Monday, July 14, 2008

Best Places to Live in the U.S.

Money magazine has published its 10 best U.S. cities to live. Spoiler: Charlotte did not make the cut.

At the very top: Plymouth, Minn. (population 70,100). Click here to read about Plymouth and the nine other best cities.

Have you ever lived in one of Money's best cities? Did it deserve such honors?

While you're at it, tell me what you like best and least about Charlotte. And, please, be nice. You can make your point without obscenities or turning this into a mean-spiritied (and off topic) North-South debate. Thank you very much.

47 comments:

Anonymous said...

This Best Of list, like all the others, is just about useless but it will cause more people to read Money magazine. Speaking of useless things that drive readership...

While you're at it, tell me what you like best and least about Charlotte. And, please, be nice.

Come on Amy, your admonishment akin to "Try not to think of (fill in the blank)."

Try not to be so transparent in your attempt to get your readers riled up.

Anonymous said...

So if Charlotte didn't make Money magazine's list of Best Places, how does that fit into "Your Guide to the Charlotte Region?"

Anonymous said...

This list was best "small cities" to live in....Charlotte was not eligible. Its above the population criteria.

Anonymous said...

Ah, my bad. I thought it was "small minded cities."

;-)

Anonymous said...

We weren't just above the population cut, we were 400,000 people over the population cut way to go Amy! Maybe the paid to party mentality is messin up your head.

Anonymous said...

Interesting... Amy posted a list where Charlotte isn't even in the running and writes "Charlotte did not make the cut." Can there be any other reason than driving people to her blog?

In other news Amy Baldwin once again did not make the cut for People Magazine's list of 50 most beautiful people.

Anonymous said...

The Money mag site actually lists 1,800+ cities, including Charlotte. Looks like Charlotte and other big cities were considered but didn't make the top 100.

Debate the merits of this list and make snide comments all you want. Just might be a good idea to make sure you know what you're talking about before being a hater.

Anonymous said...

^That's funny, the article clearly states that:

"We analyzed the nation’s small cities, those with populations of 50,000 to 300,000."

Charlottes population is roughly double the 300,000 cutoff.

Debate the merits of these posts all you want. Just make sure you have a clue before chiming in.

Anonymous said...

Touche.

Still, that Money site isn't very clear. Not sure why there's the link to data for 1,800+ cities if that's not part of the ranking. And where the heck is the story link? Feel free to post it here. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Best: beautiful weather

Worst: an abundance of small
minded-people

Anonymous said...

I've never put much faith in those Money lists. They never consider the YEAR-ROUND weather (Minnesota, Colorado, Florida, etc.). One of the reasons I moved to Charlotte was because of the weather.

Anonymous said...

Best: Natives.

Least: Ohioans and other yankees.

That's not mean spirited, it's simply true.

Anonymous said...

Does this mean that you're thinking of moving?

gosh wouldn't that be a shame

Please do write back and tell us how wonderful it is so that others can follow you out.

Anonymous said...

The natives suck.

Anonymous said...

Natives don't like transplants because we have money and they are uneducated and poor most likely living in a trailer park with a confederate flag and a pick up truck.

Anonymous said...

I have liked living in Charlotte from day one -- what's best about it is the people who had the good fortune to be born and raised here, and the others who got here before me. There are dozens of other things I like about Charlotte, but I have one question which may be a negative -- is there anyplace that sells blue crabs? I do miss the crab houses in the DC, Maryland and Virginia area where they serve steamed whole blue crabs on newspaper covered tables, accompanied by corn on the cob, maybe some beer, etc. Crab legs just won't work for me!

Anonymous said...

Natives don't like transplants because we have money and they are uneducated and poor most likely living in a trailer park with a confederate flag and a pick up truck.

Natives don't like transplants because some transplants don't understand pronouns and antecedents.

Anonymous said...

One word: moisturizer.

Anonymous said...

@ 7/14/08 7:46 p.m.

OH, SNAP! Well played.

Anonymous said...

When did this become an English class?

chupacabra said...

I don't understand the point of any of these posts.

What about "your guide to the Charlotte region" has anything to do with some list on Money magazine that ranks the relative livability of small towns?

