Affordable Cities: 10 US Metro Areas With Underrated Livability, Walkability and Transit

"Which city should I move to?" This is a question people are increasingly asking themselves as the challenge of finding affordable living in coastal and sun belt cities continues to spiral out of reach. Now, we're all for fighting the good fight to get more housing built in the places where people want to live...but for some people, you just can't wait for solutions. Today's video is here to help!
There's a staggering difference in cost of living between the sought-after cities of California (and even skyrocketing cities like Austin and Nashville), and established, legacy cities in other parts of the US. So this video tackles the question of not only what are the most affordable places to live in the US, but where good prices intersect with things city-lovers care about: public amenities, culture, sports, walkability, bike-ability, and transit service.
This is CItyNerd's guide to the ten most underrated cities to move to in the US. Your results may vary, so let me know what you think I overrated or underrated down in the comments!
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Twitter: @nerd4cities
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Other CityNerd Videos referenced:
- Pandemic Transit: • Pandemic Transit, Fare...
- Urbanist Ballparks: • What Is Urbanism? 2022...
- Public Markets/Mercados: • Top 10 Public Markets/...
- Freeway-Heavy Downtowns: • The Most Freeway-Heavy...
- North American Airport/Rail Connections: • North America's Best A...
- Regional Rail in North America: • Regional Rail Systems ...
- The Exclusive Bus Lane and the Port Authority Bus Terminal: • What a Tunnel Should D...
- Transit to NFL Stadiums: • Top Ten Transit to NFL...
- Cities for Bus Rapid Transit: • Top 10 Cities for Bus ...
- Cities for Ferries: • Transit On the Water: ...
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Resources:
- www.zillow.com...
- en.wikipedia.o...
- en.wikipedia.o...
- www.vox.com/22...
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Image Credits:
- Generic stonks graphic Video by Tomislav Jakupec from Pixabay
- Equations Video by Derpy CG from Pixabay
- Cheesecake Factory By Anthony92931 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikime...
- LA weather Video by William Sevilla from Pixabay
- St Paul snow Image by David Mark from Pixabay
- Palm Springs weather Video by VReel.co Stock Drone Video Platform from Pixabay
- Ron Tonkin Field By Ryan Harvey - Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, commons.wikime...
- Pittsburgh Light Rail By Dllu - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikime...
- Chicago loop Image by David Mark from Pixabay
- Downtown LA traffic Image by Maxx Girr from Pixabay
- Philadelphia Skyline for thumbnail Image by Pierre Blaché from Pixabay
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Music:
CityNerd background: Caipirinha in Hawaii by Carmen María and Edu Espinal (KZbin music library)
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Contact: [e-mail]

[@CityNerd]

This is one where, going into it, I had strong opinions about cities I though would show up when I did the "analysis." Most of them did, but two didn't, and I'm going to explain why. 1. Baltimore. The Zillow Home Value Index for the Baltimore MSA is $366,129, which I thought was surprisingly high. It's still a good value, but just not as good a value (i.e. differential between what I think it's worth and what the going price is) as the ten that made this list. 2. Cincinnati. The ZHVI is pretty low ($250,986), but the transit supply (metro area per capita) is significantly worse than any of the ten cities that made this list. It's like half of what Cleveland is -- and they're in the same state!

[@josephfisher426]

It does affect the analysis that the number represents the metro area, not the "city" itself. Baltimore has the unusual condition of being an equal political entity with its suburb, rather than being a subordinate---and that results in a sharp difference in valuation at the city line.

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

How did Detroit fare?

[@zubodybop]

I suppose that makes sense for Baltimore if you are looking at MSA numbers. Baltimore is a more affordable city surrounded by wealthy and expensive suburbs. The suburbs are a different political entity from the city. I'm sure Detroit has a similar dynamic.

[@nolanediger418]

As someone who lives in Baltimore, I’d like to add that home prices are also higher in the places you want to live. Homes are cheap in some areas for a reason. They’re dangerous. There are a lot of awesome neighborhoods in the city though you’ll just have to pay a bit more. It’s still an awesome deal when it comes to large east coast cities. Baltimore gets a bad rap but it’s a cool place.

[@alexrutherford3105]

You should do the top urbanist "warm" cities. With New Orleans obviously being #1 on the list.

[@ChristopherAbelman]

I’m in Ohio and the housing market here over the last 7-8 years is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Homes that were bought for $130K in 2015 are now being sold for $590k. I’m talking about tiny, disgusting, poorly built 950 square foot shit boxes in quite mediocre neighborhoods. Then you’ve got Better, average sized homes in nicer neighborhoods that were $300K+ 10 years ago selling for $750k+ now. Wild times.

[@JosephineKenney]

Home prices will come down eventually, but for now; get your money (as much as you can) out of the housing market and get into the financial markets or gold. The new mortgage rates are crazy, add to that the recession and the fact that mortgage guidelines are getting more difficult. Home prices will need to fall by a minimum of 40% (more like 50%) before the market normalizes.If you are in cross roads or need sincere advise on the best moves to take now its best you seek an independent advisor who knows about the financial markets.

[@PennyBergeron-os4ch]

This is why I have an asset manager look over my day-to-day market decisions: with their extensive knowledge of going long and short at the same time, using risk for its asymmetrical upside and laying it off as a hedge against the inevitable downward turns, their skillset makes it nearly impossible for them to underperform. I've been utilizing a manager for more than two years, and I've made over 85% of my initial amount/

[@HildaBennet]

Mind if I ask you to recommend this particular coach you using their service?

[@PennyBergeron-os4ch]

’ Sonya Lee Mitchell, is respected in her field. I suggest delving deeper into her credentials, as she possesses experience and serves as a valuable resource

[@HildaBennet]

She appears to be well-educated and well-read. I ran an online search on her name and came across her website; thank you for sharing.

[@rtovatt6642]

Wake up babe new citynerd dropped

[@wizzerrdd]

I arise from my deep slumber once weekly to indulge myself in the latest and greatest nerdpost

[@masteroogway2418]

Freaking banger

[@dummysick_8117]

yasssss I am up rn

[@thajemm4371]

True

[@GladmanNow]

Word!

[@kurtg7630]

As a foreigner and having lived in various cities all over the US, Chicago attracted me at first visit like no other city did. I absolutely love NYC that being the only other city that I didn't find underwhelming compared to the hype and reputation. Apart from the cleanliness, beautiful architecture, culture and food scene, there is a certain small city vibe in what is actually a big city that I enjoyed and found unique to Chicago.

[@RyanBreaker]

As dirty as Chicago can be, I’ve been surprised how relatively clean I’ve noticed it really is as I visit other cities like Seattle.

[@Gypsygirl9]

Chicago is a crime pit and crazy $$$$. Shootings are a daily thing and property taxes are insane.

[@DavidinSLO]

Minus the often brutal winters, Chicago is amazing.

[@diodelvino3048]

If funny cause unlike LA or NYC, i constantly see people saying waaay more positive things about Chicago and praising it despite the crime. @@RyanBreaker

[@DIsmayedConfuse]

@@DavidinSLOthere’s no such thing as bad weather, there’s only bad clothing.

[@jimslancio]

4:32 New York 5:28 the Twin Cities 6:08 St. Louis 7:27 Milwaukee 8:03 Buffalo 8:31 Cleveland 9:50 New Orleans 12:10 Pittsburgh 12:44 Philadelphia 13:31 Chicago In general, cities that have existing infrastructures and cultural amenities, and aren't fully metastasized with poorly planned suburban sprawl and chintzy construction.

[@cmann517]

Searched for this. Thank you!

[@be4unvme]

all of these cities are highly infested with crime

[@floridaruttles3984]

Every last one of those cities is controlled by DEMOCRATS and loaded with AFRICAN AMERICANS. See folks when someone uses the word "underrated", trust me, there are reasons. Good luck,..... FOOLS !

[@Distress.]

Theyre undervalued because of the people that live there

[@Trevalion]

Hope you like terrible winters!

[@ShadowCrashed81]

"I'd rather be cold than be bored" This resonated with me especially since I came back from my first trip to NYC. I used to love my small town. But ever since coming back melancholy washes over me during the weekend. This must be what FOMO is

[@newagain9964]

NYC almost got me in my late 20s. Glad I didn’t move there, went to SF/OAK instead. But if ur in your 20s, I guess why not NYC. It’s an interesting place.

[@princerak8881]

same

[@realjcoop182]

In buffalo for winter ....lived in Vegas and loved it.

[@gezi0752]

NYC winters aren’t even very harsh anymore, there hasn’t been any snow this year at all pretty much

[@alannahprestaynofbraavos5759]

I moved to Atlanta i the early 90s because I heard it was lovely. Three and a half years later I was headed home to NYC. I'd rather be cold than bored, and the weather and the cost of living in suburbia was not sufficiently satisfying in my cost-benefit analysis.

[@aaronkazda156]

Yes! Chicago is so underrated, as are most Midwest cities! I grew up in Chicago wanting to run away to a warm climate and found the people in the warm climate not the best and pretty boring, the community you find is what’s most important I think that’s another reason Chicago is so underrated!!

[@cur244]

I'm from a small city in the midwest and found people in warmer climates do much less. It could be a perfect 70 degrees and you see nobody outside doing anything.

[@meng-hsuanlee8543]

I moved to Chicago in 2015 from Taiwan and fell in love almost immediately. As a person who depend on transit, need some density (I'm from Asia after all), crave culture, history, and art, enjoy great architecture, Chicago just has everything. The people are nice. It's very affordable. The lake is beyond gorgeous. For about 4-5 months in a year the lakefront is basically Miami, with 20+ public beaches and you don't get all salty taking a dive into the lake. Yes, the winter is cold but as a person from subtropical Taiwan I actually really enjoy the change of seasons. Yes, there are crime and gang activity in chronically underinvested neighborhoods, but that's the "original sin" that a lot major US cities all have to deal with. All of my friends and family who come to visit are amazed at how under the radar Chicago is before they visit.

[@networth00]

Do you get uncomfortible wearing a bullet-proof vest everyday?

[@khanh62]

I agreed, we love Chicago, it’s like a cleaner version of New York.

[@Letherface47]

@@networth00 If you're going to try to insult a city you've definitely never been in, at least be able to spell "uncomfortable".

[@networth00]

@@Letherface47 I've been there, never again. Never again NYC or LA either. None are worse than NOLA though.

[@meng-hsuanlee8543]

​@@networth00 Watch less Fox News and travel more. it'll do you good and maybe then, maybe, will you cease to become this culture-less, ignorant, and boring-ass troll. Just a scared little animal who's afraid of big cities lol. Seriously, come up with some new talking points. This is getting sooooo old.

