which cities > for you + roommates?

northeast US

Baltimore   Bangor   Boston   Buffalo   Burlington   Cincinnati   Cleveland   Columbus   Detroit   Grand Rapids   Hartford   Indianapolis   Manchester   New Haven or Bridgeport   New Brunswick   Newark   NYC-The Bronx   NYC-Brooklyn   NYC-Manhattan   NYC-Queens   NYC-Staten Island   Philadelphia   Pittsburgh   Portland (Maine)   Providence   Syracuse   Washington D.C.   Worcester

southeast US

Athens   Atlanta   Baton Rouge   Birmingham   Charleston   Charlotte   Columbia (SC)   Gainesville   Jackson (MS)   Jacksonville   Knoxville   Little Rock   Louisville   Memphis   Miami or Fort Lauderdale   Nashville   New Orleans   Norfolk   Orlando   Pensacola   Raleigh or Durham or Chapel Hill   Richmond   Tallahassee   Tampa or St. Petersburg

midwest US

Chicago   Des Moines   Fargo   Kansas City   Madison   Milwaukee   Minneapolis or St. Paul   Omaha   St. Louis   Sioux Falls   Wichita

northwest US

Boise   Cheyenne   Portland (Oregon)   Salem or Eugene   Salt Lake City   Seattle   Spokane   Tacoma

southwest US

Albuquerque   Austin   Boulder   College Station   Colorado Springs   Dallas or Fort Worth   Denver   Houston   Las Vegas   Los Angeles   Oklahoma City   Orange County   Phoenix or Tempe   Reno   Sacramento   San Antonio   San Diego   San Francisco   San Jose   Santa Fe   Tucson   Tulsa

Alaska

Anchorage

Hawaii

Honolulu

Canada

Calgary   Edmonton   Halifax or Dartmouth   Montreal   Ottawa   Toronto   Vancouver   Winnipeg

how to find a roommate in a new city . . .

. . . which cities > for you + roommates?

ALBUQUERQUE

Average roommate rent in Albuquerque is $390.

Find a roommate in Albuquerque and save more than $297 per month ($3561 per year).* Albuquerque is 1980th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 81st for quality of life.**

Your Albuquerque roommate search may experience #129 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #138 in Best Places to Retire vibes and #2 in Most Dangerous Places vibes.***

Enjoy healthy outdoor activities with new Albuquerque roommates: 63rd Healthiest and 67th Best for Outdoor Activities out of 228 cities in America.****

Albuquerque neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Downtown, Eastside, Nob Hill, and Westside*****

Albuquerque's roommates are spending 44% < $ than NYC's.******

Albuquerque's largest hoodmap tags: hipsters eating in shipping containers, equestrian people, daddy bought my car, amateur wine connoisseurs, great area for a sunburn, overpriced but good views, and old people smoking in casinos.*******

Average commute = tiny (22 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Albuquerque roommate rundown:

You'll breathe excellent quality air while enjoying gorgeous natural scenery. Just make sure to stay safe, stay out of the sun, and steer clear of those tarantulas and rattlesnakes.

Roommate rent is so low due to the abundance of affordable housing - approximately 40% renters. Albuquerque is more affordable for roommates than other major southwestern markets such as Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. It's one of the few southwestern cities left where having a pony could still be remotely affordable!

With or without a pony you'll probably still want a car. But commute times on both are next to nothing for most.

Albuquerque is unusually surrounded by retirees gambling in casinos. If that's a negative for you, just don't go there then?

Spend more time enjoying the unusually delicious and nutritious chile peppers instead.

The rest of the Albuquerque roommate lowdown:

• popular with first time home buyers as median home prices and property taxes are below the US average (more affordable for roommates)
• largest city in New Mexico - mid-sized city and a college town overall, attracting student roommates to the University of New Mexico, Central New Mexico Community College, Southwest University of Visual Arts, and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
• depending on when you want to find a roommate weather might be a consideration, very high temperatures in summer, winter temps usually in the 50s. Some say Albuquerque has two weather conditions: sunny or stormy
• rated above-average for walkability and bike-friendliness, with about 400 miles of bike lanes and walking paths. However, the public transportation options are more limited. ABQ Ride serves neighborhoods inside the city during the day, but for alternative schedules or frequent commutes roommates will probably want their own vehicles.
• tarantulas are abundant, with some state park employees giving guided tours of tarantula migrations

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Albuquerque's:

• De Anza Motor Lodge: Once a run-down hotel that would have been torn down if not for the priceless Native American murals in the basement. So the property was redeveloped as a luxury apartment complex, and you can still visit the one of a kind murals.
• Nearby Sandia Mountains: The most visible geographic feature, which occasionally get enough snow for skiing. "Sandia" is Spanish for "watermelon" and is thought to suggest their bright pink and green sunset. Sandia Peak Tramway is the country's longest aerial tram, and can take you to the 10,378-foot-tall summit for amazing views and nature trails and/or restaurants.
• Red and green chile peppers: Staples of Albuquerque cuisine, which fuses Native American and Spanish flavors
• International Balloon Fiesta: During which > 500 hot air balloons are launched over 9 days every October - hot air balloons are sighted year round in fewer numbers
• Gathering of Nations: During which >550 tribes from the US and Canada travel to Albuquerque to participate in singing and dancing competitions
• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center: Where you can learn all about the region's indigenous tribe, along with the Pueblo Montano Chainsaw Sculpture Garden
• Petroglyph National Monument: Over 7200 acres of carved images left behind by the area's first settlers
• National Museum of Nuclear Science and History: America's official atomic museum
• Cliff's Amusement Park: Featuring greasy tasty treats along with your choice of scary roller coasters or calmer carousels and trains
• Rattlesnake Museum: Live snakes, snake skeletons, snake art and of course, snake souvenirs

Here's the city of Albuquerque's official .gov for housing services & programs, which you'll hopefully never need if you choose the right roommates.

Compare Albuquerque roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

ANCHORAGE

Average roommate rent in Anchorage is $700.

Find a roommate in Anchorage: 395th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 83rd for quality of life.**

Your Anchorage roommate search may experience #101 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #131 in Best Places to Retire vibes and #3 in Most Dangerous Places vibes.***

Enjoy healthy outdoor activities on a fine campus with new Anchorage roommates: 77th Healthiest, 77th Best for Outdoor Activities, and 64th Best Public Schools out of 228 cities in America.****

Anchorage neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Airport Heights, Basher, Bayshore/Klatt, Bear Valley, Huffman/O'Malley, Mid-Hillside, North Star, Rabbit Creek, Rogers Park, Sand Lake, South Addition, Turnagain, University Area, Taku/Campbell and Tudor Area *****

Anchorage's roommates are spending 33% < $ than NYC's.******

Anchorage's largest hoodmap tags: white people mountain biking, gentrified wannabes, los anchorage, Sand Dunes, and 3rd world with a touristy facade.*******

Average commute = tiny (18 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Anchorage roommate rundown:

If you're from the Lower 48, freezing to death is entirely possible, although Anchorage mostly keeps warmer than the rest of Alaska due mostly to most Alaskans living mostly there. And they're hopefully very happy, because the geographic isolation means leaving is expensive!

But if Anchorage is your Winter Wonderland, who cares?

However, you probably will need to care about budgeting more for groceries and other supplies. Almost everything you can buy in Anchorage had to be flown in, but Anchorage is determined not to charge you sales tax on top of that airplane surcharge!

The rental market can be unpredictable because a large chunk consists of rooms inside owner-occupied homes becoming available unpredictably. But especially if you're from the Lower 48, it'll be helpful to move into an established residence with roommates who already know how to winter, so we recommend openness. Just give yourself as much time as possible to roommate match before moving.

The incredible abundance of paved outdoor trails mean you and your roommates can drink your morning coffee with views of mountains and glaciers and wildlife and military men and maybe even a Beluga whale! Please do so frequently to stave off seasonal depression.

The rest of the Anchorage roommate lowdown:

• Largest city in Alaska, and the westernmost and northernmost metro area in the US. Approximately half of all of Alaska's residents reside within the Anchorage metropolitan area, which is larger than Rhode Island. However, more than 90% of residents live within the 100-square-mile area making up the city proper or the "Anchorage Bowl"
• while Anchorage is a medium-sized airline hub overall, due to being equidistant from New York City, Frankfurt, and Tokyo, it's within 10 hours by air of most of the world, making it a common refueling stop for international flights
• groceries and other consumer goods tend to be more expensive than the Lower 48 due to the cost of airlifting them there, but there's no income or sales tax
• due to geographic isolation, it's more expensive to move your stuff here from anyplace else most ways you could do that, so relocating roommates need to budget extra or travel light
• Urban Anchorage is home to more wildlife than most cities, featuring black bear, moose, sheep, timber wolf, beaver, and fox residents. Beluga whales are commonly spotted along the Seward Highway.
• about 10% of the local population is employed by the military
• home to the largest campus of the University of Alaska and Alaska Pacific University
• while Juneau is the state capital, more state employees reside in Anchorage
• Anchorage has a bus system and carpool service called the People Mover to move you around its most popular areas, but you will need your own vehicle outside downtown
• big city living with natural beauty, clean air, and wide open spaces . . . bike paths, parks, mountains, lakes, glaciers . . . and 135 miles of paved outdoor trails!
• Anchorage is farther north than Oslo, Stockholm, and Helsinki, so extremely mild summers with long days and frequent rain. Winter features heavy snowfall, heavy cloud cover, and very long nights. You'll want to keep an eye on any roommates who suffer from seasonal depression during Anchorage's long winter darkness.
• You and your roommates will never tire of Anchorage's beauty, but you might get tired of talking about the weather. But then you'll need to keep talking about it anyway, because snow!
• Just as a kind warning to traditional Christmas enthusiasts . . . one of Anchorage's favorite local culinary specialities is reindeer sausage.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Anchorage's:

• World's Largest Chocolate Waterfall: Inside the Alaska Wild Berry Park Store. The store needs you to know that the waterfall is display only, so your roommates must not drink from it. And even though it is over 20 feet long and seemingly more than sufficiently roomy, your roommates must not bathe in it either.
• Anchorage Market: Alaska is home to dozens of indigenous cultures and languages, often spotlighted with art, music and produce here. You can learn all about their 229 federally recognized tribes at Anchorage's Alaska Native Heritage Center.
• Craft alcohol: Anchorage is extremely fond of their own craft boozes - tasting events and tours abound for local breweries with many locally produced craft beers, ales, porters and hard ciders.
• Arctic Man: Week long winter snowmachine event - some compare it to Burning Man, but with "crisper weather.") But it's definitely a giant freezing party run by enthusiastic "slednecks!"

Here's the Municipality of Anchorage's official page for new residents on registration, utilities, and recommended local leisure activities.

Compare Anchorage roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

ATHENS

Average roommate rent in Athens is $550.

Find a roommate in Athens: 1983rd out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 62nd for quality of life.**

Enjoy young professionals and retirees with new Athens roommates: 65th Best City to Live, 77th Best for Young Professionals, and 83rd for Best City to Retire, out of 228 cities in America.****

Athens has an average 23 minute commute time and an average 2 cars per household. But also, above average carpooling! About 9% carpool to work! (Many on their way to UGA, sure, but we think it's more.)********

SO, roomiematch.com's Athens roommate rundown:

Athens is about half renter-occupied, with at least half of those living with roommates. It's a very friendly, very cheerful, very reasonably-priced roommate market.

But you must consider college students. Extra especially UGA.

They really severely love their bikes here. Cycling, for enthusiasts, not motorbikes but regular bikes for non. You should probably learn to love biking too, at least watching eco-friendly everyone else! Frequently racing around downtown!

You might survive not LOVING bikes if you love porches and oaks and bulldogs. A lot. A lot of love is required. If not, um . . . check out the other metros? :)

The rest of the Athens roommate lowdown:

• summers are warm and humid with frequent thunderstorms, winters tend to be mild
• about 70 miles east of Atlanta - a commute is about 60-90 minutes depending on traffic
• many roommates live here for the affordability plus smaller town vibe then commute into much larger Atlanta for work or school . . . but that's usually best when you can work from home at least part time
• about half the total housing in Athens is occupied by renters with more than half of those living with roommates, it's a very friendly roommate market
• many Athens roommates are students collectively renting houses instead of apartments due to local affordability
• Athens hosts the University of Georgia, which itself hosts the Georgia Museum of Art, the official state art museum -- Athens is also home to Kennesaw State University, Athens Technical College, the Athens College of Ministry, and the University of Georgia branches of Augusta University and Piedmont College
• University of Georgia and the Clarke County School District are the major employers, about 15,000 collectively
• approximately 29 neighborhoods in Athens, with Skyline the most expensive and Beachwood the most affordable for roommates
• Athens encourages eco-friendly alternative transportation via bike lanes on major arteries, with organizations such as BikeAthens supporting more trail development
• Athens Transit and UGA Campus Transit provide fare-free service around the city and the UGA campuses
• despite these alternative transportation options, most roommates will still want a car for commuting or shopping -- but the smaller city size with less traffic overall means you'll rarely get gridlocked or bottlenecked except during UGA games
• depending somewhat on the season, about 25% of the city's residents tend to be students at the University of Georgia, it's a very college town vibe
• The university is called UGA -- pronounce each letter -- and the bulldog is called Uga, pronounced "ugh-ah."

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Athens':

• 40 Watt Club: Popular nightspot that opened in 1978, credited with launching American punk rock
• AthFest: Nonprofit arts and music festival taking place downtown every summer since 1996
• Morton Building: Features the theater famous for hosting black musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and Duke Ellington
• Beer: Athens has an active craft beer scene with a number of local breweries and brewpubs including Terrapin, Copper Creek, Cutter's Pub and Trappeze
• Athens Twilight Criterium: Attracts cyclists from all over the world to race around downtown every spring since 1980
• Front porches: Everyone loves a front porch here. It's more than just rocking, it's dining, it's music playing, it's midnight partying with your roommates . . . porch life is very real and very Athens.
• Famous tree: There's a famous "tree that owns itself." It's a white oak granted its own property rights to a plot of land 8 feet in radius that also bears the tree's affectionate official deed.

Here's the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Housing Counseling (rental housing and housing delinquency counseling) page, which you'll hopefully never need if you choose the right roommates.

Compare Athens roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

ATLANTA

Average roommate rent in Atlanta is $790.

Find a roommate in Atlanta and save more than $573 per month ($6876 per year).* Atlanta is 288th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 88th for quality of life.**

Your Atlanta roommate search may experience #95 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #85 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy healthy young professionals raising children with new Atlanta roommates: 18th Best for Young Professionals, 48th Healthiest, and 64th Best to Raise a Family out of 228 cities in America.****

Atlanta neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Atlantic Station, Brookwood, Peachtree Park, Candler Park, Peachtree Hills, Hills Park, Lake Claire, North Buckhead, Peachtree Heights East, and Druid Hills*****

Atlanta's roommates are spending 37% < $ than NYC's.******

Atlanta's largest hoodmap tags: drinking school w/engineering, gay and proud, murder khouses, hbcu central, "hollywood of the south" t perry studios, people with too much money, perpetual traffic, young thugs neighborhood, atlanta's drag strip, red light district, and pickpocketing central.*******

Atlanta has a longer than average commute time, with a significant number with "super commutes" due to traffic you'll want to avoid. Most households have 2 cars. In part due to significant difficulty commuting, Atlanta also features a larger than average percentage of employees working at home (13%) and taking public transit (10%).********

SO, roomiematch.com's Atlanta roommate rundown:

Atlanta is the largest, most expensive, and most important city in the South. As such it's much more diverse than many expect, with many different neighborhoods meaningfully more different from each other than most metro areas.

Atlanta also SPRAWLS. Outside of the relatively few hotspots served by MARTA plus a few bus routes, everyone is driving. Many consider the massive ring of suburb around Atlanta "Atlanta" as well, commuting back and forth regularly, causing some of the worst traffic congestion in the country.

You'll want to choose your neighborhood with extra care when moving to Atlanta. You'll likely prefer living near where you work or study to avoid massive gridlock. Alternatively, you can live outside the perimeter and commute to the center if you must, but you will require your own reliable vehicle and you will be miserable if your commute is happening anytime around rush hour.

Atlanta is incredibly rich in black history, featuring an abundance of civil war history and HBCUs, driving tourism.

Atlanta is also incredibly rich in pollen from its lush foliage, driving the purchase of allergy medication. You and your roommates might need to beware or stock up on medication in spring.

The rest of the Atlanta roommate lowdown:

• state capital and most populous city in Georgia - widely considered the educational and entertainment center for the southern US, with an extremely diverse economy including aerospace, biomedical research, film and television production, finance, healthcare, information technology, logistics, news and media, and transportation
• summer temperatures are very warm, famously humid, late summer heat is prolonged, winters are mild and thunderstorms are common, abundant rainfall throughout the year
• now a huge airline hub with the world's busiest airport (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport)
• site of most of Georgia's state government and federal bureaucracy, including the Georgia State Capitol, the Governor's Mansion, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• divided into 242 officially defined neighborhoods, with 3 high-rise districts
• A very large number of residential/suburban neighborhoods are colloquially considered within greater Atlanta. About 1/2 million live within the city limits, but the larger Atlanta metropolitan area contains about 6 million.
• The most expensive neighborhoods for roommates include: Inman Park, Buckhead, Midtown, and Virginia-Highland. Less expensive neighborhoods still inside the perimeter (ITP) tend to include most in the south and east, but they're not that much less expensive. For a significantly cheaper roommate situation you'll need to leave the city limits for one of the many suburbs surrounding it.
• Heavy reliance on automobiles for transportation even downtown has led to traffic and commutes among the worst in the country. Where I-75 and I-85 merge traffic into the Downtown Connector is one of the most congested segments of highway in the United States. You and your roommates will probably be happier if you structure your lives around avoiding major arteries during anything resembling a rush hour. You'll probably be happiest if you can work/go to school as close to where you live as possible.
• While you can take MARTA rail or public buses some hotspots around the city, and the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition is fighting for more safe lanes, you and your roommates will probably still want access to a car. Atlanta SPRAWLS. Many places are not yet served by any nearby public transport. (Some say MARTA is absolutely the best way to get to the airport and the football stadium. And . . . that is all.)
• historically the home of the American civil rights movement against racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement
• now home to several historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), including Clark Atlanta University, the first HBCU founded in 1865
• abundance of universities and colleges overall, including Atlanta College of Art, Clayton State College, Morris Brown College, Reinhardt College, Agnes Scott College, Kennesaw State, Oglethorpe University, Southern College of Technology, West Georgia College, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory, Spelman, Morehouse, and Georgia State University
• Some call Atlanta "city in a forest" due to the lush foliage, featuring magnolias, dogwoods, Southern pines, oaks, and the now ubiquitous Peachtree (the trees as well as streets, buildings, festivals, many other namesakes, etc.). A thick layer of yellow pollen is the result every springtime. Tell your roommates with allergies to stock up on their meds or they won't stop sneezing until winter.
• dog-friendlier than most American cities, with mild weather, pet-friendly patios, and most parks around the city featuring dedicated dog areas. Many casual bars and restaurants with outdoor areas welcome them as well. Few apartment complexes exclude dog owners accordingly; most are very welcoming for a reasonable pet deposit.
• according to several surveys Atlanta ranks third (behind San Francisco and Seattle) for largest number of lesbian, gay, and bisexual residents
• The Beltline is a former rail corridor that was rehabilitated into a series of parks connected by a trail forming a 22-mile loop around Atlanta's core - great for walking and biking and figuring out which neighborhood is best for you and your roommates
• Most longer-term residents don't pronounce the second T in Atlanta. They say it like it's just another N instead, "Atlanna."

