Where Americans Do—and Don't—Want to Work and Live
Do you live in a city that you want to live in? If you're lucky, you already do—but many Americans would relocate at the drop of a hat if they could. This is the sort of thing that drives human resources people nuts. After all, their jobs are all about finding, and retaining, talent, so it helps to know where people are willing to move to—or away from. To find out where these places are, they commissioned a study—and were good enough to share their findings with us.
This survey on America's favorite and least favorite cities to work and live was completed mostly during the summer by about 2,500 employees and entrepreneurs across the country. The respondents were asked about 40 large cities. The questions asked were "Imagine you were offered your dream job that required you to relocate. Which region in the following list would you be most likely to choose? … and which city region … would you be least likely to choose?" The survey-takers were asked to choose the top three attributes for each city. The best and worst cities were then ranked based on the total number of first-, second-, and third-choice votes as a percentage of total votes. The median household income for each city is a 2007 U.S. Census estimate. The median home value for the third quarter and annual price change are estimates from Zillow.com.
Best Cities to Work and Live:
New York
Rank: 1
Workers who would like to move there: 11%
Median household income: $48,631
Median home value: $584,761
Annual home price change: -2.18%
New York, one of the world's great cities, is home to Wall Street, the Broadway theatre district, and many of the best bars, art movie houses, and restaurants in the world. The city's largest employers include New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System, and financial companies such as Citigroup and J.P. Morgan Chase. Top attributes include entertainment options, professional/personal opportunities, and ease of transportation. Entertainment was cited by 51% of respondents.
San Diego
Rank: 2
Workers who would like to move there: 11%
Median household income: $61,863
Median home value: $393,029
Annual home price change: -14.7%
San Diego, California's second-largest city, has 70 miles of beaches, a world-famous zoo, major scientific research institutions, and numerous military installations. The largest employers include the military, the state and federal government, the Sharp Healthcare hospitals, the University of California at San Diego, and major companies such as AT&T. Workers said the city's best attributes were its environment (climate, parks, natural features, etc.), its image, and entertainment options. The environment was cited by 77% of workers.
San Francisco
Rank: 3
Workers who would like to move there: 9%
Median household income: $68,023
Median home value: $766,985
Annual home price change: -5.5%
San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world (it's also one of the most expensive). It's a progressive city with a vibrant economy, a vibrant arts and cultural scene, and a busy seaport. The University of California, San Francisco is one of the nation's top medical colleges. The city has become a biotech and technology center like neighboring Silicon Valley. The city's top attributes, according to the survey, were the environment (climate, parks, natural features, etc.), entertainment options, residents' background, talents and perspectives, and professional/personal opportunities.
Las Vegas
Rank: 4
Workers who would like to move there: 8%
Median household: $55,996
Median home value: $195,825
Annual home price change: -25.2%
Las Vegas moved up the list this year, partly because—with home prices plunging—it has become more affordable to live here. Residents love the entertainment options, which go far beyond gambling. The city also has become a destination for foodies. Celebrity chefs have opened many expensive eateries. But delicious and affordable Asian and Latin-American restaurants have popped up in strip malls away from the Vegas Strip. Vegas' top attributes, according to the survey, are the entertainment options, affordability, and environment (climate, parks, natural features). The city's best attribute was its entertainment options, which 56% of respondents cited, followed by affordability, which half of workers cited.
Los Angeles
Rank: 5
Workers who would like to move there: 8%
Median household income: $47,781
Median home value: $466,630
Annual home price change: -17.8%
Los Angeles, probably best known as the home of Hollywood, is a great place for people hoping to break into the movie, television, and music industries. But it also is home to excellent universities such as the University of Southern California and large corporations such as aerospace contractor Northrop Grumman. Workers answering the survey said the city's best attributes are its entertainment options, personal and professional opportunities, and the environment (climate, park space, and natural resources). About 42% cited entertainment options as the city's best attribute.
Seattle
Rank: 6
Workers who would like to move there: 8%
Median household income: 57,849
Median home value: $416,028
Annual home price change: -7.5%
The Seattle area's largest employers include Boeing and Microsoft. But many people come here for the lifestyle. The city is surrounded by lakes and mountains and has a great music and arts scene. The city's best attribute by far, according to the survey, is the environment (including the climate, park space, and natural resources), which 62% of workers cited. "Community—connectivity and sense of place" was mentioned by 29% of respondents.
Denver
Rank: 7
Workers who would like to move there: 7%
Median household income: $44,444
Median home value: $206,669
Annual home price change: -6.7%
The Mile-High City, located near the foot of the Rocky Mountains, is a popular place for outdoor enthusiasts. It has a large park system, 300 days of sunshine each year, and opportunities for biking, skiing, rafting, and hiking. The city's largest employers include Qwest Communications, HealthOne, Lockheed Martin Corp., the University of Denver, and United Airlines. Environment (climate, park space, natural resources) is the city's best attribute (It was cited by 74% of workers in the survey). Also high on the attribute list: affordability and image.
Phoenix
Rank: 8
Workers who would like to move there: 6%
Median household income: $48,061
Median home value: $176,176
Annual home price change: -20.2%
Phoenix, one of the nation's largest cities, has become a popular place for retirees because of its warm climate and affordable housing, which keeps getting more affordable with the rising tide of foreclosures and plummeting home prices. The area also has plenty of opportunities for golfing, hiking, biking, and camping. Phoenix's top employers include Allied Waste Industries, the Apollo Group, and PetSmart. Environment and affordability are the city's best attributes, according to the survey.