[@chelmrtz]

I moved from Silicon Valley to Chicago last summer. Best decision I ever made. Winter is actually manageable here because the snowplows keep the streets clear, everyone has heating in their homes, and you can wear layers. Far and away better than losing your home or life in the inevitable wildfire season that starts earlier every year in Northern California

[@RandomRabbit007]

The places in California that have wildfires are usually the places with VERY LOW population. What youre saying makes no sense. Its not even possible for there to be a fire anywhere near the Bay or Central Valley (You'd have to go East toward the Sierra's). But thanks for leaving, we have too many people here anyways. I'm looking to move toward the Bay

[@theredheadsaidNYC]

Yup, in the midwest snow/cold is just another day. Vs. Portland OR< where I live now. When it snows an inch the whole city shuts down because there are literally only like two snow plows. And they WON'T salt the roads.

[@alexanderfretheim5720]

@@RandomRabbit007 I've actually seen some big wildfires near Santa Monica up in the canyons of suburban LA. A few years ago one closed the 405.

[@alexanderfretheim5720]

@@theredheadsaidNYC Here in Downtown Syracuse, I would sometimes leave for work at Lockheed Martin shortly after 4 am, and the city already had the streets plowed. It was easy once I got in my car, but walking places can get difficult in all that ice, so usually on days like that I would minimize my walking by all means possible.

[@LostChildOfTime]

@@alexanderfretheim5720 Yeah, but that’s because that area was enduring drought, and what do you know - this will be the year most of the state will be completely out of the drought from the atmospheric rivers this year.

[@anthonydpearson]

Philly is 1.5 hours to NY or DC on Amtrak. It has trams. It has a subway. Its food scene is phenomenal. It's arts and culture are amazing. It's got 3 major universities, including an Ivy League in UPenn. It's green, it's dense, it's walkable, it's got riverfront. It's got a young, well educated workforce. It's got all the pieces - what Philly needs though is just one great mayor to pull all the pieces together. Once that happens, it won't be underrated anymore.

[@10essee10titans]

no, it's the crime and how it's not contained. people like exploring entire cities when they move there, or at least knowing they can. if you're from there and know the city, or are fine living in your upper-middle neighborhood and visiting your friends in other upper-middle neighborhoods its fine. but crime is absolutely not contained, it spills into rittenhouse and fitler sq and old city and queen village and all of the "expensive" places, and in the year i lived there, there was absolutely zero police presence philadelphias location alone would have it on the radar of everyone looking for a city on the east coast, and unless there are DRASTIC changes in local government for 15+ years straight, it will always stay a "good value" city that no one actually moves to because it sucks

[@rolam1883]

@10essee10titans Lots of New Yorkers are moving to Philly. They see it as a strong, viable option, just a smaller version of and very affordable. So, I do think that Philly has a great chance at turning things around.

[@thisIsFunnyLolz]

@@10essee10titans Crime is a problem but one that is being tackled in some ways. Some neighborhoods like Fishtown are even hiring some private security and so do the private developers that patrol the blocks

[@thisIsFunnyLolz]

The waterfront projects are really gonna help pull things together when you can walk safely, easily, visibly to the waterfront from downtown in multiple spots

[@JustinFromMD]

Dont forget the miles and miles of abandoned row houses that are now just miles and miles of abandoned trap houses. When the people of Philly start behaving then Philly could be one of the greatest cities in the country. Buuut unfortunately everyone decided to let it go to sh*t. Baltimore is in the same boat.

[@neolithictransitrevolution427]

Absolutely worth mentioning that Pennsylvania, with two of the top 3, is the only state to use a split land/property tax regime that taxes vacancy and lower density usage higher.

[@thom7463]

Thats a pretty clever tax model to encourage denser development

[@connecticutmultimodaltrans8226]

Wow that's cool, didn't know that!

[@Diana1000Smiles]

As if Humans can own "land"? It's the opposite and Mother Earth doesn't like Humans' garbage.

[@gretchenlittle6817]

PA resident here -- I believe that's a municipal provision, and not a state law. (Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

[@davidlang1125]

@@gretchenlittle6817 worth looking into as a tax model.

[@stevenlloyd3381]

How about a video on cities that are transforming from car centric to being more bike, transit, and pedestrian friendly?

[@BrennaHasselmann-vx3ol]

Yes I would like to know this too

[@aimxdy8680]

Dallas TX is one of them, even though it’s a horribly planned city they have had some improvements since 2008

[@andyiswonderful]

Like Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

[@alisaishere]

Thank you for the Chicago love and support. There are plenty of us who live here (city and burbs) that fully realize how amazing Chicago is. We have a food scene that is amazing and even Gordon Ramsey says it's the best (and you can find out what real Chicago pizza is, because it's not deep dish). We have so much art and cultural opportunities that your brain will be overwhelmed. The museums are top of the line and host free days for Chicago residents all the time. And during the summer there's at least one festival going on if not two or three, thanks to all of the neighborhoods, especially those that still attract certain nationalities and ethnicities. Our music scene is top notch and includes free concerts during the warmer months. You will find city and suburban residents doing the touristy things, because they're so unique and fun (I always recommend the architecture boat tour). And the public transport is really good. Even the suburbs have train lines that will take you into the Loop where you can get a bus, L, or taxi and go from there.

[@earthandwind820]

Yup, except here on the NW side many of those cultural neighborhoods are rapidly disappearing due to hyper gentrification, but you can still find a lot of cool cultural neighborhoods elsewhere.

[@newerafrican]

@@earthandwind820 Yeah, the South Side is wide open, baby! Homicide rate is as high as ever! Come on down from the North Side and see what "culture" is all about ;)!!

[@earthandwind820]

@@newerafrican I will gladly go visit Pilsen, Hyde Park, Chinatown, Kenwood and explore other neighborhoods on the SS.

[@annapavfan4680]

One of my favorite festivals is “La fiesta del Sol”. Absolutely love summer in Chicago.

[@TMD3453]

Yeah. The transit system is miraculous considering its reach. The Lakefront is probably one of the best recreational/scenic amenities anywhere with the skyline and bike path- and even a flyover. And yes, thanks for the love. The food is great and so is the culture. So who needs the weather?

[@JoshKablack]

"Pittsburgh is basically a transportation Shangri-la". As a car free Pittsburgher, this made me despair for the rest of the country.

[@CityNerd]

It's all relative

[@MattMeskill]

I live in Portland and feel the same when folks mention how great cycling is here.

[@linuxman7777]

If you visit other cities in America you will thank god you live in Pittsburgh, or one of the better walkable towns in the Pittsburgh Area. I didn't think Pittsburgh was bad until I travelled to Japan, even after visiting over a dozen cities across America before that trip. Every other American City was either less walkable, or much louder.

[@JoshKablack]

@@linuxman7777 the last mile of the Great Allegheny Passage drives it home. Pittsburgh has the Great Allegheny Passage, which is one of our country's best bike trails -- but as you ride the short ramp up from the Mon Wharf, there a bikes must yield to pedestrian sign so that the trail can narrow between the jersey barrier along a freeway and the concrete truss the supports a different freeway connecting ramp to the double decker automotive lanes of Fort Pitt Bridge. The kicker is that between the trail and the Mon river there there's a good 15 to 30 feet of sloping brickwork which could easily be converted into a trail wide enough for bikes and peds to pass each other. That piece of the city lets me know exactly what city planners and budgeters think about cycling as a mode of transit.

[@paulmentzer7658]

@@JoshKablack That "5 to 30 feet of sloping brickwork" is the remains of the old docks that existed before replaced by the freeway. As such they still can be used to tie down river craft and that is still a legal obligation of the city to provide. Thus that area can not be used for a bikeway, it is reserved for boats.

[@ClarenceEwing]

RE: Chicago's "brutal" winters, if you've grown up in or lived in another northern city for a while, there's basically no difference. Personally, I can't understand how people make it through 100+ degree summers in NOLA or Vegas or southern Texas, but that's the thing, it's personal preference.

[@itsnick37]

As someone who’s lived in NJ most of my life I can say a bad summer here is miserable can get 90+ and really humid and this isn’t Florida… I’ve been to Vegas and Texas same temperatures but was absolutely fine dry climate is amazing to me I see appeal of west…. But you can argue seasons are better no doubt… I just hate places that get a lot of snow….

[@nigelmarshallkenyonabbott8684]

@@itsnick37 Yeah, but NJ doesn't get 9 months of stifling heat/humidity per year like TX and FL

[@Rampant16]

All I'll add is that the downsides of Chicago weather is vastily outweighed by the benefits created from scaring away large numbers of people who would otherwise consider moving here. If Chicago had the climate of SoCal or Florida it would be as overcrowded and expensive as those places. I'm not a huge fan of winter either but having to put on some extra layers for a few months seems like a small price to pay to have a world-class city that's actually affordable. Unfortunately with climate change, Chicago climate is going to be looking increasingly attractive in the upcoming decades.

[@CarmelloVision]

@@armamentarmedarm1699 spoken like a true (former?) Las Vegan. 😂

[@CarmelloVision]

Tbh having grown up in the Midwest and lived in Vegas for 3 years, the heat isn’t that bad. It’s just mostly the summer, and it’s nice weather all year long. Can’t say in current times though.

[@eddiechase9691]

I grew up in a corn field, I have lived in all 4 contiguous time zones, and in cities from the millions to the thousands, including Chicgo for eight years. You nailed it! My eight years in Chicago started with a constant headache finding parking for six months, and then 7 1/2 years of absolute bliss after I got rid of my car. It was the best 7 1/2 years of my life!

[@Mark_LaCroix]

As a Minneapolitan and year-round bike commuter, I always thought our super high bike ratings were a little overblown... until I started renting bikes while visiting other cities. Some places that should be great for bikes, like Austin, San Diego, and Seattle, seem to be missing out on a easy win against Minneapolis. Considering that all our bike lanes get completely covered in a 3-foot high snow/dirt mix every winter, and the potholes in bike lanes are the last to get patched in the summer, it really shows how low the ceiling is.

[@thom7463]

San Diego has such a great potential for biking. If any of the cities you listed did a rebate on electric bicycle purchases (similar to what Denver, CO did) i'm sure we'd see bike users on the road shoot up! Need some carrots to get people to adopt using a bike more.

[@jesse6865]

@@thom7463 I see a lot of people biking downtown.

[@thom7463]

@@jesse6865 Yeah, I found gettin to OB and PB was a nice ride to and from downtown but some neighborhoods inland are tougher rides with some steep hills (university heights, north park). It's great to see all the housing being built downtown. Love San Diego.

