A Sea Of Red

My hometown is many things but I have never thought of it as cool ...

Forbes wrote:BUSINESS | 7/26/2012 @ 4:29PM |
Houston Tops Our List Of America's Coolest Cities

Houston is known for many things: Oil, NASA, urban sprawl and business-friendly policies. But the Texas city deserves to be known for something else: coolness.

The Bayou City may not be the first place you associate with being hip or trendy. But Houston has something many other major cities don’t: jobs. With the local economy humming through the recession, Houston enjoyed 2.6% job growth last year and nearly 50,000 Americans flocked there in response — particularly young professionals. In fact, the median age of a Houston resident is a youthful 33.

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If yours is the coolest, mine must be the oldest, at least during the winter.

I was going to go with Juneau.

One of my favorite bloggers (and author) just moved there to accept the pastorate of a church, so it must be cool. And Voddie Bauchem preaches there, so that's another bit of coolness.

If my kids weren't already in school and I didn't have family living here, Texas would definitely be on my radar for relocation.

I lived in Houston for 9 years. I have all my family there and try to visit once a year. Best place I have lived hands down..theres nothing cooler than saying you are a Texan.

I love Texas. Except the heat. And lack of snow. But common sense and tradition are still alive!

I'm hoping someday I can visit the western part of the state. Only part I haven't been to.

Grew up in The Woodlands so I completely agree that Houston is the bomb. Wish LU was there sometimes

The Woodlands? I live 15 minutes away. The world's largest corporation has the largest construction project on the planet right now in the Woodlands to build their new headquarters.

Sly Fox wrote:The Woodlands? I live 15 minutes away. The world's largest corporation has the largest construction project on the planet right now in the Woodlands to build their new headquarters.

Yea I moved back to NC in 7th grade but i spent a lot of my early years in The Woodlands. Wouldnt mind moving back there down the road.

The list includes Bethesda, MD. That's laughable. Of the more popular DC suburbs, Bethesda has to be behind Alexandria, Arlington and Silver Spring at least. Bethesda is more of a day trip destination more than anything. Let's not even start on Baltimore where there's a harbor, an aquarium, and massive poverty and crime issues.

They're spot on with DC which is getting better almost daily.

I would love to live in the DC/NOVA area. Virginia Beach Oceanfront is nice, but I don't plan on staying here forever.

ATrain wrote:I would love to live in the DC/NOVA area.

no thank you

jcmanson wrote:

ATrain wrote:I would love to live in the DC/NOVA area.

no thank you

I lived for 4 years in the Front Royal area. My parents saw where it was going and got out as soon as they could.

a friend of mine just moved to the dc area. he just bought a home the size of mine for like 400k.. thats asinine.

RubberMallet wrote:a friend of mine just moved to the dc area. he just bought a home the size of mine for like 400k.. thats asinine.

Depends on where it is. If he's got any metro access at all, and isn't in Ward 8 in DC or PG County, he got a steal.

ATrain wrote:I would love to live in the DC/NOVA area. Virginia Beach Oceanfront is nice, but I don't plan on staying here forever.

I'm actually looking at making the opposite move but I may end up in Norfolk instead of VA Beach, at least at first, if I get one of the positions at ODU that I've had initial contact about.

Acquaintances of mine just purchased a condo near Reagan National for 600k. And on top of mortgage payments they have a $1200/month homeowner's association fee.

http://images.businessweek.com/slidesho ... ies#slide1

Here's a slideshow of the 50 "best" cities in America as done by Bloomberg/Businessweek last year. Houston slots in at 35. The obvious flaw in the list is Arlington, VA being listed as #2 when it's not actually a city.

flamehunter wrote:Acquaintances of mine just purchased a condo near Reagan National for 600k. And on top of mortgage payments they have a $1200/month homeowner's association fee.

Yikes, they must have liked the location because there are much better deals that are metro accessible (the key factor for DC living).

NotAJerry wrote:

RubberMallet wrote:a friend of mine just moved to the dc area. he just bought a home the size of mine for like 400k.. thats asinine.

Depends on where it is. If he's got any metro access at all, and isn't in Ward 8 in DC or PG County, he got a steal.

Annandale is the best place to live in NOVA

jmdickens wrote:

NotAJerry wrote:

RubberMallet wrote:a friend of mine just moved to the dc area. he just bought a home the size of mine for like 400k.. thats asinine.

Depends on where it is. If he's got any metro access at all, and isn't in Ward 8 in DC or PG County, he got a steal.

Annandale is the best place to live in NOVA

Not anymore. It's still a very nice area, but I'd live take northern Arlington (Courthouse, Ballston, Clarendon) over Annandale. Maybe even Old Town Alexandria.

The reality around here is that outside of Ward 8 in the city, which is run by Marion Barry (**** set me up), and PG County in Maryland, there's not really a bad place in the city or suburbs now. Once the silver line of the metro goes in, then Tyson's Corner is going to get even bigger and the Dulles area will spike again.

It says coolest cities in America, not the best cities to live in America...just sayin

My in-laws live in Charles County, Maryland and love the area. It's rural yet close to DC. Home prices are still ridiculous which is why we never really considered living there.

Strangely that Businessweek list was all about lifestyle and not about business. Nobody has a better economy in the U.S.in comparison to Houston. And did I mention it still is among the lowest cost-of-living options? It may not be the most picturesque of cities, but it rocks economically.

Marion Barry...

I almost miss him. He came out of retirement to hate on the asians a few months ago.

Only thing about living in DC proper are the 8.5% taxes on the middle class. Sure, Maryland and Virginia are around 5%, without looking to double check that, but also the cost of living is much more. Whereas where I live, if you're smart with your money, you could make it on $15,000 a year.