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Atlanta's:

• Live music: Atlanta has played a major role in the development of various American music genres, including Atlanta hip hop, country, Crunk, indie rock, Southern rock, and trap. Though they originated elsewhere, rap and R&B fans can also find more than enough to love.
• Tyler Perry Studios, the first African-American owned major studio, and Areu Studios, the first Latin-American owned major studio
• Historical tourism: Tourism is huge, with much of the tourism driven by historical museums, gardens, parks, and other outdoor attractions including: Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Georgia Aquarium, High Museum of Art, Historic Fourth Ward Park, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum, Zoo Atlanta, Piedmont Park, the World of Coca-Cola, Fox Theater, College Football Hall of Fame, Historic Auburn district, Centennial Olympic Park, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Carter Center and Presidential Library . . . and the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum, where she wrote Gone with the Wind
• Restaurants: Atlanta is home to some of the best rated restaurants in the country, with a great diversity of reasonably-priced dining options, including regular emerging chef "pop-ups" around the city. The Ponce City Market is Atlanta's largest collection where you can taste your way through a wide range of local favorites all at one spot. Similarly, there's a robust farmers' market culture.
• Buford Highway: Lengthy strip of shopping centers filled with cuisine and culture from all over the world - locally considered the best place to get Chinese, Korean, Mexican or Vietnamese food
• Atlanta Street Art Map: Colorful street murals are abundant. You can visit this map to explore the street art and graffiti from all over the city via their curated neighborhood suggestions.
• Waffle Houses: "Scattered, smothered, and covered" might refer to what you and your roommates order after a night out involving many cocktails. But only if you're into that sort of thing (most roommates are at least once or twice).
• Alpaca Treehouse: Nestled in a bamboo forest that's a sanctuary for rescued llamas and alpacas. You and your roommates can even feed them carrots.

Here's Atlanta's page for new residents, with info on neighborhoods, plus licensing and registration, which you'll hopefully never need if you choose the right roommates.

Compare Atlanta roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

AUSTIN

Average roommate rent in Austin is $850.

Find a roommate in Austin and save more than $498 per month ($5976 per year).* Austin is 242nd out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 91st for quality of life.**

Your Austin roommate search may experience #13 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #1 in Best Places to Live in Texas vibes, #10 in Fastest-Growing Places vibes, and #105 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy healthy outdoor activities with young professionals on awesome campuses with new Austin roommates: 19th Best for Young Professionals, 34th Best Cities to Raise a Family and 36th Best Public Schools out of 228 cities in America.****

Austin neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Gateway, Brushy Creek, Hyde Park, Shady Hollow, West University, Upper Boggy Creek, Hancock, Old West Austin, North Burnet, and Rosedale*****

Austin's roommates are spending 35% < $ than NYC's.******

Austin's largest hoodmap tags: girls wearing oversized tshirts, rich liberals, what used to be the hood, overpriced shops, hipsters climbing on things, kids with teslas, organic hipsters, fighting off gentrification, single people with dogs, grackle alert, and rich drunk UT kids.*******

Austin's commute is roughly average, and most households also have the average 2 cars. However, Austin distinguishes itself with the larger percentage working at home (13%) and carpooling (8%).********

SO, roomiematch.com's Austin roommate rundown:

Austin deserves its reputation for funky fabulousness, but new residents are usually shocked by the summer heat. There will be entire weeks that are 100+ degrees in the afternoon. Most spring and summer days remain warm until well after dark. This also means allergy season never ends, and expensive air conditioning is essential at least half the year.

If you live in Austin with multiple roommates, chances are excellent you'll run into UT students and "tech bros," which could be the same folks before and after graduation. Some resent the "tech bros" for driving the population growth which led to the rising rents which rendered Austin inhospitable to most of the "hippie artists" with less money living there before. Whatever your feeling on this issue, since Austin has become a high tech center populated with abundant computer science and engineering grads fresh from UT, it's not likely changing anytime soon.

But if you can afford it, since most of Austin rents and everybody knows it's not cheap, it's typical to have roommates at any age.

Bikes are extremely popular. Bike lanes exist around UT Austin and the middle of the city. Walking around downtown or the UT Austin campus is also popular. Public transport is not, and parking (for a car, not a bike) in the middle of town is expensive and hard to find. Moving around central Austin for most means walking, biking, or paying to park your car at least periodically.

Once upon a time, for most Austin residents, the favorite thing was live music at night, with chips and queso, plus a margarita or a Shiner. Austin has expanded so extremely in the last several years, a wider range of recreation is certainly available. But live music at night, with chips and queso, plus a margarita or a Shiner is still your best bet.

The rest of the Austin roommate lowdown:

• college-town atmosphere, yet also the capital city of Texas, with just under a million people - The Texas State Capitol is extra famous for its pink granite exterior and being the largest state capitol in terms of square footage
• Hand signals involving the index and pinky sticking up probably aren't advocating for Satan or heavy metal music. Here those usually mean you're a Texas Longhorn fan. Hook 'em Horns!
• There are several hotter places in the US, but Austin is the southernmost state capital in the contiguous 48 states. SO MUCH bright sunshine is common all seasons here.
• Summers are very hot and humid, winters are mild, with lots of rain in spring and fall. Most residents appreciate the lack of winter but new residents are usually shocked by the summer heat. Most indoor places have central air to cool you off, but it can be unexpectedly challenging to exist anywhere during summers where many days are 100+ degrees.
• Another challenge associated with the weather is that allergy season never ends, as all seasons feature pollen.
• The weather that's so awesome for producing an abundance of wildflowers also produces an abundance of wild insects, including scorpions, wasps, fire ants, spiders, and possibly truly excessive cockroaches. What sort of precautions you should take depend on exactly where in Austin (soil, sunlight, elevation, moisture) and in what style building, but you will likely have to deal with some creepy crawlies. You and your roommates should just go ahead and emotionally brace yourself for this creeping eventuality.
• home to several universities, including Austin Community College, Concordia Lutheran College, Huston-Tillotson College, the Seminary of the Southwest, Southwestern University, Texas Health and Science University, the Acton School of Business, St. Edward's University, Southwest Texas State University and the largest campus of the University of Texas, one of the largest universities in the US
• Austin is distinct from the rest of Texas in that it's considered a "liberal oasis" in an otherwise conservative state.
• There is no state income tax.
• Most people in Austin drive; and as a result, many surveys have ranked Austin the worst for Texas traffic jams. Bicycles are popular, especially commuting to the UT Austin campus or around the middle of the city (where parking is expensive and limited). If you can manage to walk, bike, or use the very limited Metro System in town at least some of the time, you'll likely be happier. Unless you're living and working/going to school downtown or near UT Austin you and/or your roommates will probably want a car.
• In the last decade Austin has become a major center for high tech, including chip manufacturing and defense electronics - in part supplied by the thousands of engineering and computer science graduating every year from UT Austin. If you live in Austin with multiple roommates chances are excellent one will be a "tech bro."
• The downtown skyline has dramatically changed in recent years with downtown growth and high rise construction. The central business district is now home to the tallest condo towers in the state.
• Austin became popular as a place for artists to create due to its low cost of living . . . but that's not as true anymore, mostly due to the tech boom leading to a sharp rise in population growth which led to a sharp rise in typical rents. Some subsequently nicknamed Austin "Silicon Hills."
• About 60% of Austin rents and since it has become more expensive in recent years, it's an extremely popular city for roommates. Most expensive neighborhoods in Austin for roommates include Downtown Austin, West Austin, Tarrytown, and Galindo. More affordable neighborhoods in Austin for roommates include Heritage Hills, Windsor Hills, and University Heights. Basically, the center of town tends to be more exciting and more expensive, while as you move outward it gets cheaper.
• Some even commute all the way from San Antonio to save rent money.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Austin's:

• South Congress: Popular shopping district, not only for its majestically unobstructed views of the Texas State Capitol but also its eccentric coffee shops, vintage stores, and food trucks.
• "Live Music Capital of the World:" Many live music venues as well as the PBS series Austin City Limits. There is a virtually constant large live rock-country-blues music scene, much located within a walkable downtown.
• South by Southwest: Yearly conglomeration of music and other media festivals, abbreviated as SXSW and colloquially referred to as "South By"
• 6th Street: The downtown core hosts more bars than anywhere else in the US. If your roommates enjoy consuming alcohol in a "party hearty" atmosphere they'll need a ride home from 6th Street at least a few times.
• Food Trucks: Not just for fast food or junk food (although you can get plenty of that too). Austin is well known for its Texas barbeque, Tex Mex, breakfast tacos, and queso. It's also home to an unusually large number of food trucks and a huge craft beer scene, with over 50 microbreweries.
• Serious Outdoor Water Recreation: Available year round on the city's several lakes, rivers, and waterways, including Lady Bird Lake, Deep Eddy Pool, Zilker Park, and Auditorium Shores - more than 50 public pools and a 7 mile Barton Creek Greenbelt featuring limestone cliffs, dense greenery, and more water - not just swimming, but kayaking, cliff diving, paddle boarding, and tubing
• Hippie Hollow Park: The only public park in Texas where clothing is officially optional.
• The Austin FC: Austin's first major professional sports league
• All the Museums: Lots of local museums to explore with your roommates including: Texas Memorial Museum, the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, Thinkery, South Austin Museum of Popular Culture, the Mexic-Arte Museum, the Blanton Museum of Art, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, The Contemporary Austin, the Elisabet Ney Museum, and the Harry Ransom Center
• Austin Film Society: In part due to the influence of the UT Austin Radio-Television-Film department and its influence on several local film festivals, Austin has been the location for many movies. The Austin Film Society converted several airplane hangars into Austin Studios, used by many feature film and video projects.
• The Austin Public Library system Central Library: SIX STORIES! It features indoor and outdoor event spaces, reading porches, a bicycle parking station, a cafe, an art gallery, and a "technology petting zoo" featuring next-generation gadgets.
• Mexican Free-Tailed Bats: Over a million reside inside the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. Many residents gather to watch the bats emerge to hunt insects every sunset, until they migrate to Mexico in the winter. It's the largest urban bat colony in North America.
  
  No, they won't get tangled in your hair, IF you have a crewcut.
  
  (Anyone with longer hair should stay far away from the bridge!)
  
  (Just kidding!)
  
  (You and your hair can view bats safely, just ask locals to direct you to the best vantage point.)
• Mount Bonnell: A large open area with about 100 steps leading up. Since it's the highest point in Austin, there's a spectacularly sweepingly unobstructed view of the whole city. However, at 775 feet, it's actually a tall hill.
• HI, HOW ARE YOU: There's a friendly frog mural greeting all who pass by the corner of Guadalupe and 21st Street. Daniel Johnston, the artist, was a beloved singer-songwriter popular in the lo-fi and alternative music scenes for decades before dying in 2019. The mural, called "Jeremiah the Innocent Frog," was commissioned by the owner of the local record store (Sound Exchange) inside that building, and features the text, "HI, HOW ARE YOU." The building has changed hands multiple times since then, but the mural has been preserved. In 2018 the Mayor declared January 22 "Hi, How are You" Day for mental wellness. Fans still visit and pay their respects. You and your roommates can visit too.

Here's the City of Austin Household page, including info on utilities, trash and recycling, conserving water, and adopting pets.

Compare Austin roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

BALTIMORE

Average roommate rent in Baltimore is $650.

Find a roommate in Baltimore and save more than $625 per month ($7500 per year).* Baltimore is 433rd out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 91st for quality of life.**

Your Baltimore roommate search may experience #84 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #57 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy outdoor activities with young professionals with new Baltimore roommates: 72nd Best for Outdoor Activities and 81st Best for Young Professionals out of 228 cities in America.****

Baltimore neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Ellicott City, Fulton, Lutherville, Columbia, Ilchester, Scaggsville, Towson, Timonium, North Laurel, and Mays Chapel.*****

Baltimore's roommates are spending 45% < $ than NYC's.******

Baltimore's largest hoodmap tags: hipsters who ride bicycles, buppie families, queer artist community, little el salvador, murders here, industrial wasteland, gluten free cupcakes, hipsters with lesbian moms, dog lovers, you will get robbed, expensive hotels & apartments, toothless, and the port.*******

Baltimore's average commute is longer than average by several minutes. Most households have only 1 car. Baltimore also distinguishes itself with more employees using public transit (16%) or carpooling (9%) to get to work.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Baltimore roommate rundown:

Many not from the northeast fail to notice before visiting that Baltimore is only 40 miles NE of Washington D.C.?

Lending Baltimore a "big city with a small town vibe" atmosphere . . . because a substantial percentage leaves most days for work, to benefit from Baltimore's lower rents while commuting to D.C.?

Also because commuter trains also run to Philly and NYC, so same deal with them as well?

So Baltimore has its own distinct metro vibe . . . but it's also a cozy suburb for three larger ones?

And this cozy suburb is also a major port?

The local sense of humor would say yes. To all of that, even how it's contradictory, 'cause why not? It's Charm City.

The gang violence for which Baltimore is famous is real - but 75% of the gun violence is concentrated in the 25% of neighborhoods with the most poverty. Gang-related crimes mostly affect people involved in the distribution of illegal narcotics.

Otherwise, "Bawl Mer" features many gorgeous historic districts and neighborhoods, and a restored waterfront. Based on how many urban amenities and attractions you can experience with friendly residents near world renowned art and stunning views for about how much rent?

Baltimore might be the best bargain on the East Coast.

The rest of the Baltimore roommate lowdown:

• most populous city in Maryland, with about 550,000 in the city and almost 3 million including the larger metro
• population is extremely diverse
• Climate is very changeable, with warm humid (some say steamy) summers and cold rainy winters with some snow. Summers feature quite a few hot days plus thunderstorms.
• home to 19 universities, including Sojourner-Douglas College, the United States Naval Academy, College of Notre Dame - Maryland, Coppin State College, Goucher College, St. John's College, Towson State University, Western Maryland College, Loyola, Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland and the University of Baltimore
• Baltimore is called "Charm City" because it's a big city with a small-town vibe and friendly people.
• As it's only 40 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. and one of the most affordable urban areas along the East Coast, commuting between happens a lot. Many who work in D.C. benefit from Baltimore's lower rents. Regular commuter trains are also running to Philadelphia and NYC.
• Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins University employ many, along with a number of government agencies such as the NAACP, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and the Social Security Administration.
• Baltimore surrounds a major inland port. Inner Harbor was once the second leading port of entry or immigrants to the United States and the Port of Baltimore is the closest East Coast port to the Midwest.
• Some neighborhoods are walkable, others not so much. The Charm City Circulator can take you around the center of the city. The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) includes buses, light rail, and commuter rail, which provide access to several suburbs along with the airport, downtown, Timonium, and Hunt Valley. However, unless you live near your work/school, you and your roommates will probably still want cars.
• Most affordable neighborhoods for roommates include Locust Point, Mount Holly, Penn North, and West Arlington. More expensive neighborhoods include Federal Hill, Fells-Point, Mount Vernon, Homeland, and Little Italy.
• Many say the urban dynamics depicted in David Simon and Edward Burns' television shows The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood and The Wire are still ongoing. Baltimore has remained notorious for its high homicide rate for the last several decades, peaking in 1993 and again in 2015 following major protests following the death of Freddie Gray. However, about 75% of the gun violence is concentrated in about 25% of the neighborhoods, those being same as those with the most poverty. Gang-related crimes mostly affect people involved in the distribution of illegal narcotics.
• Baltimore features many beautiful and historic districts, many playing a key role in the American Revolution. Nearly a third of the city's buildings are designated historic and there are more public monuments than any other US city. Also, a recently restored waterfront!
• Locals pronounce it: Bawl DaMore or Bawl Mer. Locals mostly drop the T.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Baltimore's:

• Lexington Market: Founded in 1782, is one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the United States. You could shop there with your roommates.
• Edgar Allan Poe at the Westminster Presbyterian Church: He died in Baltimore under mysterious circumstances in 1875. Many pay respects to his monument at the Church's cemetery. Some leave roses and bottles of cognac. And yes, the Baltimore Ravens are named after his poem.
• Maryland blue crabs: Most everyone eats them, and crab cakes are the local signature seafood dish . . . although most everyone also eats them more simply steamed and cracked open with a mallet over newspaper.
• HONfest: Yearly celebration of the historic working women of Baltimore and their charming hairdos. "Hon" is a local term of endearment symbolizing warmth and hospitality. "HONdreds of Hons" gather in the Hampden neighborhood every year. Their "judges give extra points for a real wash & set updo because it’s full of hope and hairspray."
• Baltimore Art Museum: World renowned, with the largest holding of works by Henri Matisse. There's also a John Waters Collection, and an exhibition on the culture of hip hop is upcoming.
• Baltimore's American Visionary Art Museum: "Specializes in original thematic exhibitions that seamlessly combine art, science, philosophy, humor and especially social justice and betterment." They pride themselves on featuring art in all mediums from self-taught innovators from outside the "art world."
• Ministry of Brewing: Previously a church, now renovated into a brewery. There's a 20-barrel brewing system where their altar once was, and the original stained glass windows, original organ, and vaulted ceilings remain near a wide variety of brews on tap.
• The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum: Dedicated to preserving Black history through life-sized wax models. It features dioramas of the Underground Railroad, and more recently a model of President Barack Obama.

Here's the Baltimore City Online Payment Directory, which could hopefully help you pay for any new permits you might need after relocating.

Compare Baltimore roommate matching to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

BANGOR

Average roommate rent in Bangor is $350.

Find a roommate in Bangor: 1999th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 65th for quality of life.**

Enjoy a low cost of living with young professionals on a lovely campus with new Bangor roommates: 20th Best Public Schools in Maine and 27th Best for Young Professionals in Maine.****

Bangor has a less than average commute, with a significant number with "super commutes" from elsewhere in Maine. Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Bangor roommate rundown:

Bangor is the easternmost metro area in the US. Most of what you'd imagine goes along with that designation? Yes.

So: mostly white (people plus snow), very quaint, lots of lumber, lots of lobster, lots of ice fishing, lots of anything else winter? Yes yes yes yes yes and yes.

Really, it's mostly cold. That's the main thing for which you will need to be prepared.

In addition to that, the local economy is not diverse. Most work in healthcare, education, lumber or the Air National Guard.

If you can find a worthwhile way to earn or pay for school plus learn to love winter weather, Bangor would reward you with some of the lowest rents in the country and locals happy to meet new residents.

Which is awesome because you will likely need their help during your first ice storm!

The rest of the Bangor roommate lowdown:

• easternmost metro area in the US - small town, about 150,000 in the Bangor metro area
• higher than average percentage medical personnel than most cities due to two large hospitals
• about 95% white, so not ethnically diverse
• home to the University of Maine, Husson University, Eastern Maine Community College, Beal College, Bangor Theological Seminary, and Hudson College
• main industries are healthcare and education
• lumber, paper, and shipping center for Maine
• downtown area is quaint with locally owned shops
• Bangor is home to the Bangor Air National Guard base.
• Bangor is NOT pedestrian-friendly. In terms of public transport options and weather, it's fairly hostile to non-drivers. You and your roommates will likely need reliable vehicles. But the upside here is there are very few traffic jams and commute times are wee!
• There's an extremely long and severe winter with snow on the ground most of the year. Summers are mild. You and your roommates should be prepared to lose electricity in the winter due to ice storms.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Bangor's:

• Steamed lobster: The classic local meal is steamed lobster, as most US lobster comes from around here.
• Bangor City Forest: You and your roommates could go cross-country skiing. It's about 700 acres of wildlife habitat with more than 9 miles of trails for running, biking, hiking, and snowshoeing.
• Rocky Beaches: Bangor is close to the coast, and features beaches, but they're not your warm and sandy variety. They're rocky and rugged, and the water stays COLD.
• The Bangor State Fair: Ongoing over 150 years, one of the country's oldest.
• The Zillman Art Museum: At the University of Maine, features a number of permanent exhibitions plus art workshops for adults.
• Moosehead Lake: Popular fishing spot.
• Jeremiah Colburn Natural Area: Good for bird watching.
• Blueberry Wine: Local wineries feature blueberry wine, because Bangor loves its blueberries!
• Orono Bog: You and your roommates could experience the unique flora and fauna of a Maine bog here. But don't bring your dog.
• The Bangor Opera House: Built in 1889, and still stands, sort of (it burned down and had to be rebuilt in 1953, then massively rehabilitated again in 1999). Some say it's haunted now due to all the drama. You can your roommates could call the box office and schedule a tour.
• Stephen King's Red Mansion: He lives in a red mansion with white trim outside downtown Bangor. There are wrought-iron spiders and bats out front.
• Paul Bunyon: There's a 31-foot-tall Paul Bunyon towering over Bass Park. Many say this Bangor Bunyun is the jolliest and the handsomest of all the Bunyons in existence. For special occasions he occasionally wears a fez.

Here's the city of Bangor's Public Health & Community Services page, which links to a number of local services including Healthy Homes initiatives. Also moth avoidance.

Compare Bangor roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

BATON ROUGE

Average roommate rent in Baton Rouge is $400.