[@hashbrownfob]

Yeah when I lived right outside downtown in Steven's square, biking was so easy. Even now I live in Richfield and I think we still have it pretty good here too

[@ethanstump]

your city patches potholes in bike lanes? my city just waits until they become too numerous, and then just repaves the entire thing.

[@zionklinger2264]

As a New Orleans native currently living in Ohio (for now), this video felt so good! A lot of city channels act like New York is the only halfway decent city on the continent, so I appreciate you highlighting why someone might live not in there, or one of the other mega-expensive cities

[@CityNerd]

I'm all about value

[@Sunset4Semaphores]

@@CityNerd You are wrong about New Orleans. The transit district is broke and doesn't run scheduled services. Extremely over valued and one insurance, FEMA write-off away...

[@boogitybear2283]

New Orleans is a dark and dangerous city. It’s the worst worst worst!

[@SeanBourg]

@@Sunset4Semaphores As a person that grew up and lives in NOLA: this is one of the points missed. The other is infrastructure. Power rarely stays on from more than a week straight. Internet services is a monopoly for most of the city (and expensive at that, 150mb service runs 85 or so). Water infrastruture is horrible (they often don't even bother read the meters) and charge you an "estimate" for months at end. Pot holes are big enough to swallow vehicles. You should expect your auto insurance for one care to be 2500-3000 a year per person (if you have a clean drivers record). Housing insurance is about the same. Public transit is quant but not reliable for work. Flooding occurs a few times a year. Rent currently is crazy with house showing having lines around the block if they are below 1500 a month. Most rentals don't have central AC - a big deal for anyone moving in and not use to 90-110 degree weather and 80-90% humidity.

[@SeanBourg]

And as far as crime, it is pretty bad with car jackings at redlights (broad daylight) and gas stations as well as at least 1-2 mass shootings a week on average (4+ people shot). Also even the neighborhood hilighted isn't safe lately since their has been a few incursions from Hollygrove into that area with a handfull of shootings and arm robberies on Tulane's campus even since 2020. Not saying avoid it, just saying you need to know what you are signing up for (S&WB alone are a mess).

[@cockybalboa2]

I live in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, and I absolutely love this city. It's very underrated by most people.

[@ptknudson80]

I lived in the Near North area 20 years ago. By far the best place I've ever lived, including New York and DC. New York is so expensive, intense, and can be dirty in areas. DC is lovely and less crazy, but DC lacks something. Not sure what it is. It's just very transient. People come and go so much.

[@johnappleseed203]

I live in the Twin Cities. 14 years in Minneapolis and just bought in St. Paul. My wife and I feel so lucky to live in a city we just adore. We travel for work and I notice we talk about the Twin Cities in a romantic way, and most people don't talk about the city they live in like we do. We haven't owned a car for 6 years and just take the metro. We walk everywhere or bike. Just a pleasant beautiful place to live. Weather can be tough on the backside of the winter, but it is so sunny. We have forced ourselves to take up winter hobbies and walk through the winter and we actually like the winter now. Great video!

[@edgarrv]

We are moving out of Cleveland in the next few weeks and I am struggling. I have absolutely loved it. Stellar city, world class museums, orchestras, parks. Very diverse for its size. A true gem. Winter is nothing (I used to live in Chicago) Shout out to Cleveland! You are a true gem.

[@justicestaines9238]

Where are you moving to?

[@julianbluefeather8491]

Where are you headed?

[@steveb7429]

Ok you lost all credibility when you said that the winters are nothing. Cleveland winters are insane. The wind off the lake in January will cut right through u. Add to that the horrible dreary, long, long winters, and of course after the ice and snow finally starts to melt in April, the weather still sucks.

[@syedahmed7130]

@@steveb7429 he said it's nothing for him because he used to live in Chicago. Cleveland winter is similar to Chicago...except for the extra snowfall.

[@Window4503]

@@steveb7429 Try snow in May. That’s Wisconsin.

[@cjthorp4805]

One more thing to keep in mind when talking about crime: it's important to look at crime rates of *people who didn't already know each other*. I learned this while working for Houston's downtown district and it's changed my understanding of crime rates. The majority of assaults, etc happen between people who already know each other: gangs, feuds, domestic violence, etc. For example, I think in downtown Houston last year there only around 5 cases of assault by someone the victim didn't already know.

[@neckenwiler]

Hugely important point that I think most people don’t understand.

[@ichirofakename]

good point. Video-appropriate.

[@jake748]

this seems like victim blaming

[@thehousecat93]

⁠sure, it may sound like that if you intentionally misunderstand the point so you can get the ego boost of righteous indignation. They’re saying there’s very little reason to be afraid of being victimized just walking down the street. It’s not like it’s NYC in the 70s or A Clockwork Orange.

[@MsOdd86]

@@jake748no it’s just making the distinction between random street mugging and interpersonal violence. Which is a big factor for people moving to a new place where they don’t know anybody.

[@stevengordon3271]

What I miss most about Chicago are the distinct ethnic neighborhoods that each take a turn at having a weekend festival during the summer.

[@chicagomike]

That’s because the ethnic people left died or moved to suburban areas. Ethnic hoods are disappearing because of gentrification. I live there.

[@earthandwind820]

@@chicagomike Yup. I live on the NW side (Wicker Park, Bucktown, HP,Logan) and a lot of the Polish & Puerto Rican establishments have closed due to hyper gentrification. Same in other parts.. my Polish/EEuropean friends used to listen to Spanish music and we used to know random Polish words and eat pirogies. It’s not that I don’t enjoy nothing now in these neighborhoods, because I still do, but they used to feel more homey and I miss the cultural and working feel to them.. For that feeling now, I feel I have to go over to Albany Park (which has a lotttttt of culture), Portage Park or Rogers Park. They still have that non-gentrified feel

[@Mythyval]

Out of over 100 neighborhoods in Chicago, only 3-5 have gentrified in the past 20 years that I’m aware of. And they’re mostly Latino. There are still plenty of Latino neighborhoods in the city. Other ethnic neighborhoods like Chinatown and Little India are growing.

[@JdeC1994]

@@chicagomike Ethnic neighborhoods naturally disappear (particularly for whites). For white, ethnic neighborhoods, doesn't urban decay speed up that process even more than gentrification?

[@Steve-nm4dm]

Wow, found this video to be spot on. I've lived in DC, Boston, SF, and St. Louis. It amazes me how people cannot see the value of St. Louis. I hope to go back to St. Louis someday because it is a rare combination of culture, architecture, urban fabric, and inexpensive real estate.

[@benjamingeselowitz4139]

Idk Steve I really think it sucks

[@meng-hsuanlee8543]

St. Louis, like a lot of midwestern cities, is seeing a revival. I think more and more people are seeing the value in cities like St. Louis.

[@jackieknits61]

Not only that, but it's close to Chicago and Milwaukee. Really. Anyone who has visited Milwaukee during their summer festival season knows what a good place Milwaukee is to visit. And the people in St Louis are super friendly even by Midwestern standards. Most New Yorkers find it unnerving.

[@rudyzooti7159]

Too bad the politics have gone in the crapper. Too many wack job conservatives

[@kevinwoolley7960]

The weather is terrible, hot and humid summer, cold winter. Segregated city with terrible crime problem. Has lost more people as a percentage of population than any city in the US. Abandoned buildings and neighborhoods. High taxes in the city. And you wonder why it's underrated?

[@joncarroll2040]

Cold is not really a problem in Buffalo outside of the odd week here or there during the depth of winter or when there is an arctic vortex. In fact you will often see natives outside in shorts in January. The bigger issue is the snow, especially in recent years as the lake has gotten warmer and doesn't freeze until January or February if it freezes at all. Every year the metro itself and the southern suburbs will usually get anywhere from 1 to 3 massive storms that dump at least 8 inches to multiple feet over the course of a few hours to several days. This makes travel either completely impossible or a very bad idea. While main streets get cleared pretty quickly, side streets (especially in the city) can take days. We also have a terrible public transportation system for a city our size and many areas are not well served with convenient access to things like affordable grocery stores. It's still a nice place to enjoy a relatively comfortable standard of living without having a job that puts you in an upper middle class tax bracket.

[@johnmcnulty4425]

Why Pittsburgh is my favorite is because all the hills and rivers give it a unique, almost mountainous terrain. That means that green space is very close by at all times including the ability to be outside, in the woods with plenty of wildlife, all alone if you want to be and still be able to walk downtown. People are quite laid back - no one cares what you wear or what your BMI is. The weather is better than the Midwest. Not as hot as the east coast in summer. Not as cold or snowy as Buffalo. And shielded from Nor'easters by the Appalachian mountains which are only an hour away.

[@elilopez9463]

I’m from Cleveland, born in chicago. PITTSBURGH IS A DOPE CITY.

[@bradderousse3440]

Being a St. Louis resident, I love your appreciation of St. Louis. I feel it is a hidden gem. Great architecture and a sense of neighborhood with an incredible affordability. A ton of free and affordable entertainment options, and it’s a great sports town. I love it.

[@1L6E6VHF]

Our Detroit family visited St. Louis last year. Yes, there are a lot of things to do there. What would STL be if they dismantled all of those 1904 attractions way back when.

[@boxsterman77]

I lived there--actuallty St. Anne, for 4 years. At first I hated it. But I grew to love it

[@baerlauchstal]

Londoner here. I love Chicago; so delighted it came top.

[@Benz2112]

Your discussion about the methodology of the list is probably as valuable as the list itself. The commentary about the implicit (or maybe not so implicit) racial bias involved in many of these nice places to live lists was particularly thoughtful. Messaging about crime, cleanliness, and schools are often used to validate poor suburban planning. Extra kudos for including the 63rd Drive subway stop in Queens, from the neighborhood I grew up in.

[@neolithictransitrevolution427]

It could be (and often is) argued crime, cleanliness, school test scores are objective factors. Whats often ignored is that in generalized per capita figures, statistics are warped in comparison to how those factors effect people of particular demographics. For example nationally, 3.96 deaths are caused by gun violence (in 2019) per 100,000. What this doesn't day is that black Americans are 12x more likely to be in the 3.96. The issue isn't the location in these "objective facts", its the way society treats and causes harm to certain groups, and then represents those outcomes in a way which causes/allows people/government to further reduce services and opportunities. CN moving to any of these areas is probably at very little risk compaired to anywhere else, because he wasn't criminalized as a youth, isn't targeted by the war on "drugs", and will likely have the opportunity to purchase decent housing instead of renting from a slum lord. And any kids likely won't be facing significant schooling barriers, because they have a parent working standard hours, who can afford proper nutrition, extra curricular activities, and is probably able to replace lead in the house.

