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Looking for a best city for your next decade? Answer the following eight questions. We'll show you up to five metro areas in the United States that could be good fits for your pocketbook and lifestyle, whether you are starting out in life, married with children, an empty nester, or retired. The rankings are based on the work of Kevin Stolarick of the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank that studies economic prosperity. Learn more about how we picked the 2010 Best Cities..

LET'S BEGIN:

Question 1 of 8

1. Which of these best describes you?

Young Professional
Married With Children
Empty Nester
Retired
None of the Above

Discuss

Reader Comments (63)

Posted by: Vaughn at 05/26/2010 11:37:57 AM

BS. I wouldnt even want to be buried in Rochester NY or Omaha NE.

Posted by: alena at 05/26/2010 12:52:51 PM

best city in a world is LOS ANGELES

Posted by: jb at 05/26/2010 12:56:39 PM

I would never live in any of those places. TX, OK, no thanks way too right for me!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Jean Robinson at 05/26/2010 01:08:22 PM

I am soon to be retired educator (within the next 3 to 5 years). I have no family presently here and both my parents are now deceased. I'm not sure if I want to teach in the public school siting (but not totally out of the question, if the salary and benefits are right) but maybe I could explore the possibility of going into the government or private industries sectors using my teaching and counselor experiences as a swing board to a new career.

Posted by: Mike DeStefano at 05/26/2010 02:03:08 PM

Mine turned out to be Little Rock, Arkansas, of all places! Yeah, right!Q

Posted by: Lorenzo Tindal at 05/26/2010 02:49:39 PM

This survey just goes to show the flaw in the staff that you have who evaluate the given answers to your questions. When reviewing my answers, anyone with half a brain could conclude that the city that I discribed, was Los Angeles.

Posted by: NOEMI FANTAUZZI at 05/26/2010 04:18:27 PM

looking for a quiet and green place, not too cold nor too hot,living expense 60,000 a year. Like to walk and socialize....

Posted by: paul at 05/26/2010 05:13:02 PM

married no kids, age 55, working abroad

Posted by: Jim at 05/26/2010 06:19:04 PM

When selecting preferred areas as midwest and pacific I get: 1. Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR 2. Durham, NC 3. Lexington-Fayette, KY 4. Jackson, MS 5. Greenville, NC I had no idea that North Carolina was considered the midwest or possibly pacific area. o_O

Posted by: regina at 05/26/2010 07:10:22 PM

LA to left for me. What about mesquite NV? Low taxes.

Posted by: Danny at 05/26/2010 07:16:48 PM

Hmmm. This isn't exactly scientific now is it.

Posted by: Suresh H De Silva at 05/26/2010 08:53:03 PM

May provide valuable information for you to help make decisions...

Posted by: Annabella at 05/26/2010 08:57:00 PM

oh no, nothing like...nice wheather...coold places, no Thanks. LAX,/SBA is one of the best places in the nation.

Posted by: stanley at 05/26/2010 09:12:48 PM

OK. No way!

Posted by: bob at 05/26/2010 09:15:19 PM

Apparently hell is the best place for me. Consider adding weather to this survey.

Posted by: Donald Kularatne at 05/26/2010 09:40:25 PM

This is a very important service as many individules are on the lookout for such information...all of us want to lead a comfortable life without bothering anybody else. Thanking you very much for the opportunity. Please provide me information.

Posted by: Bobby at 05/26/2010 10:14:43 PM

Mine turned out to be Durham, NC...I don't mind it at all.

Posted by: Megan at 05/26/2010 11:41:57 PM

findyourspot.com is SOOOO much better that this stupid quiz!

Posted by: robert at 05/26/2010 11:58:00 PM

Sounds like YOU!

Posted by: Dennis at 05/27/2010 12:14:49 AM

I LOVE HOUSTON!!!!!!!!!!! I NEED TO LEAVE TO LEAVE ATLANTA

Posted by: F. Lloyd at 05/27/2010 02:23:23 AM

I want a place I can fish as lot and enjoy nature at works the whole day and where people are more civil .

Posted by: Tesfay Teyoum at 05/27/2010 02:56:24 AM

Very good

Posted by: RSH at 05/27/2010 03:49:58 AM

i am fimiliar with these towns, like the guy said i would not be caught dead in these cities

Posted by: jrc at 05/27/2010 07:25:16 AM

I don't get this. Ten is just too small to be useful. How could California be totally left out? The only excuse I can offer is that employment is factor #1 and the authors see California's labor problems as intractable. At the low end and working class levels, I could see this, but not at the creative and upper middle class levels.