I also just don’t understand why anyone lives in a place they appear to despise. Life is too short for that sort of nonsense. This country was founded by people who decided to make for parts unknown because they didn’t like where they were. I’m sure they would be proud if they knew that their descendents were a bunch of pathetic whiners afraid of the big outside world, bless your little hearts.

Anonymous said...

I'm going to disregard the previous posts and actually think about the question. For me, the greatest thing about Charlotte is its affordability, compared to other cities I've lived in. Other things I like: winter is easy, we're a few hours from both beach and mountain areas, the Craft Museum is great, and the scenery is so lush here. Dislikes sadly are far too many. I just don't fit the profile that I think this town embodies: family raising, SAHMs, lots of church/traditional religion, conservative thinking, shopping and NASCAR. I still find sexism, racism, and other intolerance quite prevalent which amazes me! If you're >35, no kids, intelligent and playful, but don't want to gossip over cards/discuss current Fiction where do you go? Not hating....just expressing. Life is what we make of it, but I wish there was a little more here to work with. However, for those who fit the profile, this city rocks and I'm happy for them.

Anonymous said...

CARY , N.C. is one of the best places I have seen in my life here; I have heard that Gardner , tat isnext to cary is wnderful also. The Raliegh area has room to grow and with the new RBC bank will be a hit success; I went to a Tim McGraw concert at the time warner outside center and it was great and huge built into a park. Cary N.C. had to make this list. I think Charlotte has potential to get out of the rut by finishing the outerbelt and creating a outerbelt business zone. A CASINO on the water of Lake Wylie would be great or maybe next to Carrowinds . I could see women coming into the Casino with Bikinis on after the waterpark thing.

Anonymous said...

And please ladies dont wear hot pants or a mini skirt if it dont fit right. I just saw a lady with daisy duke jeans and made me sick. I was shocked .

Anonymous said...

If you're >35, no kids, intelligent and playful, but don't want to gossip over cards/discuss current Fiction where do you go?

A nursing home. You're a loser.

Anonymous said...

If you aren't country or don't enjoy doing country like things, your gonna have a hard time fitting in here. I am talking about the late teens early 20's crowd. It is pretty pathetic that kids around here strive to be as redneck as possible.

Anonymous said...

The crime, the Schools, the roads these three factors have stopped progress in Charlotte; Lets examine the outerbelt that no one can seem to finish after 27 years. Lets look at the Peter Goreman a man who knows how to make this work but People inside Charlotte wont let him have the "reins of the Horse" and the same with the new Police chief Rodney Monroe; Charlotte likes to micro manage and it doesnt work; All these People are very capable but the LORDs who run the city get insecure; Peter and Rodney , if given control will save our city. Please dont "Bird Dog" Management or in other words" Micro Manage". I think afew years from now the city will be better if you let these People do their jobs.

Anonymous said...

Lets me suggest to Charlotte to start looking at the Ghettos and make a plan to lift People out of them; Emanite Domain laws havemade it possible to buy old decaying neighborhoods and put Headquarters for jobs. This is a win /win and eliminates the seedy areas. And for Gods sake Charlotte ' Tear down your empty buildings that have sat there for six years with bugs in them. "Tear down these walls" Look at that I-277 shopping center thats, out of date , white and sits empty within earshot of the city. Buy it and tear it down. How about the Burger king on Arrowood next to the rail tracks; Use it or loose it.
Lord James of Hilliard

Anonymous said...

Every city has ghettos you cannot eliminate them. It is just part of life. You can turn a ghetto area around into a nice area but the people that were there before will go somewhere else and create a new one.

I think once we have a new governor our road situation will change. Most of them realize transportation and roads are very important issues and NCDOT is a mess that needs to be cleaned up.

Anonymous said...

If Charlotte wants roads you will have to A) Lobby the Federal Government B) Put up toll roads C) get a private donor to finish the outerbelt like Bruton Smith or many rich People. Charlotte will get nothing from no new Governor because the East Coast rules period. Charlotte is in deep doo doo over roads and light rail. Cant finish light rail and the outerbelt is all but fogotten. Its truly a shame but another situation could help Charlotte is People start moving towards Raliegh for jobs and vacate the area: This works real well also.

Anonymous said...

If you want anything like roads Charlotte you will pay for them yourself other than that traffic will be a mess and getting worse by the day.

Anonymous said...