[@CityNerd]

Are suburban schools "good" because upper-middle income people live there, or do upper-middle income people live there because the schools are good? Does the answer matter? It's people self-selecting homogeneity -- which is their right to do but let's not act like it isn't just a microcosm of a huge problem.

[@TrainsFerriesFeet]

@@CityNerd I grew up in the suburbs, but never again as I can't stand the nimbyism and all SFRs. I live in South Carolina and I can't wait to move to NYC or Hudson County when I retire.

[@lemmingsgopop]

@@TrainsFerriesFeet You got good people waitin here for you. NYC welcomes all immigrants even those from the suburbs.

[@HallsofAsgard96]

@@TrainsFerriesFeet As a native NYer w/ family in SC, I'd like to offer u some caution B4 u decide to move. The weather is extremely different as is the real estate. The Zillow numbers that CN quotes I don't think account for square footage. If ur comfortable w/ extremely cold winters and a much smaller home u might do just fine. I know a friend who moved from Florida and his first winter was hard.

[@Elise__Mae]

Pittsburgh is top three! Nice! Not quite the Midwest, not quite the East Coast: truly in its own category. Given that it punches above its weight in terms of the arts too, its nickname "The Paris of Appalachia" is apt, fun, colorful, and pisses off all the right people.

[@neolithictransitrevolution427]

How did a city in the ever declining rust belt rank so high? I wonder if it could be that they tax Land at 4.376% and buildings at 0% (at least in the business district, though this split existed city wide until 2001).

[@thexalon]

@@neolithictransitrevolution427 If you've spent time in Pittsburgh or Cleveland, you'd know it isn't an "ever-declining" area. Both those cities have adapted and changed since industry left, e.g. Cleveland's specialty these days is health care, and a friend of mine in Pittsburgh focused on AI research.

[@CityNerd]

Annoying the right people is just about the noblest thing a city can do

[@Marylandbrony]

If it were up to me the 2026 Winter Olympics would be held in Pittsburgh and not Milan & that other city because America is celebrating its 250th birthday that year and that is coming from a Ravens fan who has chanted "Fuck Pittsburgh" multiple times.

[@neolithictransitrevolution427]

@@thexalon Yes my point was Pittsburgh in particular has maintained good urban policy (such as taxing land and not buildings) and seen growth when many comparable cities saw decline. I don't know that much about Cleavland (I can't use it as an example for an LVT) and just learned it has heavy rail. But I don't doubt it's nice, that doesn't really dispute the reality the rust belt overall saw economic and relative population decline since the 1970s though.

[@dr.casebolt]

I want to genuinely thank you for these videos. One of my young adult kids has medical reasons for needing to live car-free, and some of the information you've provided in a number of videos (like this one) has been very helpful for helping her considering job options. We appreciate it!

[@jayblossom5349]

I moved to Philadelphia 21 years ago, and I still love it here. Cultural amenities are absolutely phenomenal. Very bikeable because the whole city is flat. Good public transit. Winters are mild. The fabric of historic buildings is endlessly interesting. Lots of water access. So close to New York and DC.

[@aleclawton]

I'm hoping to retire in Philadelphia in a few years. I hope it's still undervalued then - I don't think I can afford to pay what it's worth.

[@guyjones540]

Winters are NOT mild. Maybe compared to Buffalo, Winnipeg or Siberia they are. However , during meteorological winter (Dec thru Feb) the average low temperature is below freezing.

[@TheCommunistColin]

@@guyjones540 I mean yeah, you'd hope winter would be below freezing, if it's above freezing in winter that's a pretty warm winter.

[@lukejones2929]

@@TheCommunistColin Why would you hope winter would be below freezing? Sounds terrible.

[@RustyNinja100]

@@lukejones2929 gotta go ice fishing skating or other winter sports somehow

[@Crittbeast]

Funny how Pittsburgh shows up at the top next to heavy hitters like Philly and Chicago. The city itself has 300k population but the metro area of the county includes over 2.3m - I’m from Pittsburgh and having lived elsewhere I can attest that (at least for white professionals) Pittsburgh is an easy dream city to live in. Affordable, walkable, bikeable, insane transit fabric for the size of city, concentrated culture and arts within city limits and a vast network of natural and lower density amenities in the broader metro fabric, SPORTS, diasporic culture (you’ll run into sympathetic yinzers all over the world), within short flight distance of multiple major metros, earnest, fair and hardworking people, old but affordable housing stock, no major natural disaster propensity (except some landslides really), geography prevents massive freeway and interstate intrusion into the urban fabric, West Virginia is our backyard playground, the food, craft beer and craft liquor scene is insane for the size of the city, the list goes on. Don’t sleep on Pittsburgh - the only thing to hate is the weather - my god - so much rain and grey skies. 😂

[@tarico4436]

The only thing I question is why you put "white" in front of "professionals." Please explain yourself. I identify as an orange, black and huwite whatever that animal is in my pic.

[@af2171]

@Username, that is very helpful... but the grey skies would keep me away. Like other people in the comments have mentioned, I don't mind cold as long as it is sunny!

[@traceycrook7647]

I lived in St Louis for 17 years and I deeply miss it. Plenty of unique neighborhoods and beautiful parks. Forest Park is a jewel of the city. Free history museum, Art museum, science center, free world class zoo , and outdoor theater. I loved it

[@roundedosu]

as a russian i never understood the wish to have the same hot weather all year it would be so much more boring without 4 seasons, just adds variety you know in my city of ekaterinburg winters reach -30C and summers +40C. usually about ±20 from 0 and it's very pleasant

[@Diana1000Smiles]

I love Seasons, also. ♡

[@f.-j.j.5738]

I'm from the Caribbean. Summer all year but the weather does change, just not crazy changes. I'm happy with how much it changes or doesn't. I couldn't survive the cold. I went to Chicago for Thanksgiving and thought I'd die. I think our bodies get used to our environment and that's why we like it like it is.

[@chazdomingo475]

In Cali it stays like 20C year round. I don't see how you couldn't understand the appeal of that. Unless 10C is what you Russians think is comfortable.

[@roundedosu]

@@chazdomingo475 yeah, i do like +20 and +10 aswell but also i want some good snow and cold once in a while. i don't find being in the cold frustrating, i tolerated myself to it so much so that i kinda enjoy purposefully going outside in clothes not fit for the temperature. i enjoy it more than excessive heat like +30 and above at least, although i get that aswell every summer

[@pattismithurs9023]

My first 25 years were in California. It was a big deal if it was cold enough to wear a pullover. My last 25 years have been spent in Maine, and I love it here. I even managed to afford a house on the ocean for summer, to avoid the heat, and don't mind the cold in winter.

[@andrewlindstrom9599]

Ah I've been waiting for a Rust Belt praise video. I grew up in Wisconsin, so I am incredibly partial to the Midwest (I live in Portland now though). The weather is honestly not bad outside January/February/March, and the urban fabric is super interesting. I do think people should note that they also are among the most racially segregated in the country. Milwaukee, the Twin Cities and Chicago in particular had vicious redlining and are still struggling to reckon with that. But they have great bones, and are likely the best long term investments in terms of cities to put roots in.

[@anthonyfox477]

Fellow Wisco born Portlander here. Glad you mentioned the segregation - it's very visible and drives some... less than ideal outcomes. That said, Milwaukee and the Twin Cities are a nice budget friendly alternative to some of the cultural amenities of Portland/Austin/Seattle/Denver.

[@CityNerd]

Yeah, I should've mentioned segregation -- it's very, very noticeable in a lot of the cities you mentioned (and StL). I do have a redlining idea on my topic list -- it's tough, because it's super important but I'm kind of an awkward messenger. I'll do it anyway, though.

[@Mark_LaCroix]

@@CityNerd The legacy of redlining in Minneapolis is worse than is generally known. It's something that our progressive city government isn't doing enough to undo because it's not part of the the way we think about our history, even among the people impacted. We punch above our weight (or so it seems) in terms of diverse political representation, so we tend to give ourselves a pass. As for being an awkward messenger, perhaps you can find an academic on the subject to provide quotes, or even be guest co-host or interview subject.

[@andrewlindstrom9599]

@@CityNerd I do think that racial segregation in the North/West is one most understated issues in the country, so even awkward messenger is better than nothing. It is a bit hard to define, and generally is somewhat outside the purview of this, since all of the cities mentioned do still have lots of areas that are very multiracial and multicultural. Mostly the urban fringe and inner suburbs is where you find the heavily racially segregated areas these days (like Waukesha). If you're looking for more book recs, I'd suggest Sundown Towns by James Loewen.

[@CityNerd]

@@andrewlindstrom9599 Thanks for the book rec -- I haven't read that. Just put in on hold at the library!

[@alexandra4334]

One factor you dont mention is the people. I live in Chicago and love the people. I was surprised you said Chicago is high for bike score. I would agree but for different reasons. Chicago is aggressively improving bike-ability. For example, adding signed bike detours and temp bike lanes during construction. But as a advanced cyclist, its flat and you can really bike a thousand routes in every direction to amazing neighborhoods and to suburbs. Sure hills would be fun, but grid of streets cannot be beat. And I bike all but about 10 weeks out of the year.

[@MagicjavaGames]

The next "wave" of domestic migration will be to undervalued midwest cities after the sunbelt becomes overcrowed and expensive. Think St. Louis, Columbus, Cincinatti, Louisville, Indianapolis, Kansas City and others. They'll be cheap with pretty good urban bones to build upon. They also won't be nearly as affected by climate change as sunbelt cities.

[@JoelRipke]

Cincinnati is doing big things (by doing little things)

[@detourwithdrew4133]

See Granola Shotgun

[@LSOP-]

I don't think that the sunbelt with become overcrowed and expensive, I believe the impending water crisis will begin to drive people from those areas.

[@andrewdiamond2697]

With climate change, these cities will also have an attractive climate vs. the Hotlantas and Austins as well.

[@MagicjavaGames]

@@andrewdiamond2697 good point. Might be a benefit in the short term.

[@AxisXY]

As someone who spent 30 years in Portland(3y), Seattle(9y), Chicago(8y), and NYC (10y), I can totally vouch for Philadelphia. We moved here from Manhattan four years ago and comparatively, Philly has so much offer and a very affordable price (for a big city). Yes, it is a city with problems, but there are many amazing neighborhoods, and the people are awesome. We were able to buy 2k sq ft house adjacent to Center City for half the price of our one bedroom on the Upper West Side. The only thing I miss about NYC is having a doorman to accept our packages.

[@roddywhittemore493]

Nice I'm lived in portland my whole life, minus a few years spent in Australia. I'm trying to decide between chicago and Philly right now 🤔

[@Diana1000Smiles]

I watched the movie "A River Runs Through It" and moved to Montana and then everything in my life got different and better. ♡ After September 11, 2001, life in the US changed immensely, and not for the good of it all.