Posted by: Kat Liver at 05/27/2010 08:18:58 AM

would rather gouge my own eyes out than live anywhere near Oklahoma City. The questions didn't ask about things a person likes to DO, like hike, mountain bike or ski!

Posted by: debi rivers at 05/27/2010 10:40:30 AM

good job. we had considered moving to 2 out of the 5 areas you picked. hobbies are big for us. golf and ballroom and social dancing...

Posted by: Steve at 05/27/2010 01:42:51 PM

I came up with San Antonio, Dallas-Fort-Worth and Amarillo TX and Oklahoma City. What do you come up with?

Posted by: a at 05/27/2010 02:51:53 PM

Hold on! I don't even like to visit Texas ... uh no thanks

Posted by: antoine at 05/27/2010 03:04:24 PM

...best city to stay in is cincinnati oh 513 all day long

Posted by: Lori M. at 05/27/2010 06:46:29 PM

...I want to relocate and meet the love of my dreams in NC...

Posted by: Jan at 05/27/2010 06:46:35 PM

Resident of Louisville, KY... Yes it is a great city. There are four defined seasons---each bring lovliness for life's enjoyment. However, with aging comes the need for longer seasons of warm temperatures without cold, wet, cloudy winter days. Where else but Austin, Texas in your top 10? And, most seniors would like to experience a seaside without driving hundreds of miles. Can #11,which would include an ocean view, be added?

Posted by: Tropical Girl at 05/27/2010 08:33:35 PM

WV, AL, NC, VA ~ no thank you! Empty nester looking for someplace warm and tropical with little to no crim-i-nim-i-nals!! Tired of all the crime and violence ~ Just want to live in peace with other peaceful and diverse people.... Is that asking for too much? Does such a place exist??

Posted by: Linda at 05/27/2010 11:21:02 PM

Go figure - my #3 is where I'm already living - guess I will stay put!

Posted by: FRANK at 05/28/2010 06:52:46 PM

THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR ME. IF LIBERALS WERE HONEST THEY WOULD AGREE HOUSTON , DALLAS , SAN ANTONIO , AUSTIN , TYLER , CORPUS CHRISTI ,LUFKIN , COLLEGE STATION , EL PASO AND HUNTSVILLE (ALL IN TEXAS ) Should be the TOP 10 . Cost of living , jobs , medical care , recreation , colleges , retirement , weather , entertainment , low taxes and sports . You cannot beat TEXAS!!!!

Posted by: predawnraid at 06/01/2010 11:48:02 PM

best city in the world SEATTLE (so please don't come here)

Posted by: Joanna at 06/03/2010 02:54:43 PM

Alaska ???? I'd rather chew glass!!!

Posted by: CP at 06/04/2010 12:41:18 AM

Says Rochester, MN is the place for me...but that's where I already live :(

Posted by: larry at 06/04/2010 11:24:13 AM

The 8 questions don't address anything I am looking for in retirement. I am more concerned about quality of air, yearly temperature averages, friendly atmosphere, and access to entertainment such as beaches, casinos, libraries. I already live in # 5 (Salt Lake City). I am tired of the long temperature inversion which affects breathing, and the long cold weather with little sunshine. Yes, I realize casinos are bad for breathing, but at least they give a senior a place to escape life for a brief time.

Posted by: Blair at 06/09/2010 02:04:51 PM

NC Sucks. I live here. Gas tax is at 43 cents a gal, the state government is a bunch of criminals, Sales tax at 7% and going up. Unemployment at 16%, with teens 20%, Housing, Farming, textiles, furniture, Ind have gone BUST. . The Beaches, the mountains, the military bases, and a couple of decent cities is all NC has, and the NPS has CLOSED THE BEACHES. Looks like Florence, SC was chosen for me, or Decatur or Muscle Shoals AL

Posted by: William Clark at 06/15/2010 07:49:11 PM

I don't think this little quiz asks for enough information. One of my suggested cities was Tyler, TX. I grew up about 30 miles from Tyler and couldn't get away from that area fast enough. I was 17 when I made the great escape from East Texas, and you won't find me moving back.

