weather, more to do, more dynamic and diverse economy.

[@BearsThatCare]

Also from Omaha and I know people who worked on this issue. I'm still in college (in Evanston, IL actually) but I definitely understand you wanting to move. How do you feel about Papillion at the #3 spot?

[@garrettevans9193]

What is brain drain?

[@TwoMorningPoops]

I used to work for Boys Town in NY and would travel to Omaha every year for conferences at the head quarters and I loved Omaha. I found downtown really nice. I'd move there in a heartbeat

[@amnm12]

@@garrettevans9193 Young, educated people leaving an already declining population state for greener pastures.

[@Zalis116]

@@amnm12 Population decline isn't always present in brain-drain situations. Quite often, it's people leaving areas perceived to be boring, backwards, or otherwise unattractive due to poor weather and/or an oppressive political climate. Nebraska's population is doing okay, as we kept our 3 congressional districts in the latest census. And for some "mysterious" reason, it's hotter and drier here than it used to be. But while Omaha and Lincoln are reasonably liberal places, they get drowned out at the state government level by heavily conservative rural areas and smaller cities. So for those want to smoke weed, like reproductive freedom, or are some combination of non-white, non-Christian, or LGBT, I can see why other places would be more appealing.

[@shlkyc02]

Couple comments from a Chicagoan, who's been looking at homes and traveling the city for 5 years, resident for 15. 1. Fulton River District isn't that great 2. There's a huge difference between Evanston and Rogers Park on the north end of Chicago. Just south is the public housing "Jonquil Jungle", named after the road named after the kid that was shot there, and north of that line, past the cemetery, are $800k+ fixer-upper Lakeview mansions. I lived right on that street that was the dividing line, so I got to see both places. They're hugely different.

[@silendt]

Thank you! I was sitting here thinking “Wait, THAT’S the example you’re going with?” Two very different places.

[@godkingkahn5899]

I'm in rogers park right now and am blown away by its inclusion. Tone deaf.

[@dominicpinchott7432]

Yeah, there was a lot off with this. I work on Fulton Market, and I ride my bike through the river district as fast as possible every day. Absolutely no reason to spend even a second longer than required in that neighborhood. It's one of the least green, accessible, or interesting, parts of town. No good restaurants even. I had more near misses and accidents on my bike in that district all winter than anywhere else in the city. Fulton Market District is basically Dorm Room 2.0. Evanston's government is tremendously different than Chicago's government. My friends that live there would never wish to live in Chicago, because there is a real difference beyond the border on a map.

[@BearsThatCare]

Really good point. I'm in Evanston for college right now and you can definitely tell just about where Chicago starts just by the buildings. However Evanston still has poorer areas. I think his point was that suburbs of Chicago like Evanston, Wilmette, or Skokie are the same concept as Rogers Park. The further from the city center the richer the suburb but each one depends on Chicago economically or grows in population until it is urbanized.

[@kylejohnston4788]

We live in Papillion NE. It's a good place to live, very safe. It's building like crazy and the average new house is around 400k. I want to move out because the weather is extreme. -20 in winter and today it's 108. Wind is always at 15 mph. It's difficult to enjoy a city when you only get a few months of nice weather.

[@coolmanjack1995]

I'm just impressed you got the Kentucky Louisville pronunciation right :)

[@GeographyWorld]

Very interesting. Would love if a ranking like this was done for Ireland.

[@bubskebulba1127]

I feel like walkability and access to transit would be the second and third most determining factors after unemployment rate in terms of deciding the best places to live but maybe that's just my urbanist bias showing.

[@sawyersprott]

100% your urbanist bias showing. Transit and walkability don’t matter if you don’t live in a pretty large city.

[@eriklakeland3857]

Fishers, IN on this list has an anti transit mayor. He calls fixed rapid transit, “the next horse and buggy,” because of autonomous cars. They just threw away the best ROW for transit in the metro area, the Green Line, in order to rip up the tracks and replace with a trail. It’s frustrating when his admin has pushed strongly to increase the density of their downtown, with lots of mixed use projects (all ironically named with railroad themes) The Green Line could’ve linked the downtowns of Noblesville, Fishers, and Indianapolis directly (no direct highway route).

[@raz3000]

Transit options allow undesirables from other areas to reach your street and family quickly and cheaply. That’s why upper middle class towns often vote down mass transit access

[@eriklakeland3857]

raz3000 you’re much more likely to get hurt or killed driving every day than be stabbed indiscriminately by an “undesirable”

[@leongkinwai9709]

@@raz3000 I mean you're not wrong in saying that that's the justification...... Whether it's actually true is another matter.