[@justinelliott5799]

Which one did you like better and why, Seattle or Chicago?

[@AxisXY]

@@justinelliott5799 I liked them both quite a lot Seattle has a lot of charm, and the scenery can be breathtaking, but after several years of living there, I wanted a bigger more urban experience. The people of Seattle are very nice, but true to the Nordic heritage of many of the people, they tended to be less open. Chicago turned out to be a better fit for me. Housing is less expensive than Seattle, the transportation is much better (no need for a car in Chicago). I spent the last four years living on State St in the Loop. I liked the people and appreciated that they said what they thought. Lake Michigan is so large that you feel like you are living on the coast. That said, Chicago has its fair share of problems and there are large areas you don't want to spend much time in. Fortunately, there is no reason too.

[@mabriff]

@@Diana1000Smiles So you don't like cities? To each their own, and whatever makes you happy is what you should do.

[@annapavfan4680]

I already knew my city was gonna be number #1, some folks give it a chance and they come to find that Chicago is truly a hidden gem at plain sight! The festivals, food, parks, the L giving you a tour of the city lights at night, the people, it’s home💕

[@kirstencorby8465]

I was born there, but moved away when I was little. I have always remembered it as everything a city should be -- history, culture, diversity, walkability, good transit -- everything.

[@vaguelyvagrant9694]

100% Agree! I grew up near Cleveland, I've hung out in Pittsburgh, and lived in Buffalo for years. They are definitely three of the most underrated cities in the country!

[@cosmic_jon]

One note about weather: hours of sunlight is much more important than average temperature. I moved from Boston to Berlin, Germany, and while the winters are much milder here, it is overcast basically every single day. And wet. 35 and drizzly feels much colder than 25 and sunny.

[@CityNerd]

Interesting, and I do think there's some science to back that up

[@N3VLYNNN]

I second this, as a Massachusetts native who also lived in Berlin for 3.5 years. When I returned to Northampton, I would exclaim every single day at how wonderful it is that the sky is blue. It really does make a huge difference in quality of life, especially during winter. We can have some gorgeous, uplifting winter days when it's sunny. I don't miss Germany at all. Never again will I live somewhere that grey.

[@quininde]

Yes!! Sunny makes real cold so much more bearable. Grey all the time is really tough.

[@milohrnic2023]

That's called the Calgary argument. Who cares about -25 if it's sunny and dry every single day?

[@cosmic_jon]

@@milohrnic2023 I'll take it! I don't even mind if there's snow on the ground, as long as the skies are clear most days. You get the benefits of natural light indoors too, where it's always warm and dry anyway 👍

[@ViniciusSC10]

Chicago is the first city I visited outside of Brazil and just fell in love with. The city is beautiful, the architecture is awesome, there is transit, there is culture. I’d love to live there. And yes, weather is overrated.

[@crishnaholmes7730]

Are you from Brazil

[@zaneearldufour]

I'm so proud of calling it with Chicago! People on the west coast seem to have no idea how incredible it is!

[@funkymonk816]

Grew up in Chicago and happy to see it get some deserved recognition! Yes, the winters are brutal, but the transit, walkability, and bikeability are top notch. Not to mention all the world class cultural institutions and iconic architecture!

[@TheSportsPROgram]

Even with the weather in the winter ....Chicago was a great place to live, I'd easily move back if the right opportunity was there ......

[@HighpointerGeocacher]

@@TheSportsPROgram Chicago is a terrible city, with an exploding crime rate, very high taxes, and corrupt government.

[@TheSportsPROgram]

@@HighpointerGeocacher where are you from ? let me hear how perfect your city is ......

[@bundevsawhney7578]

@@HighpointerGeocacher how is your opinion of Chicago in any way relevant for someone who just said they lived there themselves? Something tells me you haven't even done so...

[@rudyzooti7159]

Chicago is getting worse, too many guys with guns, winters aren’t too bad lately because of global warming

[@RJS1974]

Chicago being underrated is new to the 21st century. I grew up in Chicagoland and came of age there in the 80s as a young adult. In the 80s and 90s, Chicago was a very desirable large city and was compared to NYC and LA as one of the big three. Television shows and movies were shot in Chicago, Oprah did her show in Chicago as did most daytime Television talk shows. In those days, people understood the history of Chicago and it’s place as a prominent world class city. But starting in the 2000’s perceptions changed with millennials and burgeoning tech industry professionals who decided Chicago was not as desirable as cities like SF or Seattle. In the 90s, Chicago was one of the most expensive cities to live and today it’s not even in the top ten. The other thing that hurt Chicago was Fox News who pounded away at Chicago in a very biased way. Chicago has never been the murder capital. Per capita, Chicago doesn’t crack the top ten for violent cities but Fox News misinformation had a huge effect on national perception.

[@samiryahiaoui]

This is a great video! Chicago, Philly, and Pittsburgh are indeed underrated cities.

[@davidstravels8019]

I am originally from the New York area and have been living in Minneapolis-St. Paul for 3 years since I came here for college. Everyone will always rave about the walkability/bikeability, but it is somewhat overhyped in my opinion. Specifically the biking aspect. There are some very high quality greenways throughout the city, but while people are willing to cycle in the cold weather (and it does get VERY cold), many bike paths/lanes are just painted lanes on a road. In the snowier months, snow gets plowed into them, making it an unreliable transport mode for 60% of the year. Not to mention unsafe with all the sliding cars. Unless there is better maintenance, I think that money could be better spent investing more heavily into rapid transit. The city has good bones though, there are a lot of grade-separated urban rail rights-of-way/infrastructure which aren't really used by freight carriers anymore, which could really benefit a lot of communities if they are ever repurposed for transit. Overall, I will say that the Twin Cities definitely cares and is trying to improve livability, but there is still a lot room for improvement.

[@nopunts9947]

I’ve heard people make that same comment about Portland, about only a few areas really being bikable

[@jazzcatjohn]

@@nopunts9947 You heard right.

[@katrinhasnolife]

Yes, they really need to work on the snow plowing. It's terrible in Minneapolis. I don't drive and sometimes bus stops will be covered in plowed snow too and I often see people in wheel chairs having to go in the road because the sidewalks are so bad. I've seen videos of other countries plowing bike lanes and and keep up with maintenance so I think it's doable but I don't think it's talked about enough.

[@lizcademy4809]

I don't bike, but I walk a lot. Minneapolis isn't bad if you're in the right neighborhood ... green space? My commute takes me through 2 parks and the sculpture garden. I'm part polar bear, so the cold is only annoying for a few weeks. And even those aren't bad if you dress for the weather. Compared to Europe, Minneapolis is pretty bad. [I have to go to a medical clinic in the suburbs, and it's either a bus that runs once an hour or rideshare.] But compared to most of the USA, it's very, very good.

[@ckrolczyk]

I’ll be fighting for off-street bicycle paths until the day I die. Especially in a snowy climate like ours, it’s absolutely essential for making year-round bicycling viable for more people.

[@Matthew-wq9gg]

I couldn't agree more about Chicago. Just for the public transportation alone. And culturally more sophisticated than one might think.

[@the_flushjackson]

Have lived in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco Bay Area and Austin as an adult. Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Philadelphia are pretty interesting to me, was surprised by St. Louis and New Orleans. After having lived in Austin, I don't think I'd go back into the "Sun Belt" but some of these Great Lakes'ish area cities have me intrigued.

[@antonioruberto7077]

Can confirm that Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Philly are all awesome cities. I am from Pittsburgh, lived in NC for 10 years until moving back to Pittsburgh (the sun belt is too warm for me). Love Pittsburgh, Philly is a world class city, and our bigger brother so it's also great but way busier. Buffalo is cool, especially since it's only an hour from Toronto.

[@andrewraphael1615]

You mentioned cities where the urban fabric is interrupted by the noise of freeways. I'd love to see a video specifically focused on the noise impact of different transportation modes or systems. Could be from the perspective of the nearby community, or from the perspective of the rider.

[@JustinKlinger]

You might be interested in this NJB video about noise: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYW5XqqtqN96rZo

[@trainluvr]

Really? You need a video to explain something so obvious?

[@JustinKlinger]

@@trainluvr Hey, it may be obvious, but some people like things quantified and discussed at length. Ever been to a city council meeting?

[@andrewraphael1615]

@@trainluvr Yeah, the details and subtleties of a topic can still be interesting even if the broad view seems uninteresting.

[@BaronBytes]

@@trainluvr Sometimes having a video to share saves times when arguing on the internet :D

[@zeee4udd]

I have lived in Akron / Cleveland OH since I graduated college. I lived like a king on a 58k salary starting my career in 2019, had a nice apartment on lake erie and rode my bike around the city all summer. I bought my first house in Akron for 100k in 2020 and loved it. The value proposition for living in NE Ohio is insane, even with the housing bubble of the past few years. Ignore the ranking lists calling Akron / Cleveland dangerous / bad places to live / raise a family. It is still extremely affordable, even in the nicest areas, and we have a ton of bike amenities / the cuyahoga valley national park in our backyard.

[@unclesamshrugged2621]

Climate sustainability of cities: Would love to see you incorporate more of this in your videos. You obliquely mentioned New Orleans being in danger of flooding ("You may want to rent.") and NYC's vulnerabilities were illustrated by Hurricane Sandy. Vegas and Phoenix and other landlocked hot southwest cities are in danger of running out of water. Conversely, cities in the north, those close to all the fresh water of the Great Lakes, and with great public transit should get high sustainability scores.

[@Diana1000Smiles]

And, the entire US West is still suffering drought which is very expensive. Water Rights are becoming more critical, again.

[@BanacaNation]

Pittsburgh probably wins for the climate metric in this top 10.

[@letitiajeavons6333]

Yes, the climate and sea level rise issues really hit New Orleans hard, but others like New York City(Hurricane Sandy) are vulnerable too.

[@randomCADstuff]

Excellent points!

[@kevinwoolley7960]

I'm in Denver Colorado, and we are not currently in drought conditions here, or in most of the state. The Pacific Northwest is also not in drought. "The whole West" is not accurate, there is extreme drought in parts of CA, AZ, UT, and NM.

[@michaelpepe105]

Your discussion on St Louis made me appreciate your content even more. THANK YOU for having a smart perspective on the city. St Louis is a terrific place to live, STILL.

[@CityNerd]

I will never not be a St. Louis booster

[@mrAhollandjr]

I'd bet you'd never live on Natural Bridge!