Find a roommate in Baton Rouge: 1774th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 79th for quality of life.**

Your Baton Rouge roommate search may experience #93 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #21 in Cheapest Places to Live vibes and #123 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy a low cost of living with diverse retirees with new Baton Rouge roommates: 83rd Lowest Cost of Living, 123rd Best City to Retire and 133rd Most Diverse out of 228 cities in America.****

Baton Rouge neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Inniswold, Downtown, Prairieville, Shenandoah, Highlands/Perkins, Garden District, South Baton Rouge, Oak Hills Place, Old Jefferson, and Village St. George.*****

Baton Rouge's largest hoodmap tags: bring a boat, lots of murder, middle aged hipsters, frat girls who get drunk off of two w.c., and political gridlock.*******

Many things about Baton Rouge and travel are roughly average compared to other metro areas in the country. The commute time is about a minute longer than average. Most households have 2 cars, also average.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Baton Rouge roommate rundown:

Baton Rouge is LSU's college town. Some say Baton Rouge is the tailgating capitol of the entire world!

If you relocate here and live with roommates, for sure you'll be invited along on a tailgate. Learn to love LSU. If you have multiple roommates, loving LSU will be essential to getting along with at least one of them.

Baton Rouge is also a hot and muggy ocean port that frequently floods due to proximity to the Gulf. You and your roommates should have a safety kit for floods, and look out for any stained glass windows.

Baton Rouge is also the vaguely Gothic capital of Louisiana and the seat of the state government - covered in history and bridal showers and juke joints with the blues plus Cajun food.

And a famous swamp.

Come for the Southern Gothic, stay for the cheap and easy lifestyle. Definitely including the rent!

(But not the humidity.)

The rest of Baton Rouge's roommate lowdown:

• capital of Louisiana, but still a college town - second largest city in Louisiana (after New Orleans), approximately half a million in the greater metro area
• located along the Mississippi River, 10th largest ocean port - summers are very long, hot, muggy, and rainy, while winters are mild and snow is rare
• Baton Rouge is home to Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge Community College, Franciscan Ministries of Our Lady University, and Southern University (the flagship for the Southern University System, the largest historically black college system).
• The Capital Area Transit System (CATS) serves urban Baton Rouge including most of its colleges and universities, and most have bike racks. However, you and/or your roommates will probably still want a car if you must venture much outside your own neighborhood on a regular basis.
• Louisiana is the only US state saying "parish" where all others say "county."
• Proximity to the Gulf of Mexico means a few hurricanes, often with flooding. You and your roommates should have a safety kit for flood-related emergencies.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Baton Rouge's:

• Tailgating Parties: College sports are very popular including football, baseball, basketball, and gymnastics with LSU tailgate parties among the most popular in town. Some say Baton Rouge is the tailgating capitol of the entire world!
• Museums: Museums include The Shaw Center for the Arts, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum, the LSU Museum of Natural Science, The Capital Park Museum, and the Odell S. Williams Now And Then African-American Museum. The LASM includes science exhibits and a planetarium.
• Louisiana's State Capitol (the newer one): Current seat of the Louisiana State Government. It's 34 floors, with an Observation Deck you and your roommates can visit for stunning views of the skyline at sunset.
• Louisiana's Old State Capitol: Beautiful Gothic castle downtown near the Mississippi River. It's an historic landmark now operating as the Museum of Political History. The stained-glass windows are popular with wedding parties. There would be no charge to tour with your roommates. There's even an audio guide.
• Cajun Crawfish: This is Cajun country. Definitely try the boiled crawfish with corn and potatoes.
• Blue Bonnet Swamp: Approximately 100 acres inside South Baton Rouge is a famous swamp. It's called the Blue Bonnet Swamp Nature Center, and you and your roommates can walk around on the trails.
• Park System: Baton Rouge features over 140 acres of parkland, which includes the Baton Rouge Zoo, which itself includes over 1800 species. The overall park system also includes the walkable Levee Path and free lessons on everything from climbing to boarding.
• Mall of Louisiana: Opened in 1997, and remains the largest mall in Louisiana. Cara, a twelve-foot-long Burmese python, escaped her aquarium enclosure and roamed the insides of the walls of the mall for 2 days in 2021.
• Mike the Tiger: The LSU mascot, lives across the street from the stadium in a lush habitat with his own waterfall. Previously, during games, Mike was wheeled around in a cage with cheerleaders dancing on top. But now he mostly hangs out near his swimming pool.
• Teddy's Juke Joint has welcomed blues fans for over 40 years. (The Baton Rouge Blues Festival has as well, but it can't claim to be open all year.) The Juke Joint's history is rich, particularly featuring "classic juke" and "swamp" blues styles. You and your roommates could visit any day of the year, even holidays "because blues doesn't get a day off." They feature blues acts a few nights a week where a visit will be "like stepping into the past, like walking back into 1979."
• also on Highway 61, the famous "Blues Highway"

Here's the Living in Baton Rouge page, which lists community links and resources plus offices dealing with neighborhood and Parish issues.

Compare Baton Rouge roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

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And here's the roommate matching metro list.

BIRMINGHAM

Average roommate rent in Birmingham is $350.

Find a roommate in Birmingham: 1774th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 79th for quality of life.**

Your Birmingham roommate search may experience #71 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #92 in Best Places to Retire vibes and #2 in Best Places to Live in Alabama vibes.***

Enjoy a low cost of living with both young professionals and retirees with new Birmingham roommates: 20th Lowest Cost of Living, 155th Best City to Retire and 180th Best City for Young Professionals out of 228 cities in America.****

Birmingham's roommates are spending 43% < $ than NYC's.******

Birmingham's commute is less than average (22 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Birmingham roommate rundown:

Birmingham is a relatively popular place to live around and nearby?

Or rather, it's Alabama's largest metro area, in which most of its residents do not properly reside. Most live in the unusually large number of suburbs immediately outside Birmingham. Since the metro population is actually widely dispersed, rent's reasonable everywhere.

Alabama keeps its art in Birmingham. It's home to the Birmingham Museum of Art, the largest art museum in the southeast, as well as Alabama's major ballet, opera, and symphony companies.

Birmingham is also synonymous to many with motorsport mania. There's NASCAR, there's Superbike, and there's a Motorsports Museum.

Or maybe fishing in the "Bass Capital of the World" is more your speed?

Birmingham also has a high population density of both dentists (University of Alabama School of Dentistry) and college athletes (headquarters of the Southeastern Conference). You could easily end up with a dentist or a college athlete or possibly even both at the same time as a roommate.

The rest of the Birmingham roommate lowdown:

• Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro area, with fewer in the city (about 200,000) and about 1.1 million in the larger metro area.
• Most of the metro population lives outside the city in an unusually large number of suburbs.
• Summers are long, hot, and humid, with many thunderstorms, while winters are mild. If you're not interested in experiencing heavy heat with thick humidity most months of the year, you'll need central AC.
• All that heat and humidity produces a lot of tree pollen most of the year too. If you or your roommates have allergies, don't forget your medication.
• home of several colleges and universities, including the University of Alabama School of Medicine, the University of Alabama School of Dentistry, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham
• headquarters of the Southeastern Conference for college athletics
• home of the Birmingham Museum of Art, the largest art museum in the Southeast
• home to Alabama's major ballet, opera, and symphony companies including Alabama Ballet, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Ballet, and Opera Birmingham

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Birmingham's:

• White sauce: Contains mayonnaise, pepper, other (possibly secret) spices, and vinegar, and is a staple at Birmingham's BBQ joints, especially with smoked chicken.
• The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame: Inside the Carver Theatre, celebrating the many talented jazz musicians from Alabama. It was created in 1978, moved in 1993, then renovated and refurbished in 2020. It features a museum, concert hall, and radio station you can stream online. It's all non-profit and tax deductible.
• The McWane Science Center: Features hands-on science, an IMAX theater, and nearly half a million fossils.
• The Birmingham Botanical Gardens: Over 60 acres and features interpretive, Japanese, rose, and tropical garden styles you and your roommates can tour.
• The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum: Contains the largest collection of motorcycles in the world. This makes sense as motorsports are extremely popular here; about a dozen annual motorsport races are hosted here, including NASCAR and Superbike.
• Fishing, any of it: Birmingham has been named "Bass Capital of the World," as it hosts so very many recreational fishing tournaments which have broken so very many fishing records.
• Railroad Park: 20-acre urban green space in the middle of downtown connecting Southside and the University of Alabama campus. This area of town was mostly abandoned warehouses, but they've been transforming it into an award-winning Urban Open Space since 2010.
• City Brew Tour: You could go with your roommates. They provide over a dozen samples, beer knowledge, lunch, and roundtrip transport! However, you MUST wear closed-toe shoes on your tour. No exceptions! Your toes will be safer on the Brew Tour, even in summer.
• Vulcan, the god of fire, is revered with a 58-foot tall statue towering over Birmingham. He's the largest statue ever made in the United States, as the Statue of Liberty is larger but was forged in France. He's not wearing any pants whatsoever while he honors the city's steel-making industry.

Here's where you and your roommates can request an official group tour of Birmingham . They'll tailor it to your interests.

Compare Birmingham roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

BOISE

Average roommate rent in Boise is $520.

Find a roommate in Boise: 243rd out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 75th for quality of life.**

Your Boise roommate search may experience #15 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #5 in Fastest Growing vibes, #14 Safest Places to Live vibes, #17 in Best Quality vibes, and #73 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy healthy outdoor activities on a lovely campus with new Boise roommates: 55th Best City to Raise a Family, 60th Best Public Schools, 71st Healthiest City, and 107th Best For Outdoor Activities out of 228 cities in America.****

Boise neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Southeast Boise, East End, Highlands, Boise Heights, Sunset, Stewart Gulch, Depot Branch, Downtown, and Collister*****

Boise's roommates are spending 42% < $ than NYC's.******

Boise's largest hoodmap tags: californians, more californians, river tubes, gentrification goin on here, busy road and campus bars, rich people on a hill, street racing, chain restaurants and traffic, and wow look giraffes.*******

Boise has a slightly shorter than average commute (22 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Boise roommate rundown:

Boise is Idaho's most populous city, its capital, and its cultural center. Boise hosts Idaho's largest university and most of its museums and sports teams. In short, Boise has all the Idaho.

And all the Idaho is increasingly popular and populated? A lot more students lately, in particular?

Rental options are increasing along with average rent and student density, so many with less to spend may merely need to be more flexible. Renting a room in an owner-occupied home farther away from the trendy center is increasingly an option for many roommates whose income didn't keep up with local demand.

Boise loves to ride their bicycles. Many commute along a network of bike paths including the Boise River Greenbelt. Or you could hike those. Or you could hike and bike them both on your way to the mountains for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.

What we're saying is the urban outdoorsy here is really on point.

You can't get better urban outdoorsy than Boise, especially for this rent in the Pacific NW.

The rest of the Boise roommate lowdown:

• Boise is the most populous city in Idaho (about 225,000) and also the capital.
• Boise manages to be both urban and outdoorsy while maintaining a smaller town cost of living.
• The climate is generally dry with low humidity, with occasional summer heatwaves and freezing winter storms. Boise has four distinct seasons but the weather is still mostly mild, and outdoor recreation is possible most of the year.
• Boise has very low crime, particularly for a capital city.
• Boise is considered the cultural center of Idaho. The Basque Block is downtown, celebrating Idaho's ethnic Basque community, one of the largest in the US.
• If you and your roommates don't live close to where you work and also don't really enjoy biking, you'll probably want a car. You'll also want to avoid the Boise Connector during rush hour. There's just one freeway connecting downtown with surrounding suburbs, so this smaller city still manages some serious traffic delays.
• Boise has a large population of bicycle commuters who use the network of bike paths throughout the metro area, including the Boise River Greenbelt.
• SO while city planners plan improvements soon, public transport isn't incredibly useful here now. So biking is great, walking is often OK, driving is a mixed bag, and public transport . . . not usually.
• Boise hosts a few professional sports teams.
• Skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing are available nearby in the Boise Mountains, and hiking and biking in the foothills north of downtown.
• home to several museums, including the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, the Discovery Center of Idaho, and the Idaho Black History Museum
• home to Albertson College of Idaho, Northwest Nazarene College, Boise Bible, College, and Boise State University
• If you or your roommates drive, you must not ever hit a cow or you might have to pay a rancher a lot of money. According to the Idaho DMV, the cows have forever right of way, so if you hit one you pay, and they're not cheap. In other words, hitting a cow is always your fault no matter how that happened or where that cow was standing. So help yourselves out by driving Boise with EXTREME cow caution.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Boise's:

• Sequoia Tree: Idaho's largest giant sequoia tree can be found near St. Luke's Hospital. It's about 90 feet tall.
• Gene Harris Jazz Festival: Every spring.
• Idaho Aquarium.
• Freak Alley: Said to be the largest outdoor art gallery in the Northwest. It's lots of murals and graffiti in an alley downtown. It gets completely painted over every few years, but it's all photographed and archived first, don't worry.
• The Black Cliffs of Boise: Towering columns of black lava rock reaching for the sky. The volcanic basalt provides good handholds and footholds so they're very popular with climbers. They were burped up by an ancient volcano.
• The Treasure Valley Rollergirls: All-female, DIY, flat track roller derby league based in Boise. They were founded in 2006, but became full-fledged members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association in 2011. They have three home teams: the Sawtooth Sirens, the Owyhee Outlaws, and the Freak Alley Fugitives. You and your roommates could attend an international elimination tournament!

Here's the City of Boise Resident Hub, where you can pay utility bills and get info on neighborhoods and housing for new residents.

Compare Boise roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

BOSTON

Average roommate rent in Boston is $1000.

Find a roommate in Boston and save more than $983 per month ($11796 per year).* Boston is 27th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 91st for quality of life.**

Your Boston roommate search may experience #18 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #13 in Safest Places to Live vibes, #25 in Most Expensive Places to Live vibes, and #76 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy healthy outdoor activities with diverse young professionals with new Boston roommates: 6th Best City for Young Professionals, 7th Best City for Outdoor Activities, 30th Most Diverse City, and 47th Healthiest City out of 228 cities in America.****

Boston neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Cambridgeport, Brookline, The Port, Riverside, Peabody, East Cambridge, Mid-Cambridge, Wayland, Wellington-Harrington, and Cambridge.*****

Boston's roommates are spending 20% < $ than NYC's.******

Boston's largest hoodmap tags: dead body disposal, italians, great seafood, technically a beach, moms that still dress like pat benatar, hipster mecca, asian tourists, harvard kids displacing working people, art school dropouts, loud noises, the irish mob, catholics, liberals not welcome, zombieland, universities galore!, family hipsters, lesbians, irish american firemen, murderpan, used to be mobsters here, new chinatown, and allston rat city*******

Boston's average commute is > average by several minutes, and a small % have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes. Most households have only 1 car, which is less than the national average of 2.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Boston roommate rundown:

Boston is the most densely populated most expensive city in the United States . . . after NYC and the Bay Area, of course.

Just like the larger two, public transport is popular. About a third of Bostonians use public transport daily, and about a third, exclusively. That's underground, bus, plus commuter rail. Since most of the city is compact and densely populated, many prefer to walk around outdoors as well, even in winter.

Prepare to bundle up.

But if you're not walking, be prepared for gridlock . . . hardly anyone offers free parking, yet there's still a lot of commuting, particularly during special events. The city's population can suddenly double, leading to a sudden traffic bubble. You don't want to be on the road with that.

The best advice is to live in a neighborhood near where you'll spend most of your time. In Boston, almost any amount of commuting is associated with annoyance. Avoidance would be enviable.

Boston has a very high cost of living, more or less again, right after NYC and the Bay Area. Salaries tend to be higher too, so for many, it's worth it.

Many whose salaries don't tend to be higher tend to have roommates. And many others tend to have roommates too just to save money anyway. Spend it on seafood instead.

The rest of the Boston roommate lowdown:

• Boston is the most populous city in Massachusetts, about 675,000 in the city and almost 5 million in the Greater Boston metropolitan region. That makes Boston the third most densely populated large US city and the most populous state capital.
• Boston is called a "city of neighborhoods" as 23 have officially been designated and they're very diverse architecturally. Most didn't exist even in terms of their land area when the city was founded, but were created by filling nearby tidal areas with gravel.
• About 1/3 of Bostonians use public transport daily, and about 1/3 of Boston households do not have a car. The MBTA operates the oldest underground transit system in the country, along with many buses and commuter rail.
• Boston has the highest percentage pedestrian commuting in the country. Much of the city is both compact and densely populated with a huge student demographic, which leads to foot traffic from both preference and necessity. Prepare to wear layers to walk around in the winter.
• But if you and your roommates do choose to drive within Boston, you should plan more in your budget than cheaper cities. Most apartments don't have spaces included with the rent. Parking most places you'd drive in the city is paid as well, by the hour or monthly.
• There is a lot of commuting from the suburbs for work and special events. Sometimes the city's population doubles or even triples for short periods, so traffic congestion can get severe.
• The best advice for commuting around Boston may simply be to try harder to find a neighborhood near where you'll spend most of your time. Reverse commuting and/or not commuting at all during business hours and other citywide excitable moments would also be enviable lifestyle choices for you and your roommates to consider whenever possible.
• Boston features all four seasons, extremely so. Weather changes rapidly with heavy precipitation. Summer are hot, winters are stormy with lots of rain, snow, sleet, and fog. Heavy downpours and hailstorms are common. Chilly coastal sea breezes lower land temperatures suddenly, then the fog rolls in all along the North Atlantic. You and your roommates will want to pack hoodies.
• Boston has a high cost of living, one of the highest in the country. Usually only NYC and San Francisco beat Boston for overall expensiveness. However, salaries tend to be higher here too, so for many it's worth it.
• Boston hosts many professional sports teams, including the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics, and the Boston Bruins. Boston also hosts the Boston Marathon, the world's oldest annual marathon run on Patriots' Day. Locals take their teams very seriously! All older teams are followed by their own exceedingly enthusiastic fanbases.
• Boston is home to an extremely large number of universities and colleges, including: Art Institute of Boston, Berklee College of Music, Boston Architectural Center, Endicott College, Gordon College, Lasell College, Montserrat College of Art, Mount Ida College, Newbury College, Wellesley College, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Wheaton College, Atlantic Union College, Babson College, Bentley College, Boston Conservatory, Cambridge College, Curry College, Eastern Nazarene College, Emmanuel College, Framingham State College, Massachusetts College of Art, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Pine Manor College, Regis College, Salem State College, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Wheelock College, Boston College, Boston University, Brandeis University, Emerson College, Harvard University, Lesley College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New England Conservatory of Music, Northeastern University, Simmons College, Suffolk University, Tufts University, and the University of Massachusetts

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Boston's:

• Seafood: Boston is at the head of the Boston Bay, New England's most important seaport. The seafood is sparklingly fresh, so don't miss the lobsters, oysters, and clam chowder.
• Contemporary Classical Music: From the Boston Symphony Orchestra (one of the "Big Five") to the Boston Pops Orchestra. There's also Boston Baroque, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Boston Ballet, Opera Boston, and Boston Musica Viva . . . and then several annual musical festivals and local events including a Boston Pops concert with fireworks on the banks of the Charles River.
• Parks: Their system is stunning, one of the best in the country. Along with Boston Public Garden, the Emerald Necklace is a string of parks including Franklin Park, the Franklin Park Zoo, the Back Bay Fens, Arnold Arboretum, and Jamaica Pond. They were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to encircle the city. Several other parks are scattered around the city as well, so you and your roommates should most definitely chill in at least one of these excellent greenspaces.
• Old Corner Bookstore: Many claim it's the "cradle of American literature," where Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, James Russell Lowell, and Henry David Thoreau all met and wrote. Boston continues its literary scene with The Atlantic Monthly, the Boston Book Festival, and the Boston Public Library (the first free library in the US).
• History: Boston is one of the oldest cities in America; it's the scene of several key events in the American Revolution including the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the Battle of Bunker Hill. The USS Constitution and Walden Pond are also spectacularly popular with tourists.
• Boston's so rich with history REALLY there's an historical marker nearly everywhere you turn. You and your roommates could take photos of each other posing throughout history all over the place! Definitely sort of!

Here's the City of Boston's Services, Applications, and Permits: probably of interest to new residents.