[@le-eggs]

I live in round rock tx... its. Suburbia with zoning challenges, has one of the best school districts in Central Texas, but that's sort of like comparing peaches to nectarines. There is more focus on public transport, but ultimately it's not walkable. Despite that, dell has their headquarters there and central Texas is becoming the next silicon Valley. You can come across heavily gentrification and old scars of red lining certain areas are more walkable, but the living price is too high and cars are still a requirement.

[@cameronmccollough98]

My favorite cities that I've lived in at Slo (San Luis Obispo) & the LBC (Long Beach).

[@BabsW]

2:48 I've lived in both Evanston, IL and Rogers Park, Chicago during my undergraduate years and Evanston is much better and safer. The food is way better as well. Evanston is officially a suburb and Rogers Park is a part of the City of Chicago- huge difference. Anybody from that area will tell you the same.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

People get real pompous about food. You can get all the same or better shit in the suburbs of Chicago.

[@BabsW]

@@MilwaukeeF40C Lies. I grew up in the Chicago area for 13 years and that's definitely not true. Evanston is known as a food capital in the Chicago area.

[@raney150]

Eh. Evanston does look just like another part of the city honestly. Densely packed city, relatively walkable, and an 'L' line? Seems pretty similar to Chicago to me. Especially if you are comparing it to something like Lakeview.

[@raney150]

@@MilwaukeeF40C no you can't. Suburbs are rather shit on food. I mean, sure, you may have a Lou Malnati's or a Giordano's, but there are much better places in the city. About the only thing I ever had from one of the suburbs that could kind of rival anything in the city was Aurelio's, but the city has a couple of locations too.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

@@raney150 If all you know are average ass pizza places you aren't getting out much.

[@btvonders]

If you combine Columbia and Ellicot, or the twin city subs, you should probably combine the adjacent and homogenous Fishers+Carmel, IN.

[@jillengel4124]

Fishers & Carmel are horrible unless you like traffic jams and exorbitant taxes (the mayors build all this eye candy knowing the transient residents won’t complain because they’ll be long gone when it’s time to pay the piper).

[@btvonders]

@@jillengel4124, I have lived in multiple metro areas around the US, and worked in suburbs similar to Carmel/Fishers. Carmel is about as good as it gets traffic wise, and is way better than it was 20 years ago. Go talk to some suburban Illinois or east/west coast residents and those taxes and waste won't seem so bad.

[@jonahpeacock2561]

I used to live in Columbia Maryland its a very nice place great planning and better schools

[@dm9078]

I can see why Madison is on the list! Elilicot City is pretty cool. It is actually where the B&O Railroad was started. But it is a good clip from Baltimore, about 20 miles. It seemed more a tourist town than anything

[@Koolaidrulz21]

I used to live in one of the "best small towns" It was awful. Nowhere to go, nothing to do, completely unwalkable, and the people weren't exactly fond of minorities

[@PlannedObsolescence]

@RVG Investments You mean like this woman: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJSYc6mpbq-bsLM

[@linuxman7777]

But was it really a town? or a development. There is a big difference between the two. Since WW2 it has become impossible to build towns, only developments, usually in an unwalkable style.

[@melovetorun]

Best Places to live are usually always safe places with good schools. Not crime ridden places.

[@nikkimcdonald4562]

Move to Asheville NC.. Oops too late the city is currently filled beyond reasonable limits.

[@Koolaidrulz21]

@@melovetorun What, in my response, prompted this comment? I didn't mention crime or schools

[@elnor9226]

Most underrated youtube channel!

[@dustinb1359]

Great video. My best place to live is in Tulsa, where I have lived for the past seven years. I live in midtown, which has awesome local businesses, local arts, great parks, and is close to downtown, but I don't think it would ever make Money Magazine's cut.

[@normanozwald]

Damn. Was really hoping you talk more about Clarksville.

[@274pacific]

It would be cool to see a more objective, data-driven list. I would love to see your take on this idea, based on your own criteria/data.

[@FoxBoi69]

i think if we want to know what the "best" city is, we can take a look at my home city vienna wich has been called the most livable city for over a decade now

[@itsjustme4848]

We live in often well rated Madison WI. In addition to being a college/state capital kind of town, it is now a fast-growing biotech/info tech area. And while we like living here most of the time, today the wind chill is below zero and I’d be happy to be in some poor desert town in the Southwest or a declining beach town in Florida for the next few weeks!

[@jps0117]

Exactly. These lists just sell magazines and ad space.