[@drewbryk]

re: "crime" there is a weird rush for people in the suburbs to remind you about crime in the city. Someone told me once there was a shooting in Pittsburgh "zone 5" and I had no idea what they were talking about. "That's your zone! For shootings!" Apparently the local news divides the city up by police precincts and reports them along with any violent crime. It seemed very strange because the actual location of the shooting was nowhere close to me - in 6 years living here on and off, I've literally never been to this street even once. But if you live in the burbs and watch local news, they are blasting this information at you every night as if it defines life in our neighborhood.

[@JRCody-ds3ec]

I think Milwaukee is so underrated. There is so much potential for growth due to its status as a rust belt city that is very clearly below its capacity, and it has such a beautiful location both aesthetically with the lakefront and some of its picturesque old-style architecture, but also with its location relating to other cities and geographical landmarks.

[@robgrey6183]

Didn't a certain demographic just burn down a big part of Milwaukee?

[@JRCody-ds3ec]

@@robgrey6183 unless you’ve been there you can’t speak on it. Milwaukee is not burned down Milwaukee is fine

[@r.pres.4121]

Milwaukee is a very beautiful city with so many cool and fun things to do. The people are very friendly and it is relatively easy to get around the city just using the city streets.

[@thevideoman51]

There’s no trains though

[@youtuber8356]

@@thevideoman51 that’s not true there are multiple trains daily to and from Chicago that take under 2 hours

[@artemisrafti3956]

When you listed your methodology for ranking the cities, I just knew my hometown Philly would be near the top of the list. It’s literally got everything. Affordability, walkability, history, cultural amenities, and insane sports culture. Plus, you’re smackdab between NY and DC which are excellent weekend getaways. You can rent a luxury apartment for under 2k and be in the third largest downtown in the country. I swear people are sleeping on Philly.

[@DeadCat-42]

Moved to Cincinnati from Florida, what a great clean city with EVERYTHING. Big art scene, music Hall, great food etc etc.

[@jakebutler291]

Chicago is freaking awesome such a great place

[@17rajasandeep]

Just bought a house in South Philly after moving to Philadelphia just 6 months ago! For all the talk of Philadelphia being dangerous is crazy, people are super friendly and neighborhood becomes a family very quickly, Philly’s “brotherly love” tagline is spot on. Just within 20-30 mins walk I can literally get anywhere, the city is super dense and has incredible transit system, also bike lanes are everywhere! And to tell you how affordable Philly is, me and my partner sold our second hand cars to put down payment for a 2 bed multi floor row home with a finished basement! It’s insanely affordable for a city that’s so close to New York, D.C and the beaches of New Jersey!

[@kentlatimer3706]

I loved a lot about Philadelphia, but the one thing I did not like was lack of outdoor space. Almost any personal outdoor space is paved, and almost all about the size of a postage stamp. I knew one couple who had a great garden in the Italian Market. But in order to stretch out at all, you really kinda had to be in Germantown/Mount Airy.

[@lawriefoster5587]

I live in Mt. Airy and love it. However crime is increasing in Philadelphia...300 homicides so far this year. Attacks on the subway, lots of carjackings..not bad in Mt. Airy or Chestnut Hill yet.

[@earthandwind820]

I had a friend who lived in South Philly and one of the things that surprised me was indeed the walkability. One day she was busy, and I ventured off to explore, and saw everything from the Italian Market, Center City, the area where all the historic stuff is at, etc and I didn’t have a hard time figuring out how to get around by myself as a newcomer!

[@kentlatimer3706]

Oh, yes! The walkability. I was into found object sculpture, and was a big dumpster diver/alley sweeper. I walked that city up and down!

[@Gwwin1997]

Chicago number one!!! Moved here a year ago and fell in love almost immediately. Just discovered your channel. Love the lowkey, 'this is what I think take it or leave it' vibe.

[@alexmccarter6051]

So happy to hear some praise for Saint Louis, its honestly such a pleasant city and has incredible architecture. This is one of the first KZbin videos I've heard Saint Louis mentioned in that isn't a video about crime and it makes me so glad. I hope that one day we will be able to curb our population loss, embrace what we have and rebuild to a better future.

[@williammorse8330]

I love St. Louis as well, but Dad needs to raise his son, not the local gang.... it's now generational like cancer..... is the mayor doing a good job in your opinion? the DA? just curious, not a troll... my favorite STL website was/is "Built St. Louis" - you know it?

[@houdinimachine4672]

@@williammorse8330 Oh look. It's the racist coding that the video was talking about. St. Louis' crime is fine.

[@williammorse8330]

@@houdinimachine4672 so, who is talking to you?

[@1970joedub]

With this comment I can only presume you do not reside in the city of St. Louis, but rather reside somewhere like St. Peters or St. Charles’s, where your daily life is not effected by St. Louis public schools losing accreditation for 10 years.

[@alexmccarter6051]

@@1970joedub I’ve lived in saint louis city my whole life

[@dipro001]

Minnesota is the most underrated state in the US as a whole. The people are amazing. Visiting TC was always fun.

[@brsn2991]

As a Canadian the constant haranguing about the weather is so odd, 90% of Canadians live in cities with weather comparable to or worse than places like buffalo or Minneapolis. Yeah winter is cold and snow and all that but its hardly the arctic hellscape many Americans make it out to be.

[@AliceMarieM]

Richmond, Virginia only has bus public transit, but it is a wonderful city. Fabulous parks to walk in, a network of bike lanes, The Virginia Museum, the Science Museum, the Virginia State Library (in addition of a good public library system), a minor league baseball club, just a wonderful place on a human scale.

[@instantpotenjoyer]

shhhh don't let the secret get out!

[@TheZipeedoo]

My family moved from the Bay Area to the Twin Cities in 2001. I had lived in the Bay Area for 15 years by that time, and owned a home. We got enough equity out of the sale of that home to buy a very nice house in the Cities all-cash. This in turn enabled us to max out tax-deferred retirement savings and still plow a lot of money into 529's for the kids. The 529's enabled us to pay full freight for both kids at Ivy League universities, enabling them to graduate with prestigious BS degrees debt-free. Both kids in fact got admitted into Ivies and graduated with prestigious BS degrees because of the excellent public schools in the Twin Cities. Meanwhile, we have become passionate about bicycling. There are hundreds of miles of high quality bike trails in this area, including many leading to downtown, enabling me to bike commute to my job in downtown Mpls. Most downtown buildings have excellent bicycle facilities, including secure tenant-only indoor bike storage and a nicely equipped gym wit locker rooms and showers for changing. Yes, there is a brief period, normally late January, where we generally see some days of almost surreal bitter cold arctic temperatures. It's not more extreme, though, than the burning highs of Scottsdale/Phoenix in summer. Actually, less so because our super-cold is normally pretty short lived, plus, when it's cold, you can dress warmer, but when it's hot, you can only undress so much. The area has the infrastructure to deal with winter efficiently, and the residents adopt a hearty approach to winter. Many people ride bicycles year-round, using "fat bikes" in winter. Bike trails are typically plowed for this use. Youth soccer and such continues year-round thanks to giant inflatable domes erected over most turf sports fields. Etc. Besides, a chilly winter night gives couples a reason to cuddle up close. Etc. The culture is bookish and intellectual. The food scene is better than you'd expect in the Midwest. All-in-all, it has a lot of plusses. There are some minuses. First and foremost is the phenomenon of "Minnesota nice". This is a cultural affect in which Minnesotans tend to be obsequiously pleasant to others, especially strangers, but in a way that is completely disingenuous, bordering on dishonest. Culturally, Minnesota tends to be very parochial. People have social networks that reach back through generations, and they are often not open to expanding those. It can be hard as an adult moving from elsewhere to make friends here. This is being tempered somewhat by an influx of families. Outsiders tend to meet other outsiders. Also, the Vikings stadium is a giant fail, on several levels. Too long to get into here. Suffice it to say it's essentially a herpes sore on what should be a vibrant part of Minneapolis downtown financial district real estate. That said, we have an MLS soccer team (the Loons) that does okay, in a nice purpose-built stadium filled with soccer joy. We have a nascent women's pro team (the Aurora) that is teeing up to become an NWSL expansion team. And the Twins stadium is a monument of truly excellent stadium concept, design, and execution.

[@BadgerCheese94]

I agree with you but I will say while there is truth to the MN Nice thing... I have found it very easy to make friends here. I grew up in Miami which is very unfriendly. Had very few friends there. Lived in Texas which was modestly friendly, made some real good friends there as well but in Minnesota I have made amazing friends. Some of which I lived with at times. And friends of all ages. I got friends older than my parents lol It depends on your personality I guess, but MN is an introverts paradise

[@BadgerCheese94]

@@charleyhorse1864 I am also gay myself but TBH very few of my friends are gay lol.

[@BadgerCheese94]

@@charleyhorse1864 I personally am not seeking to make gay male friends. I mean I wouldnt avoid it lol but I don't base my friendships on whether or not someone is gay or not. But I do like the idea of joining an LGBT softball league.

[@jayreed9370]

I live in Cleveland, along the route of a classic streetcar route, and I agree a zillion percent on all of your commentary. It is SO cheap to live here for what you get. That being said, someone needs to work on Portland housing prices since we want to retire there eventually...

[@josephsgroi4474]

Thank you for the shout out for Philadelphia. I moved here 34 years ago from South California (Irvine) and have been car-less ever since. It gets better every year (with obvious big city problems) and the amount of residential building has been crazy lately. Fastest train to NYC 1 hour 9 minutes. Non-stop buses, it seems like every few minutes.

[@rolam1883]

Which area of Philly are you in?

[@SofaSpy]

I've been saying New York City is extremely affordable for what you're getting. Especially with higher income jobs. But let's not forget the satellite cities that surround New York such as Newark, Yonkers, new Rochelle, White plains, Stamford, some parts of Long Island and many more that are affordable, walkable and have easy metro access to NYC. A best satellite City list video will also be cool

[@HallsofAsgard96]

Yeah his map of NYC's transit usage kind of emphasizes this. But I think the Zillow number doesn't account for square footage.

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

Unfortunately New York City and New Jersey have extremely high state and city taxes plus if you ever decide to move away that’s an exit tax, so says my friend

[@HallsofAsgard96]

@@enjoyslearningandtravel7957 Interesting never hrd of this tax. That being said I know many new yorkers move to Florida after they retire to avoid income taxes. Living in Florida though comes w/ it's own disadvantages

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

@@HallsofAsgard96 that’s true Florida does come with some disadvantages such as hot muggy weather much of the year plus alligators in all the waters possible. However, the information about the taxes in New York and New Jersey I received from those people moving to Florida to avoid those taxes.. Personally I think Florida is too hot for my taste and weather, plus I like swimmable waters instead of gators.