Compare Boston roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

BOULDER

Average roommate rent in Boulder is $725.

Find a roommate in Boulder: 171st out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 70th for quality of life.**

Your Boulder roommate search may experience #4 (WOW!) (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #130 in Best Places to Retire vibes and #22 in Most Expensive Places to Live vibes.***

Enjoy healthy outdoor activities with young professionals or many students with new Boulder roommates: 7th Healthiest Place to Live, 10th Best Public Schools, 39th Best for Outdoor Activities, and 50th Best for Young Professionals out of 228 cities in America.****

Boulder neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Superior, Louisville, Gunbarrel, Lafayette, Niwot, and Longmont*****

Boulder's largest hoodmap tags: that brewery you found, techies with families and dogs, paragliders, rich af white people, middle-aged startups, popular hiking spot, quiet stoners, rich marxists, flatirons, and best sandwiches ever.*******

Boulder has an average commute time (24 minutes) and the average 2 cars per household.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Boulder roommate rundown:

Boulder is its own college town with a unique vibe that's also more or less a suburb of Denver.

Because of all the folks commuting back and forth from Denver? And then also all the folks commuting back and forth from Boulder too?

Meaning, the commuting is somewhat two-way, but more from Denver because Denver costs more.

Shorter version: If you're a commuter, you probably just gotta do what you gotta do, this advice is not for you. If you're NOT a commuter, figure out when commuters tend to be on the roads near you. Then avoid them for the entire duration.


What else is different about Boulder?

1. A bunch of dudes tends to plunge into a reservoir. Nude. On New Year's Day.

2. Then, a bunch of dudes that we can't prove aren't the same dudes tends to run around buck naked except for shoes on their feet and pumpkins on their heads. On Halloween.

3. Boulder always sports an unusually high percentage of college students as residents.


Are #1, 2, and 3 all saying the exact same thing about Boulder, but from different directions?

There's a case to be made.

The rest of the Boulder roommate lowdown:

• small college town, about 100,000 - Boulder's roommate population is younger and better educated than the national average because it's always some large percentage college students.
• Boulder is 25 miles northwest of Denver, at the base of the Rocky Mountains and more than a mile above sea level. Boulder's scenic snowcapped mountain views are so prized it's illegal to mess with them as they enacted an ordinance to limit the height of new buildings back in the 1970s.
• There's a whole lot of commuting, mostly back and forth from Denver. If a Boulderite doesn't work or study in Boulder, they probably drive to Denver, it's about 30 minutes. Similarly, about 1/2 the jobs inside Boulder are filled by folks commuting from outside it, usually from Denver. The take home: If you don't like being on the road, avoid all of these commuters while they're causing heavy congestion.
• Boulder is a little over an hour's drive from several of the top-rated ski resorts in the country.
• Boulder is more bicycle-friendly than most towns, now well known for their grade-separated bicycle paths integrated into a network of lanes, tracks, and on-street routes including pedestrian underpasses.
• Boulder is home to the main campus of the University of Colorado (the state's largest university), Naropa University, and Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Boulder's:

• Nature Preserves: Boulder is surrounded by thousands of acres of nature preserves featuring mountains, rivers and forest. Opportunities abound for hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and wildlife watching.
• The Bolder Boulder: Hosted every year since 1979, during which over 50,000 joggers, runners, walkers, and wheelchair racers compete in the 5th largest road race in the world.
• The Plunge: Hundreds of citizens plunge themselves into the freezing Boulder Reservoir every New Year's Day since 1983. Rescue workers armed with hot tubs will be standing by to revive you and your roommates.
• Every Halloween between 1998 and 2008, several dozen folks ran around downtown Boulder buck naked except for shoes on their feet and pumpkins on their heads. Then in 2009 the whole Naked Pumpkin Run was threatened with legal repercussions. Many reboots have been attempted, so nude dudes with hollowed-out pumpkins on their heads are still considered semi-normal . . .
  
  . . . but only on Halloween.
  
  If you and your roommates go naked pumpkinhead native you should never run by your fellow Boulderites on Thanksgiving too as that would not be socially acceptable.

Here's the city of Boulder's Landlord, Tenant, and Roommate Resources, which you'll hopefully never need if you choose the right roommates.

Compare Boulder roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

BUFFALO

Average roommate rent in Buffalo is $450.

Find a roommate in Buffalo: 1908th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 87th for quality of life.**

Your Buffalo roommate search may experience #45 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #19 in Cheapest Places to Live vibes and #75 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy a low cost of living with diverse young professionals with new Buffalo roommates: 8th Lowest Cost of Living, 55th Best for Young Professionals, and 59th Most Diverse out of 228 cities in America..****

Buffalo neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Williamsville, Eggertsville, Parkside, Clarence Center, East Aurora, Kenmore, Harris Hill, North Park, North Buffalo, and University Heights.*****

Buffalo's roommates are spending 43% < $ than NYC's.******

Buffalo's largest hoodmap tags: lumberjacks be pullin syrup out of trees, snow walls, poor white people, botanical gardens, rick james corpse, rich white people, used to play pro hockey, more gentrification, and canada, eh?.*******

Buffalo residents have a commute time several minutes less than average. Most households have only 1 car, and a larger percentage of Buffalo employees both carpool (10%) and take public transit (10%) to work compared to the rest of the country.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Buffalo roommate rundown:

Buffalo is near the US border with Canada, opposite Fort Erie, Ontario. Buffalo proper is very small, but the larger Buffalo-Niagara Falls metro area has over a million folks. Crossing back and forth at the four border crossings is popular and easy for anyone with a passport.

Buffalo is VERY cheap for New York state. That's mostly because it's closer to Cleveland, Detroit, and Pittsburgh than NYC. Your lifestyle expenses will be much more similar to Cleveland, Detroit, and Pittsburgh as well. All comparatively cheap for metros around that size!

Severe snow happens, immediately followed by city crews removing it. Buffalo handles its winter well; residents in town don't have to slow down much.

And yes, you should eat the famous wings and see the famous Falls once or twice, more if you're into them.

But it's even more Buffalo-typical to eat Cheerios with your roommates on your porch!

The rest of the Buffalo roommate lowdown:

• located on the eastern end of Lake Erie, near the United States border with Canada, opposite Fort Erie, Ontario - small city of about 275,000, but the larger Buffalo-Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area is over a million estimated population
• Buffalo is divided into 5 districts and 35 neighborhoods. Main Street divides the city with the West Side somewhat more expensive than the East Side.
• VERY low cost of living FOR New York state, which makes sense as Buffalo is actually closer to Cleveland, Detroit, and Pittsburgh than NYC
• severe winter snow (about 100 inches annually!) during about 7 months of winter, but snow doesn't sideline most Buffalonians as city crews plow and salt the roads regularly
• Everyone loves the weather all the rest of the time that's not winter.
• home to three State University of New York campuses, including University at Buffalo, Buffalo State College, and Erie Community College
• The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) operates Buffalo's public transportation, including its airport, over 300 buses, light-rail system, and harbors.
• There are four border crossings from the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area into Canada. Crossing the border is usually easy if you have a passport.
• waterfront hub, the city's total area is about 22% water
• While crime in Buffalo is still higher than the national average, crime has decreased significantly since the end of the crack epidemic in the 1990s.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Buffalo's:

• Cheerios: They've been made in Buffalo for over 75 years. A toasty oat aroma wafts along the Buffalo River as they bake them fresh every day. You could also wear the popular local T-shirt that says, "My city smells like Cheerios" as that will frequently come true if you move here.
• Architecture: Buffalo is rated one of the top cities in the country for architecture, featuring many buildings considered masterpieces, including the Buffalo Central Terminal, the Buffalo City Court Building, the Seneca One Tower, the Darwin D. Martin House Complex, and the Art Deco Buffalo City Hall
• Art Galleries: Over 50 art galleries, including the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Burchfield Penney Art Center, the Buffalo History Museum, and the Buffalo Museum of Science
• Honeycomb Toffee, Butter Lambs, and Beef on Weck: In addition to the famous wings, Buffalo is known for its honeycomb toffee (a sponge made from mostly molasses and baking soda), butter lambs (tiny frozen sculptures made of butter with eyes of peppercorn or clove), and beef on weck (rare roast beef sandwiches served with horseradish and dipped in au jus). Food trucks are very popular.
• Niagara Falls is a major tourist attraction, mostly during summer.
• Buffalo Theater District: over 20 professional theater companies
• Porchfests: Various Buffalo Porchfests feature many beers plus many bands showcasing themselves on porch "stages" all over the city. The original kicked off in Elmwood Village, but newer porch-centric events are also underway in other celebratory Buffalo neighborhoods. If you and your roommates have a porch, you might consider letting local musicians use it as a stage! They'll probably only be there temporarily. Probably.
• Grain Silos: Many miles of giant hollow abandoned grain silos along the Buffalo River are getting a second life as they're transformed into cultural spaces for poetry, live music, and theater performances. Both public vs. private and walking vs. boating tours are available. Some tours would take you and your roommates all the way to the stunning tops of the now historical grain elevators.

Here's the link to sign up for BUFFALERT, which will send you text messages to warn you of upcoming possible emergencies in Buffalo.

Compare Buffalo roommate matching to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

BURLINGTON

Average roommate rent in Burlington is $500.

Find a roommate in Burlington: 448th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 68th for quality of life.**

Your Burlington roommate search may experience #20 in Best Mountain Towns to Visit in the USA vibes.***

Enjoy young professionals in one of the best places to live in Vermont with new Burlington roommates: 5th Best Places for Young Professionals in Vermont and 16th Best Places to Live in Vermont.****

Burlington has a shorter than average commute (18 minutes). Burlington households also have the average 2 cars, but 20% of employees walk to work, significantly higher than average.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Burlington roommate rundown:

Burlington is the largest city in Vermont and considered its cultural and educational center. However, that's only about 45,000 folks?

Burlington features harsh winters, but lush and sacred summers no one ever wants to waste.

There are no traffic jams and excellent air quality (obviously related). But you and your roommates will need at least one snow-worthy vehicle.

And speaking of snow, it's the best here. All the snow sports you can name plus international ice hockey and ice fishing. Also winter bashes, fests, and carnivals, all involving maple syrup.

They also adore flannel, farmers' markets, and water resistant wool parkas.

Probably why their crime rate is so low. Everyone just stays super cozy.

The rest of the Burlington roommate lowdown:

• Burlington is the most populous city in Vermont, but still the least populous US city to still be the most in its state with about 45,000
• in Northwest Vermont along the east shore of Lake Champlain with the Adirondacks 35 miles to the west and the Green Mountains 10 miles to the east and southeast
• Burlington is green and lush in summer but features very harsh winters. Snowstorms are possible even in spring. The severity of the cold will surprise anyone new to heavy snow, particularly their first December.
• Sunny summer days are sacred and not to be wasted, according to most Burlingtonians.
• home to several college and universities, including the University of Vermont, Burlington College, and Champlain College
• Burlington has a very low crime rate and excellent air quality.
• low population density means traffic jams are nearly nonexistent
• In 2015, Burlington because the first US city to run entirely on renewable energy.
• Almost everything in Burlington is farther apart than you'd expect for a city, including the other cities on this list. Since snow is also an issue most of the year, it's highly recommended you and your roommates have at least one decent snow-worthy vehicle. Gas also tends toward more expensive than average here.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Burlington's:

• Ethan Allen Express: A passenger train running from Burlington to New York City's Union Station by way of Albany. There's one round trip daily that covers 310 miles in about 7.5 hours. It's named for American Revolutionary War hero and Vermont cofounder Ethan Allen.
• Outdoor Snow Sports: They're the biggest and best here, with about 18 ski resorts on various mountains nearby. Downhill skiing and snowboarding are very popular, with cross-country skiing, showshoeing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing available too. Ice-wise inside, Burlington has a long history with hockey as well, as it was the location of the first international ice hockey match and now hosts many hockey championships.
• Hiking Trails: Burlington (along with the rest of Vermont) is nicknamed the "Green Mountain State" as the mountains are beautifully blanketed with wildflowers after the snow melts. Right after all that snow mud dries up and before summer gets too muggy is the best time for you and your roommates to explore Burlington's hiking trails.
• Burlington Farmers Market: Operates year round with about 100 vendors of locally grown food, art, and flowers.
• Ben & Jerry's: In 1978, the original Ben & Jerry's opened in Burlington in a renovated gas station. The now multinational company maintains headquarters in South Burlington and a factory in Waterbury.
• Maples: Burlington (along with the rest of Vermont) is known for brilliant fall foliage and natural maple syrup, their superior sweetener. "Leaf peeping" tourists come from all over to photograph the leaves from September to November, and the Maple Festival honors the syrup. (Do not EVER serve a Vermonter any fake ass maple syrup. Syrup social acceptability = local real deal only.)
• Winter Everything: Burlingtonians are determined to stave off any possible winter depression or despair with carnivals and fairs as popular with snow on the ground as anything during summer: Brrlington Winter Bash, the Middlebury Winter Fest and the Stowe Winter Carnival.
• Fashion Flannel: f you and your roommates want to make a statement in winter you'll do that with high-fashion flannel shirts, waterproof winter boots, and snuggly wool parkas. Fashion = flannel = don't fight it or you'll freeze to death.
• Filing Cabinet: There's a 38-drawer filing cabinet built by local artist Bren Alvarez that claims to be the Earth's tallest filing cabinet. It's a comment on bureaucratic delay, with each drawer associated with a year of paperwork associated with the legal battles associated with a local street project. You and your roommates can visit it where it remains way too tall for a filing cabinet and still sitting on a parking lot on Flynn.

Here's the city of Burlington's Rental Resource page, including Resources & Guides to renting in Vermont and Tenant Rights & Responsibilities.

Compare Burlington roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

CALGARY

Average roommate rent in Calgary is $600.

Find a roommate in Calgary, where the average proportion of income spent in rent plus utilities is 21%. Only 9% of renters live overcrowded.*********

Calgary is 23rd out of 153 Canadian cities for cost of living, and 10th best city to live in Canada.**

Calgary's roommates are spending 47% < $ than NYC's.******

Calgary's largest hoodmap tags: lock your car doors, drivers causing deerfoot chaos, little india, dave's not here man, dangerous community, rich people, expensive af homes, where the popular girls become nurses, old money, white trash, this is not the land . . . this is glendale.*******

SO, roomiematch.com's Calgary roommate rundown:

Calgary has long cold winters with severe nighttime temperature drops . . . but it's still dry and sunny!

If you can handle a long winter punctuated with hail at a high elevation, you'll be rewarded with a Stampede! The Calgary Stampede. It's in July. You and your roommates are not required to don cowboy gear and sidle up to stacks of pancakes. But you should.

If you're into any outdoor sport played upon an exceedingly crisp snowscape, you'll love Calgary, which many winter adventurers already know!

However, if you and your roommates prefer staying in to bundling up, you'll have to get creative to keep yourselves entertained, for sure.

But all roommates, wintersporting and non, will be rewarded with a clean safe friendly city with cleaner air and lower taxes! Cleaner and lower than most cities Calgary's size!

Also there are many trains with well-behaved dogs riding around on them right now.

The rest of the Calgary roommate lowdown:

• Calgary is a clean safe city with clean air and a low sales tax in southern Alberta along Highway 1 at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.
• In terms of elevation, Calgary is the highest metro area in Canada, so it features long cold winters, heavy rain in summer, and nighttime temperature drops that are severe . . . but it's often a very dry and sunny freezing cold!
• Calgary lies within Alberta's "Hailstorm Alley" which tends to see severely damaging hailstorms every few years.
• home to Mount Royal University, SAIT Polytechnic, Bow Valley College, Alberta University of the Arts, Ambrose University College, St. Mary's University College, and the University of Calgary
• The CTrain transit system features 9 train stations in downtown Calgary. It's free to ride downtown. Including the suburban stops, the CTrain carries over 250,000 riders every weekday. About half of Calgary's downtown workers ride the CTrain to work.
• If you'd like a dog as a roommate as well, Calgary is extremely friendly. The Ctrain features connections to over 150 offleash spaces for dogs. Many restaurants are dog-friendly too.
• There's no provincial sales tax. If you move to Calgary, there still the 5% federal Goods and Services Tax, but nothing local. The cost of living for almost everything is lower than other Canadian cities, including smaller ones.
• Calgary has more walking and cycling path than anywhere else in North America, with over 600 miles. Most of Calgary rides a bicycle, no matter how cold it gets. With all those paths connected with urban bridges and pedestrian skyways, most roommates will want to try cycling Calgary too.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Calgary's:

• Calgary Stampede: Annual rodeo and fair held every July. Over a million folks show up over just ten days, while locals put on their western wear and serve pancakes. Party!
• Columbia Icefield Skywalk: If you and your roommates are into the rest of Calgary's pedestrian skyways, you won't want to miss this one. It's their extra special skyway built into the bedrock off a cliff face! Fortunately it also features a thick glass bottom.

Here's the city of Calgary's properties and neighborhoods page, featuring community profiles, garbage recycling and compost pickup, and other resources for both property owners and renters.

Compare Calgary roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

CHARLESTON

Average roommate rent in Charleston is $550.

Find a roommate in Charleston: 356th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 67th for quality of life.**

Your Charleston roommate search may experience #49 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #83 in Best Places to Retire vibes and #22 in Fastest-Growing Places vibes.***

Enjoy retirees and young professionals with new Charleston roommates: 14th Best City to Retire in America and 32nd Best City for Young Professionals out of 228 cities in America.****

Charleston's largest hoodmap tags: half hood half hippie, the slums, rich white people, college of charleston, tourist hell, shoot outs, desperate housewives, gentrified hood, west virginiaaaaaaaa, and the last remnants of old mount pleasant.*******

Average commute = average (23 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Charleston roommate rundown:

In Charleston, you'll eat the best seafood surrounded by intense local history and equally intense humidity, almost year round.

When you're between two rivers and below sea level, water everywhere dictates most of the way of life.

So, if you can handle the heat AND the humidity, Charleston is more friendly to renters and more friendly to pedestrians than most cities similarly sized. Almost half of households include renters, and almost everyone walks, at least part of the time, at least during locally-produced events suggesting that many should amble around in the friendliest way (face-to-face on foot).

In fact, most describe Charleston as friendly overall. And all y'all are not lying, nope.

But you'll also have to handle some mosquitoes and pollen. Maybe even an unfriendly hurricane. New residents should ask their favorite long-term locals for ongoing instructions on how to deal.

Which you really should, go there and deal, at least short-term, if you're into it. FEMA says if global warming continues Charleston may cease to exist as we currently know it or in the future . . . shift inward? Which could seriously surprise those inward at present.

But for roommates right now? Probably as safe as other coastal cities, but with lower rent and a greater variety of seafood snacks that will rock you like a hurricane . . . with high winds on a floodplain . . . and free wine.

The rest of the Charleston roommate lowdown:

• The heart of South Carolina Lowcountry -- featuring historic architecture near the ocean with a lot of interesting art, but affordable rents!
• Lowcountry gets its name from its low-lying topography, with most of it at or below sea level. 2/3 falls within FEMA's 100-year floodplain. Unique flora and excellent local seafood are the good news. Charleston is known for gumbo, fried oysters, deviled crab cakes, Charleston red rice, shrimp and grits, pimento cheese, and Lowcountry boil.
• Charleston is a peninsula bounded by two rivers. The Wando, Cooper, Stono, and Ashley tidal rivers display their drowned coastline, with a submerged river delta at the mouth.
• Humid and subtropical -- mild winters, hot humid summers, and rainy all year long but more summer thundershowers
• The city of Charleston is home to approximately 150,000, while the greater metro area including Berkeley and Dorchester is over 800,000. That population is expected to rise by at least 25% in the next several years, in part due to the "high tech boom" strongly encouraged by local business leaders. "The Holy City" (many churches, many stunning steeples) is now one of the fastest growing cites in America.
• several major hospitals located in the downtown area, including Johnson VA Medical Center, Roper Hospital, Trident Regional Medical Center, and the Medical University of South Carolina Medical Center
• home of the College of Charleston, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and the Medical University of South Carolina
• Charleston is one of the best markets for renters, as almost half of Charleston's households are renter occupied, keeping roommate rents competitive.
• Charleston is more pedestrian-friendly than most cities its smaller size. Some find the historic cobblestone streets challenging, but almost all find them quaint and absolutely all are encouraged to walk on them.
• 3 things worse in Charleston than most cities: Hurricanes, mosquitoes, and pollen season. Even if you never worried about any of those before, you and your roommates will need to pay attention to all 3 in Charleston.
• You and your roommates should assume any body of water substantially larger than a backyard pool has alligators and snakes swimming around in it. Keep an eye out for suspicious swimmers in uncovered backyard pools as well!

