[Need Advice] "Cool" Cities for Young Professionals

Avoid Chicago and Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

 

I live in Durham for 2 years, so I'm biased, but I love the Research Triangle. If you're a fan of craft beer, the outdoors, and college basketball, look into Raleigh.

 

Lived in Texas up til college, did college in Atlanta, med school back in Galveston, intern year in Nashville and am doing residency in San Antonio. Visited Memphis and Charleston extensively because my only sibling lived in those cities.

Nashville is probably my favorite place I've ever lived. Tons of young people and young professionals. At least being near Vanderbilt, there were obvious tons of younger people and tons of people in the health profession to hang out with. Tons of live music (more than just country). Not quite a polished big city: not a ton of cultural diversity like a Houston/Chicago/NYC provides but considering I was among a very multi-cultural group at Vanderbilt it wasn't a huge deal. But the titans sucks.

Charleston is a super nice Galveston. I've debated moving there for fellowship or my first attending gig. Tons of attractive women, actually more than I've seen anywhere else including Southern California. But like I said it's a bigger, nicer Galveston. Kind of a quiet place. Doesn't have much in the way of big city amenities (pro sports, diversity, culture) but its a simple place to live.

Atlanta: didn't really like it at the time, but in retrospect I wouldn't mind living there. I'd much prefer Houston though.

Pittsburgh: did an away rotation there. Surprisingly a fun city but I was there this time of year which is arguably the nicest.

 

I have lived a number of places (including these three places).

I have lived very poor and done very well and am 5-6 years older than you.

What I have learned from moving so often is to look at the FUTURE economic viability of a place as well as the optimism of the people that live there.

Chicago still has some wealth, but overall it is a city (in a state) on the decline. The population is decreasing, well educated young professionals are leaving. There are serious tax issues (highest in the country) and an aging population. It is worth visiting, but the people can be depressing. I live split between Chicago and Ohio currently. It just isn't a great place. Also the people are rude. The winters are really bad and harsh.

I spent 6 months in Baltimore. It wasn't very safe, poverty was a serious problem and the infastructure was crumbling. I question the long term economic health of the area.

Pittsburgh is far better than it was 20 years ago. However I am not a fan of the people that live in that area of the country. I find the rust belt to be unappealing weather wise and as far as the people go. It is pretty though.

 

I live in the rust belt area, and find the weather unappealing for six months of the year. The other six months, it's glorious.

About the people of Pittsburgh, I find the accent unappealing, definitely.

 

Summer and Fall both are very nice. Winter (especially in Chicago) is hell. Spring is still very cold.

 

Disagree on Chicago. It's one of the best cities in the country. Not really sure where you're getting the idea that the people are rude, I've usually met some of the friendliest of people. Subjective, I guess. Definitely not depressing. I don't think the population is really decreasing as much as it is stagnant. I can't speak on the tax issues, but I'm sure you're correct on that, then again the taxes in LA/SF and NY suck too.

The winters are definitely bad if you are someone who hates the cold. Not quite as bad as some other cities though but definitely a tundra if you're moving from a state like Texas.

All in all though, it's one of the top global cities now and in the future.

 

Philly is the city.

So true about getting into LA. I luckily had a cousin here so I used his address and flew in for interviews.

 

Disagree about Baltimore. It's still close to DC so it'll get a lot of federal jobs in the city or a nearby suburb. Also its in the BosWash corridor so it'll be propped up by the cities around it. I think the NE will remain a healthy region.

I can agree on Chicago. It can be that oasis in the desert but at the same time, other metros in business friendly states (specifically DFW and Atlanta) will start to hamper on Chicago's clout as they become the next Chicagos economically. I think it'll be a future St. Louis.

 

If you have a problem with the increasing urbanization of the Toyota Center experience, you should avoid Baltimore like the plague.

 

I have lived in Chicago for a decade.

The people are certainly rude.

Concerning the population, it is the only major city without population growth, that is really all you need to know... There is a reason for that.

The winters are bad period. Other than MSP I would like to know what major city has winters as harsh as Chicago. The Lake causes harsh temperatures, winds and snow.

I didn't even go into the serious racial problems in the city, the systemic disenfranchisement of blacks in the city, or the serious drug and gun crime concerns.

Inflation is bad and the government cannot come close to a budget because of pension issues with state employees and corruption and bloated salaries for state workers that are now in their 60's and are retiring.

Are there worse places than Chicago? Of course, but amongst the top cities in America, it is slipping and with the demographics being as they are, it isn't going to get better anytime soon.

There isn't a lot of positive thoughts in Chicago or Illinois. A recent large poll of all states found people living in Illinois had the HIGHEST level of dissatisfaction with where they live, and were the least optimistic of the future.

 

I agree the NE will remain what it is, an expensive area with a lot of disparity between the wealthy and poor; but an area with opportunities if you are lucky and very good at what you do. Also there is a very well educated middle class. The people are not the warmest and there are some nasty areas; but if you like the NE "experience"; it isn't likely to change.

I personally liked Baltimore's strong culture (it holds it's roots very well) but the racial problems and economic disparity bothered me. I am also older than a decade ago, in my 20's I likely would be more fond of it than I am with a family and now desire something vastly different.

 

Just go to NYC and don't look back. It's the only place I'd consider leaving SF for at this point in my life.

 

My choices:

Boston
Chapel Hill/Durham
Charleston, SC
Washington, DC
Nashville
NYC/Brooklyn/Flushing
Portland, OR
Raleigh
Seattle

I've never been to Portland, but I have heard good things. NYC requires an adjustment period and is not for everyone, though I personally like it. I feel like this list provides a nice variety of small to large cities.

 

That doesn't make any sense at all. So just because someone can survive in the backwoods of Alabama, they shouldn't live in New York? New York is awesome. My one regret is not moving there when I had a chance a few years ago. Work and life has kept me out west at the moment, but if there is another amazing opportunity in NY, I'd probably take it.

 

Boston and Chicago are WAY too cold. It's cold like 9 months out of the year. Out of all those you listed, I'd go with Seattle or Portland. I'd avoid anything in Ohio. North Carolina is really nice and it's beautiful out there. I'd say Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham are all very underrated. My college roommate was in residency in Raleigh and he really liked it. Charleston is a cool city but more of a city I'd visit; not live permanently.

 

I would consider the following the "cool" cities for young people right now

Seattle
Denver
LA
SF
Portland
Austin
Brooklyn

 

Sounds like you don't want to live in Texas but really Houston, Austin and Fort Worth are all really cool places for young people.

As others have mentioned Seattle is a neat place and Washington unlike Oregon and California has no state income tax. That being said BC and Vancouver is the spot to be in that part of the world.

I am no fan of the Midwest Chicago and Detroit are dying cities and the entire region is cold for 9 months. I will say this Miniapolis/St Paul is absolutely gorgeous in the summer.

I have friends in Denver but I really think it's overrated but Colorado is a great place if you are into the outdoors.

I have spent a bunch of time in the Northeast and I will pass on ever living up there again. DC area that you are in is probably the best. Philadelphia and NYC are disgusting the Boston area is ok, certainly has more charm than the other cities.

So we come to the South (which is the only place in the lower 48 to live)

Miami, perfect if your want everything Brickell is one of the greatest urban neighborhoods in the world.

Atlanta, beautiful city it's been a while since I was there but I know there was a thriving midtown section.

Nashville, booming like we are in Houston very similar feel to Austin and Portland from size to looks and culture.

You had Charlotte mentioned on there seems like a decent town I stayed in the burbs there and of course lots of great smaller towns like Charleston in the South.

Good luck