The best U.S. city for quality of life is Ann Arbor, Mich.
Nothing new here as A2 has been on these type of lists for years now. But, one thing they didn't mention that really makes A2 the best place is the FRICKIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP the football team just won going 15-0 making A2's air smell that much better, the food taste that much better, and the water quench one's thirst that much more than before.
The only draw back is that Jim Harbaugh no longer walks the street.
Quality of life score: 7.9
Ann Arbor is the best U.S. city for quality of life. More than 90% of the city’s residents live less than a 10-minute from a public park, according to the U.S. News and World report.
A 2023 SmartAsset study report says Ann Arbor saw its Gen Z population — those ages 18 to 24 — grow the fastest in 2022. The city had 26.4% new Gen Zers and a total population of 35.9%.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/25/us-news-report-us-cities-best-quality-of-life.html
February 26th, 2024 at 5:25 PM ^
But what about basketball season?
February 26th, 2024 at 5:37 PM ^
Hey...let's play nice.
No friendly fire.
You can root for Purdue.
February 26th, 2024 at 6:14 PM ^
Just think, it can get even better :)
February 26th, 2024 at 5:27 PM ^
The reason is obvious. "Quality of life" just means more here.
February 26th, 2024 at 5:43 PM ^
Trevor Keegan is a stud 🏈🍺
February 27th, 2024 at 7:04 AM ^
It's reassuring to know that I have D1 level love handles, thanks Trevor!
February 26th, 2024 at 5:37 PM ^
Tell me something I don't already know.
February 26th, 2024 at 5:46 PM ^
Finkel is Einhorn.
February 26th, 2024 at 5:40 PM ^
"Ann Arbor is the best U.S. city for quality of life.*"
*If you're filthy rich or taking on an enormous about of student debt.
February 26th, 2024 at 5:45 PM ^
You can't take your money with you when you die... and your debt can't follow you either.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:19 PM ^
"your debt can't follow you"
I trust you are being sarcastic, but many honestly feel this way.
We do all understand someone else has to pick up the debt we leave behind, correct? Perhaps "just bank shareholders," but said shareholders are, indeed, people. And for some of those shareholders we are talking about their retirement funds.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:48 PM ^
I don't plan to leave any debt but if I did as long as I don't leave it with my kids, I'm not going to fret on my deathbed about any shareholders.
February 27th, 2024 at 7:59 AM ^
Fuck those shareholders.
February 27th, 2024 at 9:48 AM ^
Those shareholders you disdain just might include your hard-working neighbor next door, barely getting by, but with what little retirement he has invested in a mutual fund.
Don't be a classist.
February 27th, 2024 at 9:30 AM ^
Really you're gonna try to garner sympathy for a bank making loans??
That's what they do. If the loan isn't a good one they have all the resources available to them to not make the loan in the first place.
When thousands of people get laid off by a corporation, it's just business. But when someone freaking DIES and the bank eats the loan somehow thats a moral failure??
February 27th, 2024 at 2:43 PM ^
What, you don’t have sympathy for people who’ve fixed the economy?
February 26th, 2024 at 7:33 PM ^
Me sowing: upvoting articles like this every year
Me reaping: seeing costs go up due to ever increasing demand
February 26th, 2024 at 11:21 PM ^
It's amazing (not A-Maize-ing) that we nearly all live in the States, many still in Michigan but a large number not any longer, and have such wildly different perspectives on what "filthy rich" connotes.
As an Ann Arbor native, now 30+ year Bay Area resident, the idea you'd have to be filthy rich to live in A2 is literally hilarious! Like spit out my vino laughing funny.
Where do people on this board live who would consider A2 a wildly expensive place to live? What states or regions? Genuinely curious.
As my friends reach the age of contemplating retirement, most all are considering leaving the Bay, but virtually none have discussed moving further than Oregon (still likely more expensive than A2 but a damn sight lower SOL than the Bay.)
Just generally curious about people's perceptions of living costs?
February 27th, 2024 at 8:44 AM ^
Bay Area economics will skew your perspective in amazing ways
February 27th, 2024 at 9:21 AM ^
I know that I am lucky to live in West Michigan / Grand Rapids. Cultural life lags AA a bit, but its not like you can take in 100% in either place. Beer City. Economically stable. Real estate has taken a jump but is still relatively reasonable. Not as walkable, but traffic is manageable. And the beaches of Lake Michigan are unbeatable.
February 27th, 2024 at 1:07 PM ^
Life gets better outside of Michigan even
February 27th, 2024 at 9:32 AM ^
Dude i make $60k and i cant afford to live in ann arbor but i have a pretty great lifestyle, never worried about making rent or buying pretty much whatever i want, can afford vacations, etc.
Anyone who can afford to live in ann arbor based on their income is in fact filthy rich.
February 26th, 2024 at 5:40 PM ^
Columbus is 1,756th. Out of 1,755.
February 26th, 2024 at 5:44 PM ^
These are some a-maizing statistics!!
February 26th, 2024 at 5:47 PM ^
You're being generous.