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Charleston's:

• Spoleto Festival USA: 17-day art festival featuring hundreds of performances throughout the city.
• Charleston Food and Wine Festival: Enthusiastic participation by both local and tourists with new cuisine for foodies every single year.
• Arts Walk Downtown: Is the First Friday of every month. Browse art with free wine!
• Old Slave Mart: Fully acknowledging Charleston's horrific history of slavery
• Tavern at Rainbow Row: If you and your roommates would like to buy your booze at the oldest liquor store in the country . . .
• Sullivan's Island: Some say it's guaranteed you can see a dolphin here. Ask a local for the best view.
• Bull Island: Y'all refers to one person, singular. All y'all refers to more than one person or an entire group. And all y'all roommates could go stare at a sunbathing alligator on Bull Island.

Here's the Charleston county's list of links for online services, including resources for residents.

Compare Charleston roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

CHARLOTTE

Average roommate rent in Charlotte is $650.

Find a roommate in Charlotte and save more than $568 per month ($6816 per year).* Charlotte is 88th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 87th for quality of life. It's also ranked the best city to live in North Carolina!**

Your Charlotte roommate search may experience #30 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #62 in Best Places to Retire vibes and #24 in Fastest-Growing Places vibes.***

Enjoy diverse young professionals pursuing health with new Charlotte roommates: 22nd Most Diverse, 44th Best for Young Professionals, and 80th for Healthiest City out of 228 cities in America.****

Charlotte neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Dilworth, Uptown, Cherry, Providence Estates East, Providence Plantation, Provincetowne, Ashbrook/Clawson Village, Beverly Woods, Providence Crossing, and Elizabeth*****

Charlotte's roommates are spending 31% < $ than NYC's.******

Charlotte's largest hoodmap tags: outdoors activities for days, new money, super hood, uncle daddy rollin' coal, crackhead dance offs, friendly robbers, where high school football players go to, desis out for their evening walk, country clubs, comfy suburbanites, old money, and more relocated yankees.*******

Charlotte's average commute is a little longer than average (26 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Charlotte roommate rundown:

Charlotte might primarily be known as "Bank City, USA" because it . . . has a lot of banks? Yup. No, not trying to insult your intelligence. No, not a trick question. Nope. Just a lot of banks.

But you might not already know that's not just a lot of banks, but #2 in banks? After NYC, predictably, but that's still a lot of banks headquartered in a city that's way smaller than #2 in size after NYC, right? Yet there they all are.

However, if you're now imagining a monochromatically concrete downtown, the opposite happened. In between its banks, Charlotte features lots of greenspace with an extensive tree canopy. If you're within Charlotte's city limits, you can always reach out your hands and touch both trees and banks! Even from inside your apartment!

(Just kidding! Not everyone can touch both a tree and a bank from inside their apartment, but more than you'd probably imagine. Banks and residential apartments frequently share buildings surrounded by trees so there you go.)

There's also arguably more motorsports and more pimento cheese than anywhere else. Ever.

The rest of the Charlotte roommate lowdown:

• humid and subtropical climate -- summers are long and warm, winters are cool, freezing storms rare
• Charlotte is the most populous city in North Carolina, and usually growing. Within city limits there are almost 900,000 people, with close to 3 million in the greater metropolitan area.
• Charlotte is "Bank City, USA," the second-largest banking center in the US, after NYC. Many banks are headquartered or feature significant branches here.
• home to Barber-Scotia College, Davidson College, Johnson-Smith University, Catawba College, Livingstone College, Queens College, Wingate Collge, Winthrop University, and the University of North Carolina
• More motorsports industry racing in Charlotte than anywhere else, with the US's only Formula One team, NASCAR, NASCAR Hall of Fame, and the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Understandably, most of NASCAR's people live in or near Charlotte.
• Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) carries over 16 million passengers annually, on light rail, streetcars, buses and vanpools. Many privately carpool as well, and Amtrak is very active here. So while Charlotte is doing well on the public transport and ride sharing front . . . it's still not rated well for walkability. So you and your roommates will probably still want cars if you venture much outside the city center and/or off the main lines.
• Traveling by car, the central core/Uptown is laid out in a grid, with the streets numbered, and running east-west! Easy for almost everyone! HOWEVER, recent roommate transplants will likely find the outer ring of suburbs more difficult to navigate. They are NOT laid out in a grid. They're not really laid out according to much that'll make sense while driving on them. Also, the names of the streets change at random right in the middle . . . to the same names shared by other nearby streets? Suburban navigation for newbies will necessarily involve a good GPS system plus good directions, get both before you venture out there or prepare to GET LOST.
• Some of Charlotte is friendly to cyclists with designated bike lanes. The rest, not so much (some say NOT AT ALL). If you want to cycle more safely using bike lanes, you'll probably want to plan your route in advance.
• Due in large part to North Carolina's long history with tobacco, smoking cigarettes in public is more common here than in most American cities. Smoking is still popular in clubs and concert venues and on outdoor decks . . . but it's also increasingly common to ask others if they'll be bothered before lighting up, especially around food. In short, it's a confusing time for tobacco in Charlotte. If it's important to you to be able to smoke during an event OR that an event is completely smoke free, you should ask in advance.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Charlotte's:

• Outdoor Adventuring Opportunities: U.S. National Whitewater Center has man-made rapids you and your roommates could enjoy year round, plus mountain biking and whitewater rafting. If that doesn't float your raft you can hike up some rocks at Crowders Mountain State Park.
• Uptown Museums: You could visit several within walking distance of each other, including the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, the Levine Museum of the New South, and the Mint Museum.
• Pimento Cheese: Charlotte is considered by many to be the Pimento Cheese Capital of the World. You can order it by the pound. It might be called "salad," it might end up on a hot dog or alongside some BBQ, it should probably end up inside you and your roommates.
• Cheerwine: Cherry-flavored soda that Charlotte loves. R.C. Cola is also popular. "Sweet ice tea" (or locally, just "tea") is the most popular non-carbonated drink, and is usually served ice cold too but much sweeter than most sodas and colas.
• Metalmorphosis: A reflecting pool in an office park containing a mirrored head with 40 steel pieces. It rotates. It spits water. You and your roommates will never see anything quite like it, especially in the suburbs (it's in Ballantyne).

Here's the city of Charlotte's listings for Housing and Neighborhoods.

Compare Charlotte roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

CHEYENNE

Average roommate rent in Cheyenne is $310.

Find a roommate in Cheyenne: 1940th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 61st for quality of life.**

Enjoy both young professionals and retirees with new Cheyenne roommates: 4th Best Place for Young Professionals and 12th Best Place to Retire in Wyoming.****

Cheyenne's largest hoodmap tags: don't live next to this guy and unfunniest place in the world.*******

Most employees in Cheyenne drive alone to work and have a shorter than average commute (15 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Cheyenne roommate rundown:

Cheyenne is cheap and clean and open and gorgeous.

It's also wet, Western, and WINDY.

The pace of life is slow. The cowboys don't hurry much. Or humor vegetarians much.

But they will not charge you taxes much either.

Or roommate rent. All costs of living are low, so you and your roommates should spend whatever's extra maintaining your motor vehicles, which everyone needs to navigate the heavy rain and high winds which you will experience alongside few public transport options.

Cheyenne = Have Good Car.

(No roommates will ever have much fun as exceptions to that rule.)

The rest of the Cheyenne roommate lowdown:

• Cheyenne is the capital of Wyoming, the most populous city in the state, and its commercial center, located in the southeast corner. But even though it's the most populous, that's still only around 65,000 folks? With the rest of Laramie County, about 100,000.
• Cheyenne is a small town character for sure, including the low crime rate and less polluted air . . . which also means it's a smaller roommate market. So you can find a roommate in Cheyenne, but best results will mean giving yourself as much lead time as you possibly can.
• Cheyenne is slow-paced. It's more gorgeous and natural and open than the average American city.
• Cheyenne is named in honor of the Cheyenne Native American tribe.
• Many residents are employed by the U.S. Air Force, the Wyoming National Guard, or local ranches.
• home to the Laramie County Community College
• Cheyenne weather is extra for most because it's extra unpredictable and extra windy. Cheyenne is even known for dramatically different weather in different parts of the city at the same moment in time. Summer features dry days mixed with severe storms with very heavy rain. Winter features snow. And locals say you can experience all four seasons every spring, often including tornados. But fall tends to be peaceful.
• Cheyenne is closer than many imagine to Denver, about 90 miles north. Depending on traffic the trip takes about 90 minutes, and high speed rail routes are planned for the future.
• Cheyenne is laid out simply in a grid, and on-street parking is available! Which will be very helpful to you and your roommates with cars which you hope will be all of them because public transport is just a few bus lines and a trolley. Everyone will want access to a reliable vehicle. Don't get stranded in the proverbial middle of nowhere during a dark and stormy night.
• With zero income tax plus low property, sales, auto, and state taxes, Cheyenne is one of the "tax friendliest" cities in the country.
• Cheyenne is long famous for celebrating "true Western" culture. Cowboy hats, boots, and belts are forever welcome and never out of place. They may be seen on actual cowboys driving trucks toward chicken-fried steaks or elk and bison burgers.
• Meanwhile, Cheyenne is not the nicest place for vegetarians. This is cattle country, and ranching is a way of life.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Cheyenne's:

• Cheyenne Frontier Days: Ten days near the end of July known as the largest rodeo festival in the world. In addition to professional bull riding, you can also watch bareback riding, barrel racing, bronc riding, calf roping, steer roping and wrestling, team roping . . . and a carnival with rides! And a parade!
• Yellowstone National Park: KIND OF. Meaning . . . not really, but if you're brand new to the Northern Great Plains, it's about a 9-hour drive and worth it, but only if you won't mind at least two long drives across the plains. You and your roommates in a reliable vehicle could visit over a very long weekend, MAYBE. But probably better to take the week.
• The Stars: In the sky. There are a lot, and you can see them in Cheyenne. Outside larger urban areas this activity is called "stargazing."

Here's the city of Cheyenne's listing of Community Recreation & Events.

Compare Cheyenne roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

CHICAGO

Average roommate rent in Chicago is $740.

Find a roommate in Chicago: 195th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 96th for quality of life.**

Your Chicago roommate search may experience #79 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #56 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy a diverse range of young professionals engaged in healthy outdoor activities with new Chicago roommates: 7th Most Diverse, 21st Best for Young Professionals, 46th Best for Outdoor Activities, and 52nd Healthiest out of 228 cities in America.****

Chicago neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Printers Row, West Loop, Loop, Greektown, Streeterville, River North, Lake View, Gold Coast, North Center, and Old Town.*****

Chicago's roommates are spending 31% < $ than NYC's.******

Chicago's largest hoodmap tags: former frat guys, angry delicious Korean BBQ, tacos made by white people, den of corruption, mexican families and hipsters, secret gentrification, billionnaires, heroin town, soo many hipsters, industrial feels, Chinatown, stupid tourists everywhere, New-to-Midwesterners, and enhanced interrogation.*******

Almost 27% of Chicago takes public transit to work! Those who drive have a longer commute than average (35 minutes). Most households have 1 car, less than the national average.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Chicago roommate rundown:

Chicago looms large, because it is, along with its place in America's imagination . . . blues, jazz, improv comedy, America's largest lake next to a modern art skyline looming large over modern art parks. And some of those parks feature their very own professional sports teams.

Chicago isn't cheap, some neighborhoods now obviously more than others. But for how big it is plus all it features, it should seem cheap-ish? Compared to NYC and San Francisco?

If you can handle extreme weather, you and your roommates will be rewarded with cheaper rent, lower cost of living, and almost everything else you and your roommates could possibly need accessible from "The L." That's The L that makes Chicago one of the best cities to live without a car, The L that connects an astonishingly diverse collection of communities, and The L that is generally beloved.

From all the beachfront still free to browse, to the public transport arriving reliably, to the dive bar food that's delicious, there's so much about Chicago that seems better than it strictly needs to be. So much art, so much history, so much black culture . . . near the most delicious hot dogs and pizza humanly possible.

What's NOT to love? Not much, except how do you feel about riding The L in extreme weather, hot and cold?

Awesome? Or if not all the way to awesome, you can most definitely deal?

This Windy City is for you.

The rest of the Chicago roommate lowdown:

• Chicago is the hub and most populous Midwestern city. It has about 3 million residents, and an impressively modern art/modern architectural skyline you can see from all the way across Lake Michigan.
• "Chicagoland" (Chicago plus surrounding areas) includes about 10 million.
• home to Barat College, East-West University, Elmhurst College, Illinois College of Optometry, Industrial Engineering College, Judson College, Kendall College, Robert Morris College, Trinity Christian College, Aurora University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Chicago State University, Columbia College, Concordia University, Governors State University, John Marshall Law School, Lake Forest College, Lewis University, North Central College, Northeastern Illinois University, Saint Xavier University, School of Art Institute of Chicago, Adler School of Professional Psychology, Depaul University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University of Chicago, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, Rush University, Trinity College, University of Chicago, University of Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Wheaton College
• There may be other cities as diverse as Chicago . . . maybe? You won't find any more diverse in the United States. Representatives from most global communities live in Chicago today.
• Navigating Chicago is way easier than most American cities as block numbers and block sizes are standardized, with all flowing from the zero point (the intersection of State and Madison).
• Metro Chicago residents identify more strongly with their neighborhoods than most cities, with North Side vs. South Side being the most prominent division, but many feel pretty strongly about East vs. West as well.
• Their massive public transport system makes Chicago one of the best places to live in the US without a car. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates many trains and buses throughout Chicago plus a few suburbs. All the trains together are "The L," and their lines radiate from "The Loop" all over the city. Chicago and NYC are the only American cities with some rail service operating around the clock. Crime on the CTA is low, but if you feel unsafe or need to travel late at night you'll be safer sitting near the driver.
• Even with severely cold winters, extremely hot and humid summers, and thunderstorms with heavy winds surprising residents year round, Chicago rarely slows down for weather, including city services and public transport. However, the weather is often so severe you and your roommates will need to keep climate in mind when considering any activity almost all the time anyway.
• Avoid driving downtown if possible. Traffic is awful and parking is expensive while also confusing. Tickets and towing for parking violations afflict many, even more when it's snowing.
• Chicago's black population is #2 in the US, after NYC. Chicago's larger South Side area is the largest black neighborhood with the largest number of black-owned businesses in the country too!
• Chicago has a lot of passionate bicyclers, many gathering along the 18-mile scenic lakefront trail or "Hipster Highway," a popular bike route along Milwaukee Avenue.
• Chicago is one of the best restaurant cities. Is it known for deep dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian Beef sandwiches, jibarito sandwiches, frozen custard, fried chicken, and dive bars and lounges with decent pub food? Yes, it is! But just about everything else is being served somewhere in Chicago too.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Chicago's:

• Museum Campus: Chicago has a lot of museums worth visiting, but three of the best are within walking distance of each other and along the lake: Adler Planetarium, Field Museum of Natural History, and the Shedd Aquarium.
• Lake Michigan: Free (no fees, hardly any private beaches getting in the way) for miles within walking distance of the Red Line. It's the largest freshwater lake in the US, and you can show up, walk around, and swim for free . . . but mostly in the summer and early fall if you want to maximize lifeguards = yes while freezing to death = no. It's beautiful!
• Offshore Views: In the summer, you and your roommates can enjoy great views for cheap by taking a water taxi around downtown.
• Loop Art Tour: Free open air art museum of famous modern artists! Their itinerary will guide you along the walking tour that's an efficient route to visit Calder, Chagall, Lewitt, Miro, Moore, Oldenburg, Picasso and many others . . . all this magnificent modernism on display in Chicago's commercial center.
• Blues and Jazz: As Chicago is considered the home of both, you've got extreme options. Really, so many options it's likely there will be a major music festival most weekends. If you like walking around, you'll likely stumble right into one, eventually. If that's not a "Fest" celebrating one or more musical traditions, it'll likely be a "Taste" or a "Lollapalooza!"
• Park & Boulevard System: Ring of parks connected by boulevards (streets with wide medians with plants and pedestrian walkways) winding throughout the city, over 25 miles of greenbelt. And then even along those 25 miles there are other connected gardens and lakes. If you or your roommates want to walk longish distances in very green but still accessible and connected spaces, this is a absolute must ramble.

Here's the city of Chicago's list of services for renters and landlords, which you'll hopefully never need if you choose the right roommates.

Compare Chicago roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

CINCINNATI

Average roommate rent in Cincinnati is $350.

Find a roommate in Cincinnati: 1817th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 87st for quality of life.**

Your Cincinnati roommate search may experience #50 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #34 in Best Places to Retire vibes. And finally, #1 in Best Places to Live in Ohio!***

Enjoy outdoor activities with young professionals in a city enjoying a lower cost of living with new Cincinnati roommates: 42nd for Young Professionals, 69th for Lowest Cost of Living, and 94th for Outdoor Activities out of 228 cities in America.****

Cincinnati's roommates are spending 47% < $ than NYC's.******

Cincinnati's largest hoodmap tags: high school football, sketchy white people, HOA hell, Crazy Australian + Bible Theme Park, Florence Y'all!, Waffle House, and nothing else, who the hell put a casino here??, and good food.*******

Cincinnati's average commute (25 minutes) is just under national. Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Cincinnati roommate rundown:

Cincinnati has a reputation for cheap rent, Cincinnati-style chili, and crime? Also abandoned places you can visit and one of the best park systems in the country?

That's a lot, but which of these factors is most relevant to you and your roommates will fully depend on the neighborhood. This is a metro area that features highly variable neighborhoods with dramatically different characters.

Cincinnati is also a metro area that's often called the best place to live in Ohio . . . even though it's kinda sorta also Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio? And don't leave out Lake Erie.

Meanwhile, it's definitely actually in the midwest, geographically, but culturally significantly Southern Bluegrass too.

In short, Cincinnati has a lot for you and your roommates to explore, almost everything cheaper than other metro areas in the country, and chances are good you can find the right neighborhood for you. But until you're familiar do proceed with caution. Go together as a group until you're comfortable, and you'll be much happier in a reliable car.

(No really, you don't want to move to Cincinnati without that reliable car.)

But if driving that reliable car to a chili parlor sounds appealing, you're already on your way!

The rest of the Cincinnati roommate lowdown:

• Metro "Cincinnati" is centered on Cincinnati, but also includes nearby counties in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. It's Ohio's third largest city (just over 300,000), but the largest metro region featuring many towns and suburbs, including Florence (Kentucky), Lebanon, Mason, Milford-Miami, and Oxford . . . about 2.25 million.
• There are four distinct seasons with a few to several snow days. Extreme weather like large hail or a tornado happen occasionally, but overall, Cincinnati weather actually isn't that severe most years.
• Cincinnati is geographically midwest, but culturally many feel Cincinnati is more a part of the Southern Bluegrass culture of Kentucky.
• Public transportation exists, but just a bit, as public buses exist, served by two bus systems. You should check the continuing availability of your route before taking the bus even though buses are still not known for reliability so and . . . you and your roommates will probably still want cars.
• Home to Cleveland Institute of Art, Dyke College, Baldwin-Wallace College, John Carroll University, Lake Erie College, Notre Dame College, Oberlin College, Ursuline College, Cast Western Reserve University, Cleveland Institute of Music, and Cleveland State University
• Cincinnati has a fantastic park system / Urban Forest - From a more intense hike to just wandering around in incredible green forestry just to take it all in, Cincinnati's incredible park system offers both. There are over 40 public parks, and in total they feature hiking trails, nature preserves, lakes, and out-of-the-way gardens.
• Cincinnati-style chili is all meat, no beans or onion. "Three-way" is over spaghetti with cheddar on top, "four-way" add onions or beans, and "five-way" means add them all. The debate over which chili parlor does all of this the best is dramatic and ongoing, with several different parlors with their own devoted fans. Hopefully you and your roommates seriously like chili some kinda way!
• Cincinnati has a reputation for crime, both violent and property. However, while the city has over 50 declared neighborhoods, most of the crime occurs in just several. The neighborhoods in which crime occurs most frequently are the most impoverished.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Cincinnati's:

• Downtown: Mostly walkable, featuring over 50 buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places, in addition to several theaters, statues, and murals.
• Findlay Market: Ohio's oldest public market operating continuously
• Lucky Cat Museum: 2000+ Maneki-nekos or Japanese luck idols will wave their paws at you and your roommates encouragingly. They'll wave only during limited hours though, so experience those plastic cats by checking ahead to make sure this museum is open before going.
• Lindner Park - Many semi-abandoned structures to explore, like a pool, an ice house, and a turtle pond. You and your roommates can visit between dawn and dusk.