Posted by: G.C.Zackrisson at 06/16/2010 11:46:57 AM

We choose Freedom Village, Bradenton, Fl for our independent living, very expensive, but well accomodating after 65 years of married life. My wife now has time for her retirment in a TRUE sense. Our last move ---GCZ

Posted by: steven at 06/18/2010 10:37:02 AM

I see a major flaw... what about weather? i did not see any reference to environment in your questions. If i hate the weather and the terrain - nothing is going to make me happy. I'm with NOEMI FANTAUZZI, not to hot and not to cold. Greenry and lots of places to walk.

Posted by: Michael at 06/20/2010 11:59:35 PM

Excellent Article

Posted by: Kenneth R. at 06/29/2010 12:36:11 PM

My wife and I are looking for an inexpensive quiet community. My wife is retired from the private sector, and I'm retired military and civil service.

Posted by: steve at 07/01/2010 11:14:52 AM

this quiz is as worthless as used toilet paper

Posted by: Jasmine at 07/04/2010 06:51:56 PM

Nashville, Murfreesboro? Are you kidding me? I'm a big city girl!

Posted by: Marcia at 07/08/2010 04:45:26 PM

Does this take into consideration demographic considerations (percentage single, percentage of population under a certain age, nightlife..) for those of us who are still single, still looking for a good dating environment....? Perhaps in the first question only...? Thank you for you feedback.

Posted by: Doug at 07/08/2010 06:31:22 PM

Hi Marcia, Doug Harbrecht with Kiplinger.com here. In response to your question, we will be posting soon a look of Great Cities for Young Professionals starting out in life, which will take into account the factors you mention. We hope to have these recommendations live on the site by mid July. Thanks for your question. We hope you benefit from Kiplinger advice.

Posted by: Heather Higgins at 07/10/2010 10:09:00 AM

This would be far more helpful if it included the ability to narrow the search by climate (!) and availability of various outdoor recreational activities.

Posted by: kimberly l. at 07/19/2010 12:47:51 PM

how do you determine that Florence, SC is the city that I should live in. I live in Va and enjoy traveling to SC Myrtle beach, but wouln't want to live there. I live on a 121/2 acre farm. There are no farms in SC that I have seen. Just the beach and boardwalk.

Posted by: Amber at 07/19/2010 02:56:45 PM

SO my picks are all expensive...I said that price was important wow

Posted by: sally at 07/19/2010 04:18:24 PM

I think i'll stay where I am thanks lol

Posted by: Brian at 07/25/2010 02:16:37 PM

Is this some type of joke? Even the seagulls fly upside down over Oklahoma City....because there is nothing to poop on.

Posted by: noituac at 07/28/2010 03:17:34 PM

ATLANTA Sucks. I wanna move to Los Angleles.

Posted by: Darren at 07/28/2010 03:50:54 PM

You can't go wrong in the state of Delaware. Center of the megalopolis hub with low home costs, low taxes and no sales tax. If your a professional then look at northern part of state above I-95 in towns like Newark, Greenville, Hockessen. Retiring look at Lewes and other beech side communities. Close to Baltimore and Philly for 1st quality health care.

Posted by: Roland at 07/29/2010 04:57:43 PM

I would like to retire in Des Moines

Posted by: nat marr at 07/29/2010 05:34:46 PM

MIAMI ALL DAY BABY

Posted by: Randy Hampton at 07/29/2010 06:04:57 PM

Well they gave me five cities. The number one city I have already lived in. I dont want to live in 2-4 and I currently live in city number 5.

Posted by: Marc at 07/29/2010 06:11:08 PM

I thought I was looking at the worst places! There is definitely a flaw here.

Posted by: Lisa at 07/29/2010 06:37:40 PM

I tried hard to make San Francisco come up but it did not. The City has everything from high income jobs, a variety of housing costs, free clinics if you are so inclined. There are artists and so much culture and beautiful architecture. I'm from Monterey bay area, 75 miles from SF. Why is this type so light that you can barely edit your typos? Thanks, Lisa

Posted by: Kelly at 07/29/2010 06:48:21 PM

I think it hit the nail on the head! I would love to live in Columbia, MO!

Posted by: Sailesh at 07/29/2010 07:14:18 PM

will be coming to usa in sometime march2011 us greencard , Iam from Fiji , working as an Supervisor IT/MIS , 37 years of age . Wife also working as a Sales rep. and daughter in class 5

Posted by: mike at 07/29/2010 07:14:22 PM

San Diego is by far the best location!

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