Chicago
Rank: 9
Workers who would like to move there: 6%
Median household income: $45,505
Median home value: $234,643
Annual home price change: -8.9%
Chicago, hometown of President-elect Barack Obama, is the third-largest city in the U.S. and is one of its major financial centers. The city is known for its architecture, museums, shopping, and nightlife. The area's top employers include Jewel-Osco supermarkets, United Airlines, and J.P. Morgan. The city's best attributes, according to the survey, include entertainment options, affordability, and personal and professional opportunity.
Boston
Rank: 10
Workers who would like to move there: 6%
Median household income: $50,476
Median home value: $352,429
Annual home price change: -3.9%
Boston is one of America's oldest cities and home to some of the country's most venerated universities and hospitals. Many of Boston's residents work in finance, education, health, and law. The city's largest employers include Massachusetts General Hospital, Fidelity Investments, and Boston University. Respondents to the survey said the Boston area is a good place to raise a family, has nice outdoor features such as park space, and offers good entertainment options.
Worst Cities to Work and Live
New York
Rank: 1
Workers who would not like to move there: 15%
Median household income: $48,631
Median home value: $584,761
Annual home price change: -2.18%
Americans have a love/hate relationship with New York. It does have loads of high-paying jobs, Central Park (one of the largest urban parks in the nation), a great public transportation system, and one of the best restaurant, bar, music, and art scenes in the world. But people sacrifice to live here, paying sky-high rents for tiny apartments, and enduring long, crowded subway commutes. And by the way, the city's top restaurants sometimes require customers to make reservations months ahead of time. The high cost of living is an unattractive attribute of New York, according to 72% of respondents. Health and safety was also listed as a negative attribute by 45% of respondents.
Detroit
Rank: 2
Workers who would not like to move there: 14%
Median household income: $28,097
Median home value: $80,140
Annual home price change: -9.3%
Detroit has a bit of an image problem. The population is dwindling, many of the city's residents are in poverty, the auto industry housed here is near collapse, and former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick went to jail last month for perjury in a sex scandal. The top two negative attributes of the city, according to the survey, were health and safety (55%) and image (49%).
Los Angeles
Rank: 3
Workers who would not like to move there: 12%
Median household income: $47,781
Median home value: $466,630
Annual home price change: -17.8%
Like New York, Los Angeles is a city that brings out strong feelings. It's an exciting place to live. But it's expensive, polluted, and traffic-clogged. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were affordability (61%), health and safety (42%), and environment (36%).
New Orleans
Rank: 4
Workers who would not like to move there: 11%
Median household income: $38,614
Median home value: $135,128
Annual home price change: 13.7%
New Orleans has seen its population shrink, its murder rate increase, and tourism suffer since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. The job market has gotten a bit of a boost from the heavy investment in rebuilding the city. But its image is suffering. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were health and safety (55%), image (49%), and environment (45%).
Chicago
Rank: 5
Workers who would not like to move there: 8%
Median household income: $45,505
Median home value: $234,643
Annual home price change: -8.9%
Chicago has a lot of jobs, entertainment, and culture to offer, but for many people, winters in the Windy City are simply too cold. The city also has a tough image that dates back to the era of Al Capone. Among the city's worst attributes, according to the survey: environment (including climate), community (connectivity and sense of place), and affordability.
Washington, D.C.
Rank: 6
Workers who would not like to move there: 7%
Median household income: $54,317
Median home value: $354,069
Annual home price change: -14.0%
The nation's capital has a reputation for expensive home prices and high crime rates. Last year, murders increased 7% to 181 from 2006. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were affordability (67%) and health and safety (60%).
Las Vegas
Rank: 7
Workers who would not like to move there: 7%
Median household income: $55,996
Median home value: $195,825
Annual home price change: -25.2%
Las Vegas' economy has taken a hit with falling home prices and struggling casinos. Clark County, which includes the city of Las Vegas, recently estimated that its population dropped for the first time in a decade. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were environment, including climate, park space, natural resources (45%); image (44%); and affordability (44%).
Cleveland
Rank: 8
Workers who would not like to move there: 6%
Median household income: $28,512
Median home value: $120,259
Annual home price change: -1.4%
Cleveland's population has been falling at a dramatic rate. The city has lost 8% of its population—about 40,000 people, since 2000. Like many rust-belt cities, Cleveland is feeling the impact of a weak manufacturing industry. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were environment—climate, park space, natural resources (58%); health and safety (45%); and image (42%).
Dallas
Rank: 9
Workers who would not like to move there: 5%
Median household income: $40,986
Median home value: $123,248
Annual home price change: -3.3%
Dallas' economy is doing better than many other parts of the country partly because of Texas' robust energy industry. But the city has a reputation for traffic, crime, and sprawl. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were the people—their backgrounds, talents, and perspectives (49%); environment—climate, park space, natural resources (39%); and image (38%).
Miami
Workers who would not like to move there: 5%
Median household income: $29,075
Median home value: $238,708
Annual home price change: -23.9%
Miami, like much of South Florida, is facing a foreclosure crisis. Home prices are plunging and the economy has problems. The city also has a reputation for crime that hasn't completely dissipated since the Miami Vice television show spotlighted the city's drug and gun problems. The top negative attributes, according to the survey, were environment—climate, park space, natural resources (47%); affordability (41%); and image (40%).
Prashant Gopal
Jan 5th, 2009