Here's the city of Cincinnati's official .gov for all their resources for residents, including rental resources.

Compare Cincinnati roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

CLEVELAND

Average roommate rent in Cleveland is $350.

Find a roommate in Cleveland and save more than $637 per month ($7644 per year).* Cleveland is 1887th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 75th for quality of life.**

Your Cleveland roommate search may experience #97 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #46 in Best Places to Retire vibes and #5 in Best Places to Live in Ohio.***

Enjoy a low cost of living in a city that's still fantastic outdoors with new Cleveland roommates: 12th Lowest Cost of Living and and 85th Best for Outdoor Activities out of 228 cities in America.****

Cleveland neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Downtown, Ohio City, Kamm's Corners, Detroit-Shoreway, Edgewater, Tremont, Goodrick-Kirtland Park, Old Brooklyn, and University Circle.*****

Cleveland's roommates are spending 41% < $ than NYC's.******

Cleveland's largest hoodmap tags: musty money, Bone Thugs, why see the world when u got the beach, railroads, factories, and poverty, hipster paradise, speed trap, west side best side, and you might get mugged though.*******

Average commute = just over average (25 minutes). The largest share of households inside Cleveland have only one car, less than the national average, possibly because higher percentages are also using public transit (10%) and carpooling (11%) more than most metropolitan areas.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Cleveland roommate rundown:

Cleveland is friendly. Not just the people, though they are that too, with those stereotypically solid Midwestern vibes.

It's also friendly because it offers much life for less than half your likely cost for coastal cities (most of 'em, check out Baltimore). Cleveland is affordable not just by national standards, but Ohio's as well.

Incredibly all around, as Cleveland is a dream come true for the outdoorsy intellectual. Large lake, large universities, large scale public transport system that actually works ("The Rapid").

There are many seriously outdoorsy students roaming around on The Rapid. Many also enjoy seriously substantial sandwiches. To and from their seriously exciting outdoor adventures, in between their seriously studious university coursework.

So for roommates? Not a lot of cons here.

Well there was that fiery River Cuyahoga. But it seriously seems like they've got that under control.

The rest of the Cleveland roommate lowdown:

• Cleveland is the urban metro for Northeast Ohio, with about 350,000 folks, on the shores of Lake Erie, in Cuyahoga County. The Greater Cleveland metro area, including Akron and Canton, is about 3.6 million.
• The weather includes all four seasons; winters are cloudy, snow is frequent, summer is brief. Winter experiences some extra wind chill and lake effect snow from Erie, but overall it's rarely severe. But you and your roommates will want serious winter coats.
• Most of Cleveland is laid out in a grid with almost no one-way streets and clear signage. It's one of the easiest cities in the world to navigate.
• Home to Cleveland Institute of Art, Dyke College, Baldwin-Wallace College, John Carroll University, Lake Erie College, Notre Dame College, Oberlin College, Ursuline College, Cast Western Reserve University, Cleveland Institute of Music, and Cleveland State University
• Cleveland's bus and mass transit by rail system is conducted by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), with the rail portion known as RTA Rapid Transit, nicknamed by residents, "The Rapid." About 22% of Cleveland's households use this primarily or entirely instead of a car.
• The Cuyahoga, Cleveland's river, has caught on fire over a dozen times largely due to pollution from industrial waste. It was fairly poisonous for a while, but since then Cleveland has become a model for environmental cleanup and future protection.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Cleveland's:

• Many attractions downtown near the lakefront, including: Cleveland Botanical Gardens, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Great Lakes Science Center, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum
• "Emerald Necklace" or "Forest City" (locals like both names! because parks are awesome!): Cleveland Metroparks circling the city. You can swim, bike, jog, rollerblade, boat, row, canoe, kayak, or ski . . . or just walk on the beach with your roommates.
• You can even ride a horse. That's right, the urban beaches of Cleveland will allow you to ride your pony upon them.
• Cleveland Public Library: One of the largest public libraries in the country, including an extensive collection on chess.
• Cleveland Symphony Orchestra: Considered world-class, one of the "Big Five" orchestras in the US
• Cedar Point Amusement Park: Many Ohioans say is the Roller Coaster Capital of the World! Over a dozen roller coasters. Also a beach, restaurants, and some live shows.
• Polka Music: Popular all over Cleveland, past and present. Cleveland has its own subgenre of polka music unsurprisingly called Cleveland-style polka, and it's featured at the local Polka Hall of Fame.
• Polish Boy: Their hometown native sandwich. It's kielbasa, and french fries, and BBQ sauce inside the bun, then grilled. AND THEN you're ALSO encouraged to add chili, cheese, and coleslaw. Polish Boys are available throughout Cleveland at various restaurants and rib joints . . . all sounding like nobody on the premises would ever want anybody leaving hungry.

Here's the city of Cleveland's official .gov for housing and home improvement, including buying or renting.

Compare Cleveland roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

COLLEGE STATION

Average roommate rent in College Station is $600.

Find a roommate in College Station: 1997th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 61st for quality of life.**

Enjoy living in one of the cities with the best public schools in America with new College Station roommates: 14th City with the Best Public Schools and and 25th Best Cities to Raise a Family out of 228 cities in America.****

College Stations's largest hoodmap tags: Old Geezers, It's called "STUDYING," College Students, Decent Housing, Sorority Girls, basically a cult, alcohol, always under construction.*******

Average commute = lower than national average, about 16 minutes. Most households have two cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's College Station roommate rundown:

College Station is a college town.

No really, it's a college town even more than most college towns that cheerfully take that label. A dominant majority of everyone living here has some important connection to the flagship campus of Texas A&M University.

They're happy Aggies! Because this is Aggieland! So you better show your Aggie Spirit!

No really, you better. But this is not a bad thing?

College Station is like a densely populated walkable suburb with a lot of nice parks. "Like" a suburb even though it's not really a suburb of anything at all? It's not actually close enough to anything other than Texas A&M to qualify as adjacent or meaningfully nearby?

But the vibe is like a suburb that's much more walkable than most, extra especially to and from campus and all those nice parks. Take care during a summer heatwave, but otherwise you're free to roam!

College Station is also a college town in that the cost of living and the average age of your roommates and your neighbors and your neighbors' roommates will likely be lower than average.

(Because they have a strong tendency to be college students. Because this is a college town.)

The rest of the College Station roommate lowdown:

• College Station and Bryan make up the metro with a population of about 275,000 most often referred to as just "College Station"
• known as "Aggieland," because it's home to the flagship campus of Texas A&M University System
• College Station is halfway between Dallas and Houston, about 60 miles east of Austin
• low cost of living overall
• winters are mild, but summer heat is intense, most months feature frequent thunderstorms
• You and your roommates should keep in mind that parking is free throughout most of College Station, except campus OR sometimes around campus on game days too, but NEVER park facing traffic.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience College Station's:

• Sam Houston National Forest: About 30 miles east
• Northgate: Large area north of the university encompassing many restaurants, bars, churches, and other live music venues and apartments for the students living near them. Many well-known musicians, especially several associated with Texas country music have been performing in this area for decades . . . maybe even Lyle Lovett!

Here's the city of College Stations's official .gov for new residents, including pets, recycling, and neighborhoods.

Compare College Station roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

COLORADO SPRINGS

Average roommate rent in Colorado Springs is $550.

Find a roommate in Colorado Springs and save more than $395 per month ($4740 per year).* Colorado Springs is 1697th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 85th for quality of life.**

Your Colorado Springs roommate search may experience #9 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #97 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy some of the best public schools in one of the healthiest places to live with new Colorado Springs roommates: 51st Healthiest Places to Live and 56th Best Public Schools out of 228 cities in America.****

Colorado Springs neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Gleneagle, Palmer Lake, Woodmoor, Black Forest, Monument, Manitou Springs, Cimarron Hills, and Fountain.*****

Colorado Springs' roommates are spending 44% < $ than NYC's.******

Colorado Springs' largest hoodmap tags: tech companies, so many tourists, doggo heaven, rich gated community, people hiking the Incline, get run over by mountain bikers, hell and crackheads zone, Golf Preps, tourists and exceptional athletes, it's all military down here, urban ATV park.*******

Average commute = about average (23 minutes). Most households inside Colorado Springs have two cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Colorado Springs roommate rundown:

Colorado Springs is on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, about 70 miles south of Denver.

So attractive mountain scenery abounds. And all that stunning scenery is covered in wildflowers in summer! The pretty goes to eleven, for sure.

So do the military installations.

Many have described the culture of Colorado Springs as "strong military presence." What does that mean, exactly?

There are almost 50,000 active-duty troops and more than 100,000 veterans in Colorado Springs. They've all variously served at the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, the Peterson Space Force Base, the Schriever Space Force Base, Fort Carson and/or The United States Air Force Academy. Many defense corporations and The Space Foundation are here as well, along with the Olympic Training Center!

Basically, many military installations and educational institutions vitally important to the defense of the United States are all right exactly here.

So how does that influence the culture? You could say the military gets what the military wants in Colorado Springs . . . but that was probably obvious already, right? (Because they're the military.)

But what might be less obvious is that folks associated with all the military listed above equal half of everyone here. Half is a high percentage, that's the notably outlier statistic.

So a lot of military folk, who attract a lot of high-tech corporations who want to work with them as well. They're all working together right now in Colorado Springs.

There's also a LOT of figure skating. SO many skating championships and a museum and an arena and a club! You and your roommates could skate on through!

(If that appeals even though you can't yet figure skate, no worries, as there's a training center for figure skating too! And that's just . . . not at all surprising, is it?)

The rest of the Colorado Springs roommate lowdown:

• home to U.S. Air Force Academy, Beth El College of Nursing, Colorado College, and the University of Colorado
• 2 professional baseball teams
• Almost 500,000 folks live here one mile above sea level. You and your roommates (from lower altitudes) may need up to a week to adjust, but it's hard to say for sure because it's individual. (If you suffer from any breathing or circulatory issues please consult a doctor before traveling to Colorado Springs or other higher altitude areas.)
• Colorado Springs experiences mild weather compared to the rest of Colorado. It does snow here, but with all the intense sunshine and all the intense snow plowing roads are usually clear again within hours. But if you and/or your roommates insist on driving in an unplowed snowy situation, you'll want snow tires and all-wheel drive, for sure.
• The air is clean and crisp, but extremely dry. Feels nicer outside than heat plus humidity, but many raisin folk didn't know in advance that's also dehydrating. Make sure to remind any new-to-Colorado-Springs roommates to drink more water to avoid elevation sickness and raisinhood as well. OK, no actual raisin folk, that was just a metaphor, but folks do get dried up here for real.
• Similarly, due to the dry air and high elevation, the temperature can swing widely in a matter of hours. If it starts bugging you, seriously consider dressing in layers.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Colorado Springs':

• Pikes Peak: About 10 miles away is the peak that inspired the song, "America the Beautiful." If you don't feel up to hiking to the summit, they also allow driving and there's a train that goes all the way up (Cog Rail).
• Garden of the Gods: It's a city park around a series of dramatically different sandstone formations.
• Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy: Their name already speaks volumes, but this museum also features live rodeo events and a Cowboy Ball.
• Trails: Many that are interconnected, mostly gravel, some stretches paved. Motor vehicles are not allowed but you can ride your horse on them all the way to Fountain, Colorado.

Here's the city of Colorado Springs official .gov where you can learn about biking, including The Bike Master Plan.

Compare Colorado Springs roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

COLUMBIA

Average roommate rent in Columbia is $500.

Find a roommate in Columbia: 1978th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 71st for quality of life.**

Your Columbia roommate search may experience #92 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #93 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy a low cost of living in a city that's extremely friendly to young professionals with new Columbia roommates: 63rd Best Cities to Live and and 96th Best for Young Professionals out of 228 cities in America.****

Columbia neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Forest Acres, Irmo, Seven Oaks, Lexington, Blythewood, Cayce, Oak Grove, Chapin, West Columbia, and Lugoff.*****

Average commute is significantly less than the national average (18 minutes). The largest share of households inside Columbia have two cars, exactly the national average.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Columbia roommate rundown:

Columbia is a traditionally Southern town that's gradually getting more modern.

While previously mostly known for proximity to two larger nearby metros (Atlanta and Charlotte), Columbia is now experiencing growth all on its own. The urban core is now around 500,000, and the larger metro about 800,000.

This modernization is due to overall population growth, increasing industrialization, and all those university students.

So even though Columbia is the capital, the center of South Carolina's government, home to its flagship university, and where a LOT of Basic Training takes place . . . the cost of living for everything except healthcare is still significantly lower than the national average.

Mopeds and bicycles are common, especially around campus. Traffic is rarely a problem anywhere.

So the living is easy . . . if famously HOT.

The rest of the Columbia roommate lowdown:

• Humid subtropical climate, very mild winters and very hot and humid summers. Columbia's unique topography involving low elevation and sandy soil warms up faster than Southern cities that are higher and more hydrated, leading to one of Columbia's famous descriptive slogans, "Famously Hot."
• home to Benedict College, Columbia College, Midlands Technical University, Virginia College, and the University of South Carolina
• home of Fort Jackson, the largest US Army installation for Basic Combat Training. 20 miles east is a major Air Force training base as well, McEntire Joint National Guard Base
• Most transportation is most people driving their own vehicles most of the time, although downtown and the University area are pedestrian-friendly. There are a couple of bus services, but they run mostly between popular spots downtown.
• Columbia's recent growth has also spurred new dining options, including a wide variety. But still most fondly known for seafood prepared according to South Carolina Lowcountry specifications, like shrimp and grits and she-crab soup.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Columbia's:

• Soda City Market: So you can shorten Columbia to "Cola" which is another word for "soda" so now some have nicknamed Columbia, "Soda City." Then in 2005 an outdoor market aggregated, now featuring about 150 vendors. So that's the Soda City Market, and it's on Saturdays. (No, it's not just for soda. Expect the same amount of soda you'd find at most urban outdoor markets, not especially more than that.)
• If you're shopping for locally-owned, distinctive and/or trendy, go shopping at Five Points. But if you're shopping for bargains go to Dutch Square Mall.
• Columbia Museum of Art: 25 galleries, including Italian Renaissance, Asian Art and Antiquities, Roman portrait heads, and Korean ceramics.
• Three Rivers Greenway: A bunch of connected trails that are popular with everyone: runners, dog walkers, skaters, bikers, etc. Beautiful views along all three riverfronts.
• Columbia Marionette Theatre: The only one in the whole country that's dedicated entirely to the art of the marionette. You and your roommates could go on a field trip, which would offer you a chance to look behind the scenery, talk to the puppeteers, and touch the marionettes. You can also learn the "principles of shadow puppetry," but you have to make a reservation for that though.
• South Carolina Statehouse: The dome is made of copper, and bronze stars mark where Sherman's cannonballs smashed. That would be when it got tore up from the floor up then burned down to the ground, during the Civil War. But they obviously rebuilt, and now there's also several monuments and a rose garden.

Here's the city of Columbia's official .gov for their GIS division, including interactive city maps.

Compare Columbia roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

COLUMBUS

Average roommate rent in Columbus is $550.

Find a roommate in Columbus and save more than $344 per month ($4128 per year).* Columbus is 948th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 79th for quality of life.**

Your Columbus roommate search may experience #69 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #69 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy young professionals enjoying a low cost of living with new Columbus roommates: 61st Best City for Young Professionals and 75th Lowest Cost of Living out of 228 cities in America.****

Columbus neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Far North, Clintonville, Northwest Columbus, Glen Echo, Northland, South Campus, Schumacher Place, Old North Columbus, Victorian Village, and Harrison West.*****

Columbus's roommates are spending 44% < $ than NYC's.******

Columbus's largest hoodmap tags: woke white people live here, hillbillies who like softball, grovetucky, recent grads, students, hospital workers, official state religion, more reasonable groceries.*******

Average commute = tiny (22 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Columbus roommate rundown:

Columbus is where many Americans meet. About a million converging right there in the center of Ohio.

It's where the Rust Belt, the Bible Belt, the Farm Belt, and Appalachia intersect - and equidistant from several other nearby cities, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Pittsburgh.

Columbus is the capital of Ohio and hosts The Ohio Supercomputer Center, among the top 10 academic centers for computing.

All this proximity plus opportunity mean Columbus also hosts one of the nation's largest college student bodies at Ohio State University, Ohio's largest university. Go Buckeyes! (That's about 37 varsity teams, all encouraging "Buckeye fever.")

Most of Columbus mostly drives a car. There is a bus service (COTA) and a bike share (CoGo) but frequent reliance on both could turn into a time suck. While campus and downtown are walkable, most of the rest are mostly driving. You'll want to as well unless you really never leave campus and downtown.

Parking is abundant, but towing is notoriously aggressive, so never leave your car anywhere you're not allowed or it'll likely go on another drive without you.

Try not to drive anywhere near a home OSU football game, unless you actually are trying to tailgate.

And no U-turning anywhere ever!

The rest of the Columbus roommate lowdown:

• crime rate is fairly low
• along the Scioto River, 4 small rivers run through the city
• summers are warm and humid, fog is common - winters both rainy and snowy, sometimes severe, with lightning, hail, and occasional tornadoes, while blizzards and ice storms are less common
• diverse economy with recent urban revitalization
• citizens better educated than national average
• home to College of Art & Design, Denison University, Mount Carmel College of Nursing, Ohio Dominican College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Capital University, Franklin University, Otterbein College, and Ohio State University
• hosts a lot of museums: Columbus Museum of Art, Wexner Center for the Arts, Ohio History Connection, Ohio History Center, Columbus Historical Society, Orton Geological Museum, the Thurber House, the Central Ohio Fire Museum, and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Columbus's:

• North Market: Shopping mall meets supermarket meets food truck = no one leaves hungry
• Columbus Arts Festival: Huge event on the riverfront in June
• Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest: Great food and music for about half a million people downtown every July
• Italian Village: Near downtown, prominent Italian-American community since the 1890s
• Columbus Metropolitan Library: With more than 3 million items, it's one of the largest, most used and highest ranked libraries in the country
• Franklin Park Conservatory: Over 400 species of plants in a large greenhouse. Biomes include mountain, desert, and rain forest. Opened in 1895!
• Columbus Park of Roses: 13 acres with thousands of blooms
• Jeni's Ice Cream: Flagship location of James Beard Award-winning gourmet ice creamery
• Ohio Roller Derby: Competes internationally in Women's Flat Track Derby Association

Here's the city of Columbus's official .gov for Housing & Renters' Programs.

Compare Columbus roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

DALLAS or FORT WORTH

Average roommate rent in Dallas is $700.

Find a roommate in Dallas/Fort Worth and save more than $372 per month ($4464 per year).* Dallas is 541st out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 90th for quality of life.**

Your Dallas or Fort Worth roommate search may experience #113 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #98 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy healthy outdoor activities with new Dallas roommates: 20th Most Diverse Cities and 65th Best Cities for Young Professionals out of 228 cities in America.****

Dallas neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Preston Highlands, Campbell Green, Prestonwood, Caruth Terrace, Moss Farm - Forest Meadow, Lower Greenville, Highlands of McKamy, Oaktree, Wilshire Heights, Lakeview Heights*****

Dallas's roommates are spending 33% < $ than NYC's.******

Dallas's largest hoodmap tags: conservative white evangelical money, nothing special but gay cowboys, expensive apartments, adorable old couples, more white liberals, the better airport, bail bond blvd, from compton to portlandia, let's pretend we're in Austin, danger zone, strollerwood, super sketch, and most Republican precinct in Dallas.*******

Shorter commute than national average = (27 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's DFW roommate rundown:

If you've never visited Dallas or even the great state of Texas . . . Dallas (DFW, the greater Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area) is probably larger than you think.

Like quite a bit larger.