[@SofaSpy]

@@HallsofAsgard96 In regards to square footage, I think it's perfectly fine because most people don't really spend their entire day at home in New York,. There's a lot of things to do (free & cheap). Most of the time I only come home to sleep, even during the winters. I think a lot of people use the suburban mentality while living in a city which hurts their experience.. Taxes really arent that bad, Your only talking about $2k a year extra for a regular income. ( But you also save money in other areas like not having a car or car insurance). Unless you're making 500k plus, taxes on the state level don't really affect anyone. Federal taxes is what actually kills you every April

[@doncanestraro55]

Moved to Cleveland about a year ago from the East Coast. Its certainly in the top ten for undervalued cities. Pros: top ten art museum, ditto for the symphony, same for the playhouses, park system, and library. The best hospital in the country in the Cleveland Clinic. Amazing Lake Erie beaches and waterfront venues right near downtown. Housing is affordable with great neighborhoods both in the city and the suburbs. Lots of good ideas from the locals such as a property tax abatement program(for 15 years from the point of sale/improvement in some parts of the city and in certain suburbs you either pay no tax, or you pay no additional tax on your property improvements), a city/state government that is always developing programs such as bringing in airlines to the airport to connect the city with under served markets (we now have directs to Seattle and Dublin) and undertaking projects to bring in major employers. Little or no traffic jams to speak of. Good colleges and universities in or near the city. But absolutely the no 1 pro, the people. People here are crazy friendly and there is great pride in ownership. First place I have ever lived where I know the names of every one of my neighbors. People seem genuinely happy here. Cons: the weather can be a little dicey at times, especially in the winter. Airport parking can be a mess, always reserve parking in advance if you can or take the metro over to the airport (you can park for free at one of the nearby stations). Crime here is little higher than average, so be prepared for that. Taxes are a bit higher than what would expect in the Midwest. Overall, a great experience so far.

[@bvedant]

So underrated. Isn't crime pretty limited to the east side?

[@James-hb9et]

10 best college towns for non college students by whatever metrics you want to use. But figure it’d be based on walkability, price, transit, etc. For example: Austin, Ann Arbor, Boise and Boulder are not really affordable anymore for normal people although all beautiful towns.

[@mitchellnagy6667]

So glad to see Pittsburgh on your list! I have been wanting to hear your thoughts on my city for a while now! It was cool to see you mention East Liberty, though I think you missed a chance to look closer at some "cooler" old neighborhoods that make Pittsburgh unique. A series where you do videos on different American cities and sorta take a deep dive in to the subjects you already cover would be really cool... i.e. assessing the transit, highways, urban spaces, pros and cons, and perhaps even suggesting room for improvements would be really cool.

[@detourwithdrew4133]

Little improvement example for Pittsburgh: a better downtown hub for express bus transfers

[@evilgenius919]

Not going lie I've looked at Pittsburgh and it seems extremely rad. Definitely one of those cities that almost tempts me out of NJ.

[@CityNerd]

Yeah, I wish I had more time to spend on all of these cities. There's way too much to say about Pittsburgh.

[@brianjonker510]

@Robert Organ You would be the only person who knows that.

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@CityNerd Make a whole video about it! I’d be happy to see! 😎

[@andremenezes87]

Love your channel! I’m not surprised to see Chicago as #1 here as it is a truly hidden gem. I moved here around 1 year ago and it is one of the best cities in the world. You should check out everything that is happening on the Fulton Innovation District, this will be a case for urban planning that will be talked about a lot in 5yrs from now

[@UrbanistChicago]

This is an awesome list! Love that someone is giving the cities of the Midwest and Northeast some recognition. These places actually feel like cities meant for people to live in compared to the overpriced west coast cities and the suburban cities of Texas. You said it perfectly when you mentioned that Chicagoans are the only ones who know how amazing our city actually is! Chicago >>>

[@quentinvanbentum4398]

i'm from the netherlands (Which is build around bikes and public transport). I lived in chicago for half a year and i absolutely loved it, I visited many other places in the US but chicago is still my absolute favourite. I felt like its one of the only places you can get around without a car!

[@markroberts6926]

sorry but crime is a huge problem in the US, especially among specific communities. reality is reality. Crime and murder rates are over 100 times lower in a lot of Asia making urban living, desnity, and public transit a lot more viable. I took public transit once in the US and it smelled like a mixture of vomit, weed, and urine...and as packed like a sardine..went back to my car and haven't looked back.

[@geisaune793]

I've commented this on other vids on this channel but I'm a StL native and I'd just like to offer an explanation for why StL "punches above its weight" in terms of walkability, etc. In 1876, the residents of StL voted to separate the city of St. Louis from St. Louis County. (i.e. city residents don't pay county taxes). This permanently restricted the geographic area of StL, but the population continued to grow until about 1950 when post-war suburbanization took place just like anywhere else in the U.S. Because of that, for about 70 years, StL had to build and develop very densely for a dense population. In 1950, St. Louis had a pop. density that was comparable to modern day Chicago, Philly, Boston, or DC. All that density is still there, but unfortunately, of course, more than half of the population moved out to the suburbs, just like everywhere else.

[@coreysimmerer]

Hey now, as someone with an “irrational but understandable fondness for Baltimore”, I have to point out if Philly is NYC-lite, then Baltimore is Philly-lite. Baltimore has a great urban fabric, okay transit and bike infrastructure, walkable, dense neighborhoods, water taxis, culture, universities, sports, crabs, and tons and tons of row homes. It’s pretty affordable too! And being on the NEC is a huge plus.

[@PowerSuitNinja]

Totally agree! Baltimore is one of the most underrated cities in America.

[@frigginjerk]

I've visited both Philly and Baltimore in the recent past, and I really liked both of them. If I had to move to another city, both would easily be top-10 options for me.

[@r.pres.4121]

Baltimore is still a very dangerous city and until they get a grip on the crime and poverty along with the corruption in city hall, Baltimore deserves to remain underrated and ignored.

[@coreysimmerer]

@@r.pres.4121 "Baltimore has crime and poverty and so it deserved to remain impoverished," good logic dude

[@mattbalfe2983]

Definitely, it really could use better transit though.

[@nothingkillsthegrimace3543]

So glad to see Chicago at #1. As a former Chicagoan living in New England, the adjustment has been brutal. I'm paying nearly the same in rent with not even a fraction of the amenities or services. It's outrageous!

[@rustytutton9473]

the thing that makes all the difference between the northeast and Chicago is how much more approachable people are. The provincialism from DC to Boston is absolutely insufferable. In Chicago, you have all the amenities those cities have to offer, relatively cheap housing (for such a massive market), progressive politics, and strangers that will gladly chat with you.

[@TheStep1980]

I lived in Boston for 16 years and would travel to Chicago on occasion over the past 6 years for various reasons. Despite all the negative news about it, I absolutely fell in love with the city and I'm shocked how few people have actually been there to see that for themselves. It's by far my favorite city in the country. I have such wonderful memories of Chicago in the spring, summer amd early fall.

[@PS987654321PS]

@@rustytutton9473 How are you defining provincialism? Your comment makes so little sense without some context.

[@Nova-dy6fq]

@@rustytutton9473 Yeah but Boston has an awesome mayor we have... Lightfoot.

[@euenfheiejrj]

@@rustytutton9473 really? I moved from NYC to Chicago and I don’t find people here very friendly to strangers in my experience versus the east coast (minus Boston. I thought they were unfriendly to strangers as well). I think people tend to stick to their own friends from high school and college and seem weird when strangers make small talk. That’s my experience at least. I do think Chicagoans are more loyal though and my husband is from around here so I had his friends.

[@geisaune793]

I'm a St. Louis native. You're absolutely right about the about the conservation around crime in StL (as well as low income areas in other cities) as being racially coded. Even natives of the StL area do it. All the rich white people in West St. Louis County have one thing in mind when they talk about the "crime" or "bad schools" in St. Louis city or North St. Louis County. Like they ever have a need to go to those places anyway. It's cynical and negative and it makes them feel like they have no responsibility as just a semi-decent citizen to help make those places better. I grew up in North County. I went to public school. It wasn't that bad. I had great friends throughout school. And considering that urban areas with high minority demographics tend to be in the older parts of the city, the suburb I grew up in was in fact way more walkable than any of the wealthy suburbs like Chesterfield, Wildwood, or Ballwin.

[@anyacarpenter4106]

Let’s not forget how a vast majority of the homicides occur in a couple of very specific and avoidable parts of the city. As a fellow native, it’s so annoying to see people who don’t know what they’re talking about complain about this (especially those from Chesterfield, St. Charles, etc.).

[@JasonTaylor-po5xc]

East St Louis really brings the area down. Remove them and St Louis isn't all that bad on a per-capita basis.

[@mcap8396]

East St Louis is a different municipality and doesn’t count in STL’s city crime stats….although the residents of East St Louis are responsible for some amount of the downtown St. Louis crime

[@brockmurphy1747]

@@JasonTaylor-po5xceast st. louis is removed from the demographic i am from there and we got zero support from the main city

[@nathanchristensen716]

I’ve been in Buffalo for 2 years and it’s really grown on me. It’s got better than expected restaurants some walkable neighborhoods and I personally love a lot of the architecture, even if the city is a bit gritty in spots. Basically you get all of the city amenities dirt cheap. I bought a duplex here and renting one side more than covers my mortgage. Not much here is world class except for wings, but I’ll gladly take 80% of the amenities of a major city for 20% of the cost. Although the public transit and bike lanes are poor and you better love snow.

[@minigol91]

Is it true that it's hard to find a job in Buffalo?

[@nathanchristensen716]

@@minigol91 I think the bigger issue is that the wages are depressed, I have a remote job.

[@ChiRedWhiteBlue]

As a born and raised Chicagoan, I wholeheartedly agree with your top ranking of my city. I truly love this place. But please let us stay under the radar-we don't need to add skyrocketing housing costs to our list of serious issues to be addressed 😅

[@AlexCab_49]

With climate change giving the Sunbelt things like wildfire, droughts and floods that may be inevitable.

[@CityNerd]

Yeah, I had a bit of hesitation with making this video, but let's be real -- I'm not influential enough to move housing prices. If only! Then I'd make a super-fake reverse psychology double-switcheroo video

[@mariowalker9048]

Chicago will always feel underappreciated compared to New York and Los Angeles

[@rhietpas]

Chicago isn't some small city like Boise where once we get discovered it'll change much. Chicago is too big for that and had plenty of neighborhoods and housing stock to accept our new wonderful residents

[@mariowalker9048]

@@rhietpas Chicago is no doubt a big metropolitan area but it's often overlooked when people talk about cities to move to or cities people want to visit. Chicago gets a bad reputation for gang violence and it not being as glamorous as New York and Los Angeles. Chicago played a huge role in urban America from the late 19th century through mid 20th century and was once regarded as the second city, but it is vastly overlooked Internationally. Chicago is underrated for not being as well-recieved by the general public unlike the Northeast and the sun-belt cities.