February 26th, 2024 at 5:43 PM ^
I love Michigan...It is the state of my birth...but anyone that has lived in multiple states in different areas of the coutry knows Ann Arbor (still a great city) isn't the best city for QOL. But then again...QOL is in the eyes of the beholder.
February 26th, 2024 at 6:13 PM ^
Having lived in other multiple states (TX, AL, FL) over the past 16 years I haven't witnessed any of these states offer the type of QOL that AA offers
February 26th, 2024 at 8:03 PM ^
Living in the pnw there are certainly places I have enjoyed better than aa but aa certainly holds a special place in my heart.
February 26th, 2024 at 8:10 PM ^
Try to buy an affordable house or pay property taxes
February 27th, 2024 at 7:57 AM ^
Ive lived in CA, UT, FL, and NC. Currently live in Winston Salem, NC. I would put Winston Salem's QOL definitely above AA. But like I said, I think QOL is a very subjective "measurement".
February 27th, 2024 at 9:28 AM ^
Foothills in Winston-Salem is one of my favorite breweries!
We're driving from Raleigh to Asheville on Thursday and usually stop at Bermuda Run as a midway point to let the dog out.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:49 PM ^
I spent the best young years of my life in AA but, damn, every city on that list is too damn cold.
February 27th, 2024 at 2:47 PM ^
Are you a lizard?
February 27th, 2024 at 7:02 PM ^
Becoming one.
February 27th, 2024 at 9:33 AM ^
Having lived in both the #14 (Currently in Grand Rapids) & #15 (Undergrad in Fort Collins, CO) cities on this list, I can say that any city is going to have it's +'s and -'s.
I think it really depends on what stage you're at in your life and what's important to you. Do you want to afford a nice house in a nice neighborhood with a good job in which to raise a family? Grand Rapids is hard to beat. Or are you more concerned with activities outside, a fun night life, and a "cool" culture? I'd highly suggest Fort Fun.
I also think that many of the cities on the list have a high % population of educated people. Typically cities with adults who have obtained some form of higher ed degree have more amenities, access to healthcare, better schools, higher paying jobs, and an overall better quality of life.
February 27th, 2024 at 9:36 AM ^
Besides the snow, if you're someone who hates the snow, there's no better place to live in the US. And I've been to quite a few really nice places but AA is just the best.
February 26th, 2024 at 5:44 PM ^
Mostly the usual supects on that list.
Except for Hartford, CT at number 8 and Rochester, NY at number 9! Pretty unusual entrants for that sort of thing ...........
February 26th, 2024 at 5:48 PM ^
Hartford at 8? Did The Whale return without my noticing?
February 26th, 2024 at 5:53 PM ^
LOL ...... Bettman's going to try Atlanta for a THIRD time before the Whale ever come back.
February 27th, 2024 at 9:29 AM ^
We've had The Whale in Raleigh for the past 27 years! I think that the Hurricanes break out throwback Whalers jerseys once a year.
February 26th, 2024 at 7:46 PM ^
hey man - don't knock the 'chach. garbage plates alone gets it a top 25 ranking.
February 26th, 2024 at 5:45 PM ^
I recently moved from Ann Arbor, What I always liked about the town was that an awful lot of good things were very easy to get to including the Stadium, Yost and other athletic facilities. Until you need it, you don't appreciate how nice it is to have world class healthcare a few minutes away. The food scene is obviously quite good for a small city.
If they would only fix the Fing roads.
February 26th, 2024 at 5:48 PM ^
Big Gretch is on it.
February 27th, 2024 at 12:28 AM ^
To be fair the amount of money MDOT is putting into major highway repairs is finally up to par, problem is that funding is set to plummet after this year.
The city of AA sure doesnt spend well on repaving. Theyre really good about fixing uneven sidewalk squares and taking away lane space for bike lanes though 🙄
February 27th, 2024 at 8:34 AM ^
We still have unpaved roads in Northville township. They talk like there will be never be enough money to pave like a mile stretch of road. I can't for the life of me figure that out with the Northville tax base.
February 27th, 2024 at 1:30 PM ^
The road conditions in Michigan have improved tremendously the past decade. My buddy just visited from NC and commented how nice the roads were and better than much of Charlotte.
February 27th, 2024 at 3:31 PM ^
I’m told in undergrad at state that was a theme of hers…
February 26th, 2024 at 8:11 PM ^
And property taxes and weather
February 27th, 2024 at 5:52 AM ^
It might be the taxes but it sure as hell isn't the weather, Take 23 into Ohio and the road quality is instantly smooth and well maintained as soon as you leave Michigan. I've driven through Iowa and Nebraska many times and have visited much of the Midwest on business and you just don't see the same problems as Michigan. Whitmer's efforts have helped a bit but there is still a long way to go.
For a quality town, Ann Arbor roads seem to be some of the worst to say nothing about the unpaved roads in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County.
February 27th, 2024 at 2:49 PM ^
They do that on 23 on purpose. Drive around Toledo and you’ll see the same shit roads. Take 75 from Toledo to Cinci and you’ll find it turns to pothole central in no time. Other than that stretch of 23 and the turnpike, Ohio roads aren’t substantially better