Greater DFW is larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined, and larger than New Jersey.

Dallas/Fort Worth is one of the largest metro areas in both Texas and the US, with about 1.3 million in the city and 7.5 million in the greater metro.

Since 1/4 of all Texans now live inside the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, it has a very diverse population. Almost all ethnic and religious backgrounds are represented to some extent in Dallas.

Meanwhile, about 20% of the overall area of Dallas is parkland - the Trinity River Project Land Use Plan, about 10,000 acres? And it's lovely.

But weirdly, there's not a lot of trees elsewhere? But as the Trinity River canopy spreads, that may continue to change.

The expansively successful local economy along with the vast expanse of land that Dallas has consumed has been referred to as "Silicon Prairie." Which makes sense, because you're really going to need a reliable air-conditioned car to be anything like comfy driving across it.

As Texas has been described as a "car culture" and Dallas has so much urban sprawl, most Dallasites drive everywhere. It has been suggested that not only are many native Dallasites unable to assist you with navigating their public transport system (DART), they may not even know it exists at all.

You must drive a decent car to deal with Dallas.

And keep that car maintenance in check.

There's much celebration of DFW affluence . . . more retail stores per capita, more luxury hotels, fine dining, exclusive posh retail shopping, larger homes in larger lifestyle communities, golf courses, high end air travel (from one of the world's busiest airports) and fancy cars . . . which have in and of themselves literally driven Dallasites toward their own urban sprawl.

BUT in the meantime, the rent is still relatively affordable . . . in large part due to aforementioned urban sprawl. All of those exciting options are really spread out!

That also means a whole lotta land that's all Dallas with roommate rental options all over it. Many roommate options. In so many neighborhoods with different vibes.

Just not the option to access most of them easily without your own reliable car.

The rest of the Dallas - Fort Worth roommate lowdown:

• Dallas has been surveyed as the Most Christian City in the nation with the highest percentage of self-declared devoted Christian adults in the metro area
• one of the largest LGBT populations in the nation
• Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is a light rail network with connected bus routes. They go most places in the greater urban area, but are slow and frequently unreliable.
• Greater DFW is often referred to as "Silicon Prairie," with its concentration of banking, telecommunications, internet technology, energy, logistics, and transportation, including a large concentration of Fortune 500 companies
• Typical American South climate, with mild winters, very hot and very long and humid summers, and a spring that tends to get wet and stormy. Frozen precipitation is relatively rare - Dallas can but usually does not experience any extreme weather
• Dallas is home to Northwood University, Paul Quinn College, Amber University, Criswell College, Dallas Baptist University, East Texas State University, Southern Methodist University, Texas Women's University, University of Dallas, University of North Texas, and the University of Texas SW Medical Center
• Fort Worth is home to Southwestern Adventist College, Texas Wesleyan University, Texas Christian University, and the University of North Texas Health Science Center
• All roommates moving to Dallas: If you want to go along to get along, you'll learn to love the Dallas Cowboys, possibly even prior to your arrival. Also probably the Dallas Texans, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Dallas Wings as well . . . but get your Cowboy fandom going first, then you can deal with the others after that.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience DFW's:

• Dealey Plaza: Site of the assassination of JFK. Dallas feels so badly about any part it may have played that there are Xs in the road marking each time JFK was hit, and the Grassy Knoll has been restored to resemble its appearance that fateful day. Many local conspiracy theorists continue conspiring nearby. Plus there's a museum and a Memorial Plaza.
• Dallas Museum of Art: World-class museum featuring art from ALL historical periods. General admission is free!
• The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum (The Samurai Collection): It's a small museum overall, but with a relatively large collection of Samurai arms and armor! Also free!
• Beltline Road: Said to host more restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the US. You can probably find whatever food you like best right on this road.
• Half-Price Books: Popular and beloved used bookstore chain. The flagship is in East Dallas, with several other locations in the area.
• Mesquite Championship Rodeo: It's a rodeo. It's in nearby Mesquite.
• Southfork Ranch: The ranch from the TV show "Dallas." You can still get a tour any day except Christmas.
• White Rock Lake, Joe Pool Lake, and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden: Reservoirs, water features, and places to chill after navigating/boating/rowing water features beloved by locals
• Dallas Zoo: Texas's largest at 106 acres - Since 1888!
• Deep Ellum: Hipster haven for college students with tattoos, plus music and dancing and even more tattoos for everyone else. Home to about a thousand artists in lofts and studios and bars and pubs. Named after being on the far ("Deep") end of Elm Street ("Ellum").
• Arts District: Northern section of downtown, largest geocontiguous arts district in the US, including: Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Wind Symphony, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, and the Nasher Sculpture Center
• Cowgirl Hall of Fame: In Fort Worth, they "celebrate women, past and present, whose lives exemplify the courage, resilience, and independence that helped shape the American West, and fosters and appreciation of the ideals and spirit of self-reliance they inspire."
• State Fair of Texas: This state fair lasts three weeks! Along with the expected fried delights (including fried peaches, fried Jello, and fried Dr. Pepper), there's a 55-foot-tall cowboy named Big Tex, who smiles and waves. There's also a car show, a rodeo, many games and rides, livestock demos, and pig racing!
• The Texas Woofus: Also, in Fair Park and originally created in 1936 for the Texas Centennial Exposition - a mythical chimerical creature made of different parts of the main animals of Texas: a sheep's head, the neck and mane of a horse, a pig's body, a duck's wings, a turkey's tail and finally . . . a pair of Texas longhorns!
  
  (The original mysteriously disappeared back in 1941 and was never recovered. But a replacement Woofus was supplied by David Newton and the Friends of Fair Park in 1998, who continues to preside today, while spouting water from his nozzle.)

Here's the city of Dallas's official Resident page with lists of community resources.

Compare Dallas and Fort Worth roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

DENVER

Average roommate rent in Denver is $800.

Find a roommate in Denver and save more than $514 per month ($6168 per year).* Denver is 265th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 89th for quality of life.**

Your Denver roommate search may experience #99 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #139 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy health with young professionals with new Denver roommates: 13th Best for Young Professionals and 20th Healthiest out of 228 cities in America.****

Denver neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: North Park Hill, Congress Park, South Park Hill, Hale, Whittier, Capitol Hill, Washington Park, University Park, Cherry Creek, and City Park West*****

Denver's roommates are spending 31% < $ than NYC's.******

Denver's largest hoodmap tags: yoga pants strollers, angry geese, huge home tiny lot, art walk, hipster bars, the best asian and mexican food, Little Mexico, Casa Bonita!, shorter line for best ice cream, puffy jackets always, future hipsters, strollers and solars, not even rich, tesla town, safe but gritty, weed church, hipster milennials.*******

Average commute = average (27 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Denver roommate rundown:

Denver or "Menver" or "The Mile-High City" is HIGH.

Living here is an officially high to very high altitude experience. But this hunky beefcake of a metro is also sky high on its love affair with beer and outdoor sports.

Denver is more manly than most US metros. Literally, in that there's 102 single men for every 100 single women, leading to the nickname "Menver." Denver's proud of its cowboy and miner past, and its present is pretty high on manliness as well.

Avalanche! Barbarians! Broncos! Mammoth! Nuggets! Pioneers! Rapids! Raptors and . . . Rockies!

Is that an early warning system announcing an invading horde precipitating an environmental disaster via a calamity of their masculinity? No! Those are the names of the most popular local sports teams!

Denverites love a ruggedly adventurous life outdoors. They also love sports, especially outdoor sports.

So how much do they love their local outdoor sports teams with ruggedly adventurous names? SO MUCH.

Hopefully you and your roommates will like at least a team or two too, because sports aren't easy to avoid in Denver. They are ruggedly year-round.

And how about some buff beers with those high scores? The Denver metro produces more beer by volume than any other US city. This is notable for beer loving roommates in two ways: From award-winning artisanal micro to extreme macro, it's all right here at its very fresh best.

It's also being served at high elevation, which can exacerbate some possibly dangerous effects, especially for roommates moving from lower.

Meanwhile, high elevation plus winter outdoor sports plus beer have lead to UV overexposure via subsequent failures for many to keep up with their sunblock/hats/longsleeves or even just their clothing. This warning has surprised many roommates previously living at sea level who were previously sunburnt only in summer?

But in Denver, sky high + burnt to a crisp = many in December, too.

So if you're not already a merry mountain man, do GO . . . just get your manly buzzes on SLOW.

The rest of the Denver roommate lowdown:

• Denver is the capital city, commercial, financial, industrial and government center for Colorado.
• most populated in Colorado, with over 710,000 people, almost 3 million in the greater metro area
• on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by 3 mountain ranges
• changeable climate, extremely hot or cold temperatures tend to be brief - you could actually walk around in a parka at one moment and a short sleeved shirt comfortably during another on the same day . . . but all four seasons are generally low humidity and sunny!
• One of Denver's nicknames is "The Mile-High City" as its official elevation is 5280 feet above sea level. Many say most of Denver is somewhat higher than one mile, but that's not as cute. Take home point: It's more or less a mile above sea level and that is officially high to very high altitude in terms of any health warnings.
• home to Metropolitan State College, Regis University, Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado, and the University of Denver
• About 90% of Denverites live within walking distance of a park. Denver is also low crime, especially for its size. We imagine most should imagine this correlation extremely meaningful too.
• about 1/3 of residents are Mexican-American, making Denver one of their largest populations among US cities
• Denver's Cinco de Mayo celebration is attended by over half a million. Huge numbers also gather to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos, El Grito de la Independencia, and Denver's annual Lowrider show.
• Urban sprawl has become a problem along with the traffic and pollution that often come along with, but Denver is aggressively attempting to address the problem with its newer light rail.
• Regional Transportation District (RTD) operates light rail supplemented with buses, some with the nation's first "Green Fleet" public transports using alternative fuels - eight rail lines you can take from Downtown to many suburbs
• Denverites love their large local active bike culture and their network of trails all over the city, sometimes dedicated, sometimes merging with car traffic. Most drivers are respectful, but like most cities with a lot of cyclists, you need a good bike lock.
• Also legally in Denver, you can get pulled over for running a light or stop sign on a non-motorized 2-wheel bicycle too . . . but they usually target motorized vehicles
• The Denver metro produces more beer by volume than any other US city.
• You are not allowed to smoke within any bar or restaurant except outdoors on the patio. Has to be outdoor patio or against the law.
• Denver is large enough to feature at least a few top notch versions of dishes popular from most regions, but the local vibe cuisine calling itself "Western" might be beef, or it could be buffalo, which tastes like beef. Or it could be rattlesnake or cutthroat trout or Rocky Mountain oysters. Rocky Mountain oysters taste like beef too. Many thought they didn't after their first bite? Then later understood that in an important way, they still did taste like beef.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Denver's:

• The Money Museum: Ever seen $30 million in cold hard cash in person before? Would you like to make that happen? If you answered no then yes, have I got a museum for you!
• Denver Art Museum: Huge. You'll need the whole day to see it all. Discounts and free admissions available for students and seniors all the time, everyone else the first Saturday of the month.
• Denver Museum of Nature & Science: Is it planetarium time for you and your roommates? It really could be, any day of the year except Christmas.
• City Park: 330 acres near downtown, featuring playgrounds, a golf course, the Denver Zoo, the Museum of Nature and Science and . . . two lakes. This one park gets two whole lakes. And to think that some urban parks don't even get one lake, much less two! You and your roommates should consider yourselves lucky. Also probably go.
• Denver Zoo: Open every day, but hours vary, so check first. Uniquely featuring Bear Mountain, Primate Panorama, and Pioneer Train, the first US zoo train running on natural gas.
• Grizzly Rose: Western saloon! It's large, with line dancing and live music and yes, a mechanical bull. But you and your roommates don't have to ride it. Or even dance, if you rather not, that's optional too. What's not is watching others do all of that to country music, sometimes live, sometimes not, and then sometimes inebriation sometimes not. Whoo hoo?
  
  (No really, if inebriation is really the wrong environment for you, probably no, but if it's not a problem perhaps you plus roommates should saloon?)
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre: Stunningly beautiful concert stage, but live music isn't all you can see. There's almost 740 acres in total in Red Rocks Park, with many geologically significant nature trails featuring the stunning rocks of this unique transitional zone where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains at 6450 feet above sea level. Along with its flora and fauna. Also art galleries, two halls of fame, and an historical Trading Post that even on its own has its very own nature trail.

Here's the city of Denver's official gov.org for community programs, including activities and events, animals, arts & venues, housing, neighborhoods, getting around, and online services.

Compare Denver roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

DES MOINES

Average roommate rent in Des Moines is $430.

Find a roommate in Des Moines: 2069th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 69th for quality of life.**

Your Des Moines roommate search may experience #19 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #95 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy a low cost of living with young professionals with new Des Moines roommates: 54th Lowest Cost of Living and 95th Best for Young Professionals out of 228 cities in America.****

Des Moines neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Waterbury, Greenwood Historic, Westwood, Woodland Heights, Meredith, Waveland Park, East Village, Arbor Peaks, Beaverdale, and North of Grand*****

Des Moines's largest hoodmap tags: white saviors love it here, drakeland, east village, establishment liberals, white collar stoners, yuppies, and good pizza.*******

Average commute = shorter than average (19 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Des Moines roommate rundown:

Many describe Des Moines as warm and welcoming. While many Des Moinesians really are warm and welcoming, the relatively small size also makes it easier. It's literally more likely you could end up as neighbors here.

So really, why not? Neighborly vibes!

Agriculture is so huge, this whole capital city also turns into a farmer's market every spring and summer.

And all your neighbors know they better farm stall while they can, because winter is definitely coming.

Transportation, particularly during a snowstorm, can be challenging to anyone accustomed to more public transport and less dramatic weather. Many roommates new to Des Moines were surprised by the severity of seasonal contrast and the possibility of intense weather year round.

Des Moines features a skywalk system with four miles of enclosed walkway residents love . . . but it's only downtown. There is also a bus system operated by DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit) . . . but it's only buses so it's slow, and it doesn't serve all suburbs.

There's over 800 miles of bike trail including an iconic decommissioned railway line and another iconic 13-story bridge . . . but they all frequently feature freezing winds about half the year.

SO: Most residents drive.

Upside? Despite most residents driving, traffic jams are a no!

In addition to low traffic congestion, Des Moines also boasts low unemployment, low rent, and a low cost of living.

And everything low here . . . is leading to higher population growth?

This home of the presidential primary is growing faster than any other Midwest metro, including Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis.

The rest of the Des Moines roommate lowdown:

• Des Moines is Iowa's most populous city and capital, located near its center. That's about 210,000 in the city, and about 700,000 in their six-county metro area.
• Marked seasonal contrast, with warm and extremely humid summers, and winters with frequent snowstorms and drifting snow. Thunderstorms are most common in spring and summer, but possible year round. Heavy snows (possibly up to 40 inches per season!) that close roads are common in winter.
• extensive skywalk system downtown featuring four miles of enclosed walkway
• home of several colleges and universities and their satellites, including Des Moines University, Drake University, Grand View University, Iowa State University, Mercy College of Health Sciences, Simpson College, University of Iowa, Upper Iowa University, and William Penn University
• home to several art and history museums and performing arts groups, including the Des Moines Performing Arts, Des Moines Playhouse, Des Moines Symphony, State of Iowa Historical Museum, and the Metro Arts Alliance
• a lot of agriculture, a lot of corn
• More than 75 insurance companies are headquartered and/or have larger operations here. Des Moines is a major center for the insurance industry in the United States, and has been nicknamed "insurance capital of the world" overall. Iowa doesn't charge premium taxes on health insurance plans, making itself more attractive to insurance companies.
• ethnic diversity is low
• cost of living and rents are very low, along with unemployment
• growing faster than any other Midwest metro
• Des Moines hosts the first caucuses of the US presidential primary cycle, with many candidates setting up their campaign headquarters here reliably. Many describe Des Moines as the "perfect place to watch politics."
• In winter, attention to parking rules to avoid being "snowed in" by trucks, plus general attention to possible snow emergency conditions could be crucial. Natives recommend roommates new to the area avoid driving during snow hazards. They also recommend a brush, ice scraper, a shovel and some sand or road salt in your car in case you drive right into a snow hazard anyway.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Des Moines':

• Des Moines Art Center: Large collection from the 19th and 20th centuries. Also features a 5-star restaurant, a wing designed by architect I. M. Pei, and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.
• Des Moines Botanical Garden: Indoor conservatory with over 15,000 exotic plants, including large collections of tropical, subtropical, and desert-growing plants from the rest of the Midwest. Since it blooms year round it's extra popular in winter, and with a membership, you and your roommates could hang out perpetually! It's also conveniently connected to the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens via a parking lot.
• Iowa State Fair: 10 days in August, about 1 million people, and more than 70 items served on a stick. Also more than you can imagine to do with art plus food plus agriculture. Preferably all together and near a beer tent!
• West End Architectural Salvage: 4-story warehouse with a coffee shop, filled with salvage from around the world. Do you and your roommates need something special for your house? Inventory rotates regularly.
• The Blazing Saddle: The oldest gay bar in Des Moines, serving gay men since 1983.
• Adventureland Amusement Park and Adventure Bay Water Park: Over 100 rides including six rollercoasters. If you and your roommates think this one's mostly for kids you could be right BUT there is a bar where you can swim up, order a cocktail, then float away on the longest "lazy river" in Iowa.

Here's the city of Des Moines' official .gov for community services, including city maps, parks, volunteering, and emergency hotlines.

Compare Des Moines roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

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And here's the roommate matching metro list.

DETROIT

Average roommate rent in Detroit is $500.

Find a roommate in Detroit and save more than $505 per month ($6060 per year).* Detroit is 1417th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 89th for quality of life.**

Your Detroit roommate search may experience #114 (out of 150) in Best City vibes. Also #55 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy a large city with a low cost of living and great outdoor activities with new Detroit roommates: 22nd Lowest Cost of Living and 144th Best for Outdoor Activities out of 228 cities in America.****

Detroit neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: University District, Sherwood Forest, Indian Village, Lafayette Park, Gold Coast, Brush Park, Green Acres, Corktown, Fox Creek, and Downtown*****

Detroit's roommates are spending 43% < $ than NYC's.******

Detroit's largest hoodmap tags: another factory that isn't ruined, gentrification, more lots than houses, where the good Mexican food actually is, industrial wasteland, now only bridges, waterfront sculpture gardens, poor people, black bottom, nice park w/crazy geese, crackhead central but good tacos, visiting boaters, I work for Quicken Loans, and southwest suburbs.*******

Average commute slightly shorter than the national average (26 minutes). Most households have only 1 car, less than the national average of 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Detroit roommate rundown:

Detroit looms large in our national imagination. That huge Motown sound now associated with the even huger rise and fall of the automotive assembly line over the last several decades . . . which led to a huge population decline which sadly subsequently led to crime and urban decline.

Decline led to decay led to the dubious phenomenon of Detroit's primacy within the world of "urban exploration?" While the interest value is obvious, leading many urban explorers toward impressive but now untended larger structures, thousands of empty buildings around a city are not a sign of urban health.

It's also wouldn't be a sign of any kind of health if they collapsed on anyone either.

Detroit has responded by demolishing many to plant grass and trees in their wake (urban prairie).

But that's the bad news. With more recent revitalization, many older buildings are now renovated and revitalized, instead of paintballed.

Urban topography aside, Detroit still has a reputation for being dangerous. While not undeserved, crime has declined significantly in recent years, with the overall crime rate downtown now below the national average.

It's now more accurate to say that while danger still lives in Detroit, it's now mostly residing in troubled neighborhoods. So roommates new to Detroit need to be aware of theirs, particularly after dark.

Urban exploration? To explore decay, go during the DAY.

After dark in your car, stick to neighborhoods you know or busy arteries. Don't drive through unfamiliar areas on smaller streets. Driving around with friends but without a lot that's valuable (cash, jewelry, expensive clothing, bling, etc.), especially anywhere new would be clever too.

After dark out of your car, move with larger crowds. Larger venues tend to be policed or feature security that smaller might not easily afford. Understand that a late night club may be adequately populated, and your trip on a well-populated street inside a reliable vehicle relatively safe as well, but where are you going to park? What's the walking vibe between your parking and your party, plus how far?

More on transportation: It shouldn't be shocking (heh) that as the historical center of the auto industry, your experience of Detroit will usually rely on having one.