[@timalimdim]

Living in Chicago after college didn't just make me love Chicago: it made me love cities.

[@LouisShannon]

Moved to Cleveland a year ago from the west coast and love it! Crazy affordable housing, the full collection of big city amenities, and enough money saved to go on vacation when we want to escape the winter cold.

[@cait.]

I’ve lived here my whole life and I would not classify the housing as “crazy affordable”. Only someone from out of state would say that 😣

[@mattthomas7704]

Sorry you have to live in Ohio. My condolences

[@trevor_mounts_music]

But you live in fucking CLEVELAND! Cleveland!!!🤣

[@AntonVitullo]

@@trevor_mounts_music right cleveland sucks it’s the best city in Ohio but it gets boring quick but one thing I love about cleveland is the cheap cost of living and that means I can travel out of the city a lot 😂

[@trevor_mounts_music]

@@AntonVitullo This is EXTREMELY true. Makes the act of living a little easier. I'll be honest I grew up a Reds/Bengals fan so i'm slightly biased towards Cincinnati 😂

[@u3u36]

Bro said not wanting to live in a crime ridden city is racist 💀 Meanwhile these people would fear of going anywhere in Latin America with half of the crime rate.

[@joshhickman77]

Absolute madlad, responding to "What's a better Chicago?" With "Chicago".

[@Khifler]

I lived in Buffalo for about a year and half, part of that in Elmwood Village. It ABSOLUTELY spoiled me when it came to walkability and everyday service accessibility and I now compare every potential new home city to that experience. Nothing can quite beat walking across the street to pick up a cup of coffee from the local unionized coffee shop

[@mfd7124]

I was waiting for a WNY city to show up! I wanted Rochester to be on the list but our transit probably isn't as good as Buffalo, and our freeway-through-the-city situation is probably worse as well.

[@Khifler]

@@mfd7124 hey, at least you guys filled in the Inner Loop!

[@augustvonmackensen3902]

Video Suggestion: an analysis of bypasses/ring roads to help with the discussion on those. There’s real debate about whether they reduce traffic in the urban core or not. Also an list of motorway or freeway junctions that could be removed would be good (I think I’ve requested this before).

[@raaaaaaaaaam496]

Are you talking like loops around cities?

[@elijaha773]

I'd love this. My state DOT has a lot of bypasses planned/in the works.

[@CityNerd]

I do have a ring roads video on my ideas list --- maybe from you!

[@EricScott2010]

As a Buffalo native who spent 11 years in Cleveland, I have to say your list is dead on. I work a remote job for a boss based in Miami. He paid me based on THEIR rents. Imagine making close to six figures, but being all in for rent and utilities, IN the Elmwood Village, for under a thousand bucks a month. Yes.

[@williamerazo3921]

Thanks for the Cleveland shout out. Plus it’s very very affordable compared to when I lived in New York City

[@thexalon]

To rep for Cleveland for a bit: - One of the ways Cleveland really excels is in the arts. The main art museum is right up there with the best of the best with a nice selection of famous works along with a bunch of lesser-known but still really wonderful bits of art, and most of the collection you can just walk in and see pretty much any day of the week. The orchestra has been world-class for over a century now, and has very affordable tickets. And there's all kinds of amateur and random artsy things going on, especially in the summer, in part thanks to a bunch of colleges in the area. - Cleveland is one of the smallest metro areas with 3 major league sports teams. - To give you an idea of affordability: Renting a 4-bedroom house, in a nice neighborhood close enough to Lake Erie to almost be lakefront, was a little over $1000 a month back when I did it. I turned down a job in California precisely because my standard of living would have gone down to take it. - For people in the southwest, you might want to know that Cleveland doesn't have to worry about ever having water restrictions. - The park system is truly excellent, having been set up at a time when Cleveland was practically on the same level of wealth and power as Chicago, and was used as a model for other city park systems. Downtown is also prettier than you might expect. - If you're worried about crime, I'll just say I've been stranded in one of the worst neighborhoods in town at 1 AM on a Saturday, and nobody bothered me. Most of the fears are exaggerated. The "Hastily Made Tourism Videos" don't tell the full story, really.

[@AniketKhanal2009]

Cincinnati is a much better affordable option than Cleveland, which has been a dying city for decades now. No signs of revival yet. There's just not a lot going on and the crime rates are insane

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

@KZbin Channel some people like art enjoy the museum and I would probably go once a month but it’s not everybody’s cup of tea.

[@frankdicesare5654]

@KZbin Channel Urban culture similar to Cleveland or CIncinnati, but with better sports teams? That's Pittsburgh

[@thexalon]

@KZbin Channel The Cavaliers were NBA champions in 2016 and were in the playoffs last year. The team now known as the Guardians was in the World Series in 2016 and a contender in 2017. The Browns admittedly sucked. As for the art museum: You don't need a pass, that's part of what makes it great. You can just walk in and enjoy stuff, which I did fairly often when I worked in that area.

[@AntonVitullo]

@@AniketKhanal2009 Cleveland way better than cinncinati

[@MaurickSh]

Your mention of living if towns that're statistically crime-prone is a good shout. One of my fav memories was living in Portales, New Mexico. Small town with not much to do and a pretty high property crime rate, but it was a time I'll never forget. Being a part of a town shunned by outsiders, it makes you feel like once you get into it and involved in community events, you become proud of that town others mock. Also, SO glad you put Chicago at 1. Biased, but it has the most diverse public transit of any city I've been to, the city was designed in blocks (looking at you, St. Louis, with your capillary-looking ass roads and neighborhood designs) so it's easy to get around if you do have to walk or drive. CTA is GOATed, and really affordable.

[@eaparks8]

Great video. Also, madison WI is severely underrated. Not the best transit score but crazy walkable and bikeable. It definitely meets the population figures (especially when you count the 50k or so students (which means calmer summers)) but also, it’s a purple state

[@toddinde]

Madison is an amazing city, and one of the best in North America, hands down. However, it’s been ranked the number one city to live in two years in a row, so it’s hardly underrated. In fact, I’ve never known anyone who’s visited or lived there that doesn’t rave about it. I’ve been blessed to live there twice, and lived nearby for many years. An absolutely amazing city.

[@deneel-pk5mb]

Lived in Madison a few different times, left last year. Though wonderful in various ways, I wouldn't classify it as a great walking city. It's more like a small town surrounded by waves of subdivisions that happen to fall within the city limits. The few commercial neighborhoods that are walkable are sort of hipster or boutiquish and not where some of your more general shopping needs might be met. Lots of people seem to drive out of the core to shop at the edges. I will say though that Madison may have the most remarkable park system in the country, and the UW campus adds lots of beauty and vibrancy. Great place, just wouldn't be one of my top picks for walkability and transit.

[@foxesamu]

I love how you ride for Chicago. As a local and suburban native, you have made me appreciate its many virtues and you validate my feelings whenever I leave most other US cities - that most of them just aren’t as good in significant ways. We obviously have our issues, and well beyond crime, but I think the good things are so worth it.

[@earthandwind820]

We’re a very neat and organized city compared to so many others. This has been one of my biggest observations. Sure, there are exceptions, but this rings overwhelmingly true.

[@jasonglasser1621]

As someone from the Pittsburgh area, we are definitely undervalued and I agree with us being on here, but if public transit is a high portion of the score, I'm surprised that didn't hurt us more. Our subway system only goes south, our buses are terrible depending on where you want to go, and there are enough non-city areas in the county that it's hard to get super pro-public-transit people into office in roles where they have a big influence on expanding it. There's also this weird fanaticism here about it having to pay for itself, rather than being a public service. Overall, fantastic city, but tragic public transit, and this is coming from someone who has been to a lot of other northeast cities.

[@paulnadratowski3942]

Not considering crime rates makes this video useless. What good is a walkable city you’re afraid to walk in. Having said that I agree with you about Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, they are very underrated

[@unlimitedpower978]

Maybe but as he points out and I have experienced cities are really big and there can be rough areas that you can entirely avoid. Like I don’t know enough about St. Louis but for New Orleans, the crime is pretty concentrated in a few areas that are entirely avoidable and you don’t even have to actively try to avoid them, because everything you need or are interested is already nearby

[@empressmarowynn]

I've lived in the Pittsburgh region most of my life and in the city itself for the past 17 years. Despite travelling all over the world and briefly living in several other cities I still like Pittsburgh the most. For me it's just big enough that there are a ton of different things to do but not so large that it takes forever to get around. I have a car but it's almost exclusively for getting to work and large store trips, otherwise I'm always walking everywhere. And it's located close enough to several other cities that you can make day trips to places like the Cleveland art museum or Niagara Falls. Not to mention the beautiful Appalachians just an hour away. We're also becoming a big place for filming movies and quite a number of actors have remarked how much they like exploring the city. And most importantly it's super cheap for the quality of life that you get in return.

[@scottgrohs5940]

Keep its secret, empressmarrowyn. Don’t let happen to Pittsburgh what happened to Portland, Ore.

[@danielziemba8045]

@@scottgrohs5940 too late; this Detroiter already knew, and I’m gonna squeal! >:-)

[@theredheadsaidNYC]

How expensive is it to rent in walkable areas? I'm in Portland, OR and paying $1700 for a one-bedroom in the burbs. Too expensive

[@MrJackOfAllTraits]

Hilarious that the commentator wanted a better city and citynerd's answer was "it's about the friends we made along the way"

[@Chunda8]

Of this list, I would pick Chicago first, Pittsburgh has a good combination of affordability, jobs and safety, but the water is not drinkable. My third choice would be New York, then probably Buffalo- but Buffalo or Twin Cities only if you have a good job offer in both, I'd say the rule these days in the U.S. is job first. You live where your job is. In Philly, Center City seemed nice as well as safe, the closer you are to it, the safer you will be. If money is an issue, I'd look at maybe the area near Temple or Northern Liberties, more affordable but a little more risky. The wealthy people there live on the Main Line, or like Pittsburgh, in the suburbs.

[@pepperpillow]

I think Montreal would be the Canadian answer here. Yes it’s our second biggest city, but it’s so much more affordable then Toronto or Vancouver, very walkable and great transit.

[@9to5Drone]

I second that. I was actually looking at apartments in Plateau last year! Yeah they can be hella small but for the urban areas they're in they're *dirt* cheap. Just couldn't do the lack of sun.

[@TomHenryTography]

Love the shots of Queens! Too many thought-pieces point to NYC's outrageous housing/rent prices, but people have a hard time thinking outside of Manhattan.