Cary , North Carolina and the surrounding area is eye pleasing and has full freeways and jobs are looking at Raleigh and not Hmaburger joints like Charlotte is attracting. You start off in Charlotte as a BANKER as work your way down to Grocery store clerk. We need a CASINO like Harrahs .

Anonymous said...

Plymouth, MI is a very nice town. Especially if you like sub-zero weather and a metro area like Detroit.

Anonymous said...

[b]Anonymous said...
Plymouth, MI is a very nice town. Especially if you like sub-zero weather and a metro area like Detroit.[/b]

LOL!! Plymouth, MN, a suburb of Minneapolis gained the recognition; not Plymouth, MI.

The Minneapolis - St. Paul area is really nice even during those cold winter months.

Anonymous said...

best thing about charlotte, two of my grandkids live there..and their parents who met in dayton ohio..nky is a great place to live..both flavors are there..north and south...which is what makes it so great..and fun..just like I been having reading this blog with all the flavors..as I smile..

Anonymous said...

I hope more Southern women have babies with Yankee men or vice versa ; I hate this attitude about the" who won the civil war". The British were trying to get back half he U.S. from the Revolutionary war and thats all it was. British ships were spotted helping the Southerners during the war. They tried to come back through OHIO during the war of 1812 and now they own everything but the Government. The British own %90 percent of all corporations and the war is over now; They do want the Bill of Rights back and have sponsored Presidents to do so. In Britian no one has many rights at all and the COURTS are taking most of them in the U.S. The only People who have Rights are criminals.

Anonymous said...

Look I dont want to go to the LONDON TOWER for saying this but The British are the richiest People in the world and always have been; They are GENUIS and business savy and always end up on top. And the economy here is paper bills that can be printed at will. The economy will come back and work will be all over the place forelong; The British are the old Roman Empire so they have been around a long time; If they could get everyone working rather than planning attacks we would all be better off.

Anonymous said...

Lokk Amy Im not coming back to any of the Boards Im tired of being the scapegoat for the OBSERVERs troubles; BAHHHHH BAAAAHHHHH BLEAT BLEEEEAAT

Anonymous said...

It's all relative to where you relocated from...I moved to Charlotte from Baltimore about three years ago and, by comparison, I absolutely love Charlotte and would never move back to Baltimore.

Anonymous said...

Charlottes real estate wil devalue by %50 percent now that WACHOVIA is laying off ten thousand; This is getting scary about jobs in Charlotte; when the Big jobs go the little support jobs will really go out. Bye Bye everybody and welcome to the GREAT DEPRESSION. All property in Charlotte and surrounding areas will plummet.

Unknown said...

I want to live in New York because my parents lived there I really like this city because of its natural beauty, and the best about it is the people who had the good fortune to be born and raised here.
==================================
Rony stephen.
Addiction Recovery West Virginia

Anonymous said...

Speaking of lists of best places, Here’s good news for North Carolina: My company conducted a recent survey that studied which states have the best business climate (we specialize in economic development). We reached out to CEO’s, business decision makers and location advisors. In a nutshell, NORTH CAROLINA ranked #2 following closely behind Texas. The bottom three states were California, New York and Michigan. Feel free to check it out: http://www.aboutdci.com/WinningStrategies.aspx.

Anonymous said...

NORTH CAROLINA ranked #2 following closely behind Texas.

Our great business climate won't last long given NC's ever increasing tax burden. The Tax Foundation currently ranks us #19 among states in state tax burden and #24 in combined state and federal tax burden. We're #1 in the Southeast. Woo hoo!

chupacabra said...

How could you not **get** the idea of Charlotte's Wards?

maybe it would help if you pretended that word was "borough"

all better now?

Anonymous said...

It is sad to see comments about "natives and yankees" in Charlotte too since I epxerience this attitute in Charleston (SC)

I was hoping to move a little farther north for a more intelligent discussion and co-existance. I hope that this is the minority view in Charlotte.

As for all the jokes about Ohioans, that is getting old too. I am not from Ohio- I am from Michigan and Indiana. There are some very intelligent wonderful people from all of these states, but it seems a waste of time to explain this to a faction of fools.

Anonymous said...

I was hoping to move a little farther north for a more intelligent discussion and co-existance. I hope that this is the minority view in Charlotte.

Dear Yankee: Drive up I 95 N until you get to NOVA.

Anonymous said...

chirp chirp
chirp chirp