Detroit has been described as both "auto-friendly" (glass half full) and "auto dependent" (glass half empty). But whatever your feelings about driving, Detroit is spread out over a larger geographic area than most cities. And while public transport exists, it's mostly a nice way to get around downtown. Meanwhile, their modern freeway system plus ample parking pretty much everywhere encourages you to get behind the wheel.

So unless you plan to exist entirely downtown, you'll find Detroit would like you to drive, extra points for a local model.

Except one exception! Bicycling! Because the rise and fall of the auto industry was correlated with same population-wise, most streets have multiple lanes that are now no longer needed. This means bikers can get a whole entire lane all to themselves, which is rare in a city anywhere near this size.

So biking year round is awesome for all roommates, right? Well, depends on the day, plus likely where you're from.

Detroit's weather changes rapidly in all seasons, while winter remains long. Long means COLD. Storms can be severe, and snow remains on the ground for much of winter. Winter temperatures remain below freezing for months, while the wind-chill factor at its icy lowest can snap anyone Southern.

So Detroit's overall current forecast? For the adventurous yet adequately cautious, Detroit's recently revitalized downtown riverfront with ornate buildings, sculpture, fountains, historic skyscrapers, and several parks totaling hundreds of acres has much to recommend it. Affordably!

Many historic buildings downtown have been recently converted into loft apartments, which are popular due to style plus proximity to everything downtown Detroit has to offer.

That includes Detroit's skyline, enduring and still dazzling. Now more than ever.

The rest of the Detroit roommate lowdown:

• Detroit proper has a population of about 600,000, with the greater metro area about 5 million. This makes it the largest city in the Midwest, after Chicago. While it has remained large, it gained and lost about a million residents during the surge and collapse of Detroit's automotive industry.
• along the Detroit River, across the border from Windsor, Ontario
• US and Canadian citizens are required to present a valid passport, enhanced driver's license or approved traveler card when crossing the border (please check with border patrol on the day of travel, requirements can change without much notice). Once you've got your identification under control, you can cross over a bridge, through a tunnel (there's a tunnel bus if you're not already in a vehicle) or on a ferry.
• home of Baker College, Center for Creative Studies, Detroit College of Business, Michigan Christian College, William Tyndale College, Baker College of Port Huron, Lawrence Institute of Technology, Marygrove College, Walsh College of Accounting, Oakland University, University of Detroit Mercy, Wayne State University, and the University of Michigan
• Detroit is where Henry Ford pioneered the automotive assembly line, creating the world's first assembly line car, the Model T. Detroit has forever after been known as the "Automobile Capital" or "Motown" (short for "Motor Town"). While the auto industry surged then collapsed since its peak, several major car manufacturers still have a presence here, since merging with higher tech.
• Detroit is the only US city to have four major sports teams all playing downtown: Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings, and the Detroit Tigers. This is possible because downtown also hosts three major sports arenas.
• largest US city with casino resorts: three major ones
• Detroit is famous for Coney Island hot dogs, Vernor's Ginger Ale, Detroit-style pizza (deep dish but with a crispy buttery crust) and a lot of excellent Mexican (Mexicantown) and Polish (Hamtramck) restaurants.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Detroit's:

• Pewabic Pottery: Founded in 1903, they exemplified the Arts and Crafts movement then developed their own iridescent glaze and some fabulous tiles and then put them various important places all around the country. It's also Michigan's most historic pottery, as it has been designated such by a number of local and national societies. Lots of nice things to buy, but if retail's not your thing you can also view exhibitions, attend talks, and take classes with studio time to create your own.
• Belle Isle: Shared the same designer as NYC's Central Park, but Detroit's is larger at 1000 acres. It's also in the river between Detroit and Windsor so you get there by bridge, and features swimming, yachting, rowing, golfing, and motor and boat racing. Feeling lower key? Nature watching remains another extremely valid option.
• Rouge Park: An even larger park! 1200 acres, featuring a golf course, model airplane fields, swimming, and hiking.
• Guardian Building w/Art Deco Lobby: 40 stories tall, with light tangerine bricks. Includes Aztec and Native American mosaics, many made at Pewabic, along with a massive mural of the state of Michigan
• Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge: not only the only international wildlife refuge in North America, it's also right inside the city? It includes coastal wetlands, islands, marshes and shoals, all along the Detroit River.
• Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: hosts the world's largest permanent art collection on African American culture
• Detroit Institute of Arts: one of the most important museums in the country with holdings worth more than a billion dollars
• Baker's Keyboard Lounge: Since 1934, the world's oldest continuously operating jazz club
• The Raven Lounge: One of Detroit's oldest blues clubs - unassuming exterior, warmer and sparklier interior
• Hitsville U.S.A.: Motown Records' first headquarters where all the Motown hits were recorded. Today it hosts a museum displaying artifacts of its very own musical historical significance.

Here's the city of Detroit's official .gov for their Department of Neighborhoods, which could guide you toward a better experience in yours.

Compare Detroit roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

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And here's the roommate matching metro list.

EDMONTON

Average roommate rent in Edmonton is $540.

Find a roommate in Edmonton, where the average proportion of income spent in rent plus utilities is 22%. Only 6% of renters live overcrowded.*********

Edmonton is 61st out of 153 Canadian cities for cost of living, and 13th best city to live in Canada.**

Edmonton's roommates are spending 50% < $ than NYC's.******

Edmonton's largest hoodmap tags: annoying mall crashing kids, haunted hospital, endless beautiful river valley, beer for every occasion, ice cream, alpacas, people let their dogs roam wild, hipster rednecks, folk fest highway, BRRRR, and suicyclists.*******

SO, roomiematch.com's Edmonton roommate rundown:

Edmonton is indisputably best in show in two arenas: snow and shopping.

Edmontonians also adore festivals, many presenting opportunities to enjoy both snow and shopping at the same time. Shopping an outdoor festival during snowy weather is as Edmontonian as it is possible to be.

Because those festivalgoers do not stand down, snow or no. If anything, their snowy festivus fiesta fests harder through winter, just to show you how hard they will not stop. Edmonton hosts over 30 festivals a year, and those are the larger ones. Every other weekend could meaningfully be one of your new annual festival holidays.

Shopping = options! Many more than most, even in larger American cities.

For instance, you could stroll Whyte Avenue. It's somewhat funky and usually eclectic for several city blocks. You could explore 124th Street's higher end boutiques including furniture and home improvement. You could drop by the Edmonton City Centre, with 175 mainstream retail purveyors over 3 city blocks . . .

. . . or you could visit West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest shopping mall on the ENTIRE CONTINENT of North America with over 800 stores!

Options!

So many shopping options you'll need to travel through snow to pursue, at least much of the year.

If you're unfamiliar with driving in winter in the middle of Canada, you should know that conditions can deteriorate a lot inside an hour. Check road conditions throughout the day when any snow is forecasted. Edmonton will clear its major arteries, but experienced drivers know any winter driving even through light snow still means snow tires, plenty of windshield washer fluid, and a full winter outfit with boots in case you still have problems anyway.

Those same experienced drivers also know heavier snow = stop driving your tiny car entirely until conditions improve.

If you'd like to avoid driving but don't want to stay home, Edmonton has the Edmonton Transit Service, which is both efficient and inexpensive. Hundreds of bus routes cover the city, going almost everywhere within it. Service only completely drops between 3 and 5 a.m., with peak service as frequent as every 15 minutes. The ETS also added a light rail system with two main lines so far, both connecting with the buses and serving the University of Alberta.

Edmonton also has excellent marked cycling routes, featuring no freeway crossings and limited overall traffic on a flat terrain. Roommates who love cycling elsewhere should love these routes too . . . during the spring and summer!

But can you cycle in wintertime too? In a sense, in that there shall be some number of cycling friendlier winter days. But during those less friendly more snowstormy days? Did you read what we said above regarding driving your car through a storm? And . . . now you'll be without the car.

If that sounds fun to roommates moving from hundreds of miles south, please attempt your first snowy bicycle ride dressed head to toe in your best winter gear. Also best to remain entirely within easy walking distance of your home or another warming station.

Then just pedal around one urban block, hopefully one you already know well. See how your bike handles. See how you handle too, hopefully not requiring the unexpected assistance of an emergency rescue team.

Canada's Festival City!

The rest of the Edmonton roommate lowdown:

• capital city of Alberta, Canada's fifth largest city, home to about 1.3 million
• Edmonton's terrain is mostly flat, with weather ranging widely across seasons - long cold winters, and humid summers with heavy rain
• even though Edmonton is Canada's northernmost metro, its weather is milder than Regina, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg, all further south
• relatively easy for most roommates to navigate as most roads are within a numbered grid, with streets running south to north and avenues running east to west
• Edmonton area has 7 large casinos, including a casino and horse racing track at the Edmonton International Airport
• home to University of Alberta, Athabasca University, Concordia University College of Alberta, King's University College, MacEwan University, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Norquest College, and the Edmonton campus of the University of Lethbridge
• Edmonton is appreciated for its stunning river valley park system, the North Saskatchewan River Valley, over 60 miles of recreational trails with wildlife. This valley contains the longest piece of connected parkland in North America, 22 times the size of NYC's Central Park.
• Edmonton refers to itself as "Canada's Festival City," and they're not wrong, with over 30 festivals throughout the year. Depending on when, there's something for everyone, including: Canoe Fest, Chaos Alberta Festival, Deep Freeze Byzantine Winter Festival, Edmonton Cariwest, Edmonton Blues Festival, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, Edmonton International Reggae Jamboree Festival, Edmonton International Street Performer's Festival, Edmonton Pride Festival, Edmonton Ukrainian Festival, Flying Canoe Volant, Heritage Festival, Ice Magic Festival, K-Days, Symphony Under the Sky, TD Edmonton International Jazz Festival, Works Art & Design Festival . . . and last but not least, one of their most popular . . . A Taste of Edmonton!

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Edmonton's:

• Muttart Conservatory: 4 glass pyramids, 3 climate zones, 100s of plant varieties
• Whyte Ave Artwalk: Stroll around, see some local art
• Francis Winspear Center for Music: Could be the most acoustically perfect concert hall in Canada, and definitely home to its largest concert organ
• Fort Edmonton Park: Canada's largest living history museum
• West Edmonton Mall: It's the largest shopping mall in North America. It's 5.3 million square feet. It's like a small city but accredited as a zoo. This human zoo includes over 800 stores and over 100 restaurants. Also 2 entire hotels, who probably host a nice-sized chunk of the approximately 30 million visiting yearly. There's also an artificial beach, an indoor lake, indoor lagoon, pool hall, arcade, bowling alley, mini-golf range, casino . . . and of course, a movie theatre.

Here's the city of Edmonton's official .ca for Transit (ETS), which roommates new to Edmonton will probably need to consult at least a few times.

Compare Edmonton roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

FARGO

Average roommate rent in Fargo is $350.

Find a roommate in Fargo: 1855th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 66th for quality of life.**

Enjoy some of the best public schools while also enjoying a low cost of living with new Fargo roommates: 52nd Best Public Schools and 64th Lowest Cost of Living out of 228 cities in America.****

Fargo neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Longfellow, Woodhaven, Northport, Rose Creek, Clara Barton, Centennial, Hawthorne, Horace Mann, River Drive, and Jefferson/Carl Ben*****

Fargo's largest hoodmap tags: big box commercial sprawl, downtown, stank, really rich, oh you betcha yeah, dealerships, and foreigners.*******

Average commute = shorter than average (15 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Fargo roommate rundown:

If you can cheerfully cope with life in a freezer, Fargo could be your unexpectedly cool (heh) choice.

But if you're not ready to spend months on end in a parka, snow boots, gloves, plus a serious hat, don't move here! It will be way too cool for you. And then you'll freeze your face off?

Fargo is in the Northern Great Plains region of the US. Due to its distance from mountains and oceans and its very flat terrain, winters are long and brutally cold. Blizzards tend to be legendary.

Summers are frequently hot and humid, while still stormy. Fargo has a whole lot of sky over a whole lot of wind sweeping down the plain. Tornadoes and floods happen too, as North Dakota is the northern end of "Tornado Alley."

January averages 10. 10 whole degrees. That's average. Sometimes it just hangs around zero for a spell. Single digit or even minus degrees Fahrenheit keep those approximately 50 inches of snow per season well-chilled.

Driving is terrible in icy conditions, even more terrible if you lack terrible icy condition driving experience. North Dakotan ice storms have harmed many and inconvenienced more. To limit your exposure, both figuratively and literally, you'll need to pay attention and be prepared.

So for whoever's still reading, why could Fargo be an unexpectedly cool rather than just freezing cold choice?

Fargo features a lot that is low, but it seems it might be working for them. If you too can tolerate Fargo's famously low temperatures and low population density (about 125,000 in Fargo, not many more till Minneapolis) . . you'll be rewarded with a low cost of living and very low crime. Low population density plus low crime often leads to neighborliness, a "small town" feeling.

And Fargo has that, but for that low population density, it's highly blessed with urban amenities? There are relatively more universities, theaters, carnivals, museums, popular live music venues, and golf courses in and around Fargo's rehabbed red brick revitalization.

More of all of that in Fargo than you'd expect for a city this size.

Also more chocolate covered potato chips.

The rest of the Fargo roommate lowdown:

• Fargo is the most populous metro in North Dakota, but that's only about 125,000
• warm to hot and humid summers and extremely cold winters, heavy thunderstorms, legendary blizzards
• you need to know the forecast, always
• In the worst conditions, if you cannot shelter in one place, make sure you're absolutely dressed warmly enough and observe local weather warnings.
• Similar to many cities on this list but more than all, you can't live anywhere without functioning heat. Functioning heat during a winter as severe as Fargo's can cost more than elsewhere, you might have to budget.
• Clothing washer and dryer on site so you can avoid schlepping laundry in a snowstorm is possibly not required but we'd strongly recommend.
• Unlike many cities on this list and depending on your tolerance of Fargo's fairly short summer, A/C might be optional.
• home of Concordia College, Minnesota State University Moorhead, North Dakota State University, North Dakota State College of Science, and Rasmussen College
• Everything is at least a little cheaper in Fargo than most cities, not just rent but also groceries, plus possibly healthcare and education and some retail
• Fargo is more multicultural than most cities its size, in part due to its three universities.
• Downtown Fargo has been recently revitalized and rehabilitated to reenergize the downtown core. It's a charming mini-town made of historic red bricks.
• Fargo's streets form a grid pattern, with streets running from north to south, avenues running from east to west.
• one of the lowest metro crime rates, particularly very low violent crime, along with a very low unemployment rate
• many cultural features for a city its size, including the Fargo Theatre, the Winter Carnival, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Opera, Plains Art Museum, and the Fargodome
• at least half a dozen golf courses, unusual for a city its size
• local culinary delicacies: hotdish (pasta casserole), walleye (fresh caught local fish), kuchen (custard pie), and chocolate covered potato chips

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Fargo's:

• Bonanzaville, USA: It's a village named after the historic larger farms in the area and other buildings that served them, including a church and school.
• Red River Zoo: Home to over 300 animals, including Red Pandas, Bactrian Camels, Sichuan Takins, Grey Wolves, Pallas Cats and North American River Otters
• Plains Art Museum: Largest art museum in North Dakota. You and your roommates can view collections ranging from traditional Native art to modern sculpture.

Here's the city of Fargo's official .gov for disaster preparedness, to maximize you and your roommates' disaster preparedness.

Compare Fargo roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

GAINESVILLE

Average roommate rent in Gainesville is $450.

Find a roommate in Gainesville: 1177th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 78th for quality of life.**

Enjoy great public schools in one of the best cities to raise a family with new Gainesville roommates: 42nd Best Public Schools and 54th Best City to Raise a Family out of 228 cities in America.****

Gainesville's largest hoodmap tags: downtown hipsters, malaria, food stuff, good parties are here, Santa Fe students, zoo animals, here be gators, crane city.*******

Average commute = less than average (19 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Gainesville roommate rundown:

Gainesville is a lot what you probably already knew, plus a bit of what never-residents still mostly don't.

Gainesville easily lives up to its reputation as a hard partying college town with hard driving varsity athletics, with a massive athletic stadium and a massively large number of college students partying hard around it.

It is impossible to attend the University of Florida at Gainesville without knowing exactly where to go for drink specials and cheap food in a large crowd. And that will be within walking distance.

Gainesville's also known for classic humid subtropical weather. That means all the heat plus almost all the humidity plus the affectionate nickname, "Rainsville." While hurricanes and sudden extreme heat are always possible, winter mostly isn't happening either.

So if you can deal with very hot and humid, you'd call the weather nice most of the time.

And if you can deal, you'd also find Gainesville: both younger and more likely to be happily retired (there are two sizable population demographic bumps), more likely to be single, more likely to rent and have roommates, less likely to be unemployed, and more likely to have a college degree than the vast majority of similar cities.

Because those other cities don't host the University of Florida?

But did you know about the bison, the bats, and the butterflies?

What about the sinkholes, the swamps, and the limestone caverns?

There's also a 120-foot-deep bowl with bones at the bottom! Locals love it!

Because what's not to love about a miniature rain forest complete with ancient fossils conveniently located near the University of Florida?

There are also actual gators. Not enclosed securely, if you didn't already know. Just swimming and sunbathing all over the place including local lakes and . . . campus! It's generally agreed you should keep your distance, but as for how far? That advice varies.

But we'd advise newbies GO WIDE!

The rest of the Gainesville roommate lowdown:

• Gainesville eagerly embraces its status as college town for the University of Florida.
• Many inexpensive bars are right around campus, with craft beer spots almost everywhere else.
• While parking is plentiful, so shall be the traffic during classes and gametime. So you should definitely walk if you're anywhere nearby and it's gametime or classes are in session . . . because nearby roads will be congested.
• That congestion will definitely include traffic to see the varsity team of the University of Florida, the Florida Gators - with an extremely enthusiastic fandom since 1933.
• Most citizens of Gainesville have some connection to the University of Florida. It's a huge school and the area's largest employer. The local football economy (Go Gators!) is similarly gator-sized.
• only about 150,000, but closer to 325,000 in the greater metro area
• climate is humid and subtropical, meaning long, hot, sticky rainy summers, almost nonexistent winters. Sudden heat and high winds are also possible.
• sunny almost 300 days a year
• Gainesville is the least tourist-y metro area in Florida
• geologically frequent sinkholes, swamps, and limestone caverns
• home to Santa Fe College and the University of Florida
• excellent air quality
• low cost of living - with no state income tax and cheaper rent, Gainesville is one of the most affordable cities in Florida
• over 30 bus routes operated by the Gainesville Regional Transit System, some with service to outerlying areas, some even late at night (the Later Gator). However, with limited service during weekends, school holidays and most of the summer, you'll need a decent car with air conditioning unless you plan to stay near campus pretty much always and enjoy heat.
• All city streets are within a grid with four quadrants. Avenues, lanes, places and roads run east to west, while drives, streets, terraces and ways run north to south. This system is less confusing than most for new drivers and anyone new to Gainesville.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Gainesville's:

• Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park: There are many sinkholes in Gainesville. Quite a few are reasonably deep, but one is bowl-shaped and about 120 feet! This is such an unusual geological feature it was able to grow its own miniature rain forest right in the bowl. It's a massive limestone natural pit fed by 12 streams . . . it's a literal bowl of rainforest, right in the middle of sandy North Florida. Winding stairs lead downward to the pond full of bones at the very bottom. If you and your roommates visit via one car, as long as you're 8 or fewer, you can all get in for $4. But do not swim with any manatees or fly any drones while you're there, as that is not permitted.
• The Fest: 3 days, 100s of bands, up to 10 venues, mostly punk.
• "The Swamp:" Known for being one of the largest and loudest stadiums in the country, in large part due to extremely enthusiastic fans, who also love to tailgate. It's a wide trawl of tailgate all around town, especially on Saturdays during the fall. Circling "The Swamp" before games is a tradition engaged in by a lot of folks dressed in orange and blue.
• Lake Alice: Do you like bats? Would you like to watch a cloud of bats eating an even larger cloud of insects around dusk? Have I got a lake for you!
• Florida Museum of Natural History: Quite a bit on South Florida, including much on native plant life along its waterways. But they're known for their Butterfly Rainforest.
• Ginnie Springs: You and your roommates can float down the natural spring river with a cooler of beer.
• Paynes Prairie: You and your roommates can watch wