| Slayer Diablo |
07-30-2010 12:33 PM |
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Originally Posted by kchero
(Post 6906833)
Charlotte, N.C.
Charlotte has seen explosive growth over the last 20 years, and is now the second-largest banking center in the country (after New York). The city took it on the chin in the 2008-2009 meltdown, but it should offer lots of entry-level jobs for college graduates as the financial sector recovers. Despite the towering new skyscrapers, and a vibrant Uptown district, it's still possible to live comfortably here on a tight budget.
PROS: A cost of living that skews well below the national average, reasonable rents, a bustling downtown still being developed, high-paying advancement opportunities in the financial sector
CONS: Hot, humid summers, smog alerts, high (but falling) crime rates, you'll need a car (average commute lasts 24 minutes)
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Seriously?!!?! I wasn't going to comment on cities I haven't been to, but...ok, this will be the only one. And mostly because they put all the reasons against Charlotte, NC right here...a "still being developed" downtown that already takes--on average--24 minutes to reach isn't a pro, it's a con. And bustling? KC bustles, and it's still mediocre at best. I can see Charlotte being on the list for low costs, but it needs to be much lower.
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Chicago, Ill.
Chicago is an exceptional value in big-city living, packing the cultural punch of Manhattan at nearly half the cost. Its lakefront district, with beaches, parks, a zoo and several museums, is a model for other waterfront cities. There are great sports teams, theater companies, and music festivals. And it's the home of the deep-dish pizza. The jobless rate is higher than the national average, but the Windy City's financial sector is thriving and promises more entry-level jobs in the future.
PROS: Low cost of living for a major city, cheap and widely available rentals, an efficient and user-friendly public transportation system, high-paying jobs in business and finance, great nightlife and entertainment venues
CONS: Extreme winter weather, high crime rate, and it's a long car drive to other major cities
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Chicago truly is an amazing city, and I'd say the only reason it takes second to another city--which I guess might be Austin--is the high unemployment rate. Once they get that fixed, it's hands-down top of the deck. The first time I went, another person in my group shouted "It's so cute...like a little New York!"
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Kansas City, Mo.
It may not have the big-city buzz of a Chicago or Houston, but KCMO is on its way up. The "Paris of the Plains" is in the midst of a $9 billion downtown development project, which will create a swath of new condos, apartments, offices, bars and restaurants- many of them targeted to young professionals. Unemployment and cost of living are low here as well, and job prospects are promising. Six Fortune 1000 companies call Kansas City home.
PROS: Below-average rents, low cost of living, money and momentum behind future development, innovative jobs in business, research and technology. The average commute is only 21 minutes.
CONS: Mediocre nightlife and limited cultural offerings (at least until the downtown development is finished), high crime rate, poor public transportation (though a light rail is under construction)
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With or without taking Charlotte out and having KC as a #4 or #5? F*** no! Kansas City still has a lot of work to do before it earns even a middle position on a list like this. And despite how many Blvds and fountains KC has, it's definitely not a Paris...unless, perhaps, you're thinking of Paris, TX. In France, however, the real Paris actually has culture and nightlife, and--if you're good at squeezing through people--it's easy to get from place to place. KC practically sabotages its own nightlife by letting each "new big thing" murder the old big thing in its sleep, which yes, is part of the crappy transportation provided for getting across a place that's spread wider than a hooker's legs. Speaking of which, we throw away a lot of money that could be going toward fixing the problem in much more productive ways. ...And I only rip Kansas City a new one because I care and want it to grow up to be something decent.
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New York, N.Y.
There's no place for recent graduates quite like the Big Apple: the job prospects are exceptional and the culture and nightlife are without parallel. Yes, it's tough to live here. The cost-of-living is the highest in the continental U.S. Conveniences most Americans take for granted don't exist here, like places to park a car. Fortunately, however, there are still areas of the city where young professionals can eke out a living: Brooklyn's Prospect Heights has recently come into vogue, Sunnyside and Long Island City in Queens are youth-friendly, and the money you save on rent in Hoboken will help ease the stigma of being a "B&Ter" (bridge-and-tunneler - someone who works and spends time in Manhattan, but actually lives elsewhere).
PROS: Incomparable job opportunities, an extensive mass transportation system that makes car-owning superfluous and allows young adults to live well outside the city.
CONS: Expensive, sometimes ridiculously so. But hey, if you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere.
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Definitely one of the greatest cities on Earth! For this particular list, I'd probably put it right below Chicago because of how da** expensive it is. Still, if you can get a job in New York, you can definitely afford living with a roomie or two while having a decent night/social life. For those who are just good at making money and have amazing social skills--as seen from friends who have moved there--the expensiveness issue disappears, and New York for them is easily #1.
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Portland, Ore.
A haven for bohemians, punk rockers, aging hippies, techies and other creative souls, Portland is renowned for its progressive, DIY spirit. The city's creative-class profile comes at a price, however, as cost of living is now above average. Nearby Olympia, Wash., a two-hour drive from Portland, may be a reasonable alternative for grads who don't mind sacrificing some street cred - it's a much smaller city, but unemployment and cost of living are lower.
PROS: Below-average rent, a walk-able (or bike-able!) average commute, plenty of microbreweries and hip coffee shops, innovative art and music scenes, no sales tax
CONS: Above-average cost of living, surprisingly high crime rate, notoriously rainy weather, an unemployment rate that skews almost a point above the average
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I would agree with Portland's position...especially with how popular the whole MJ thing is with the hipsters who would move there. And no sales tax is simply awesome. Of course, they forgot to mention the overwhelming meth problem, but by now it's about as much of a problem in the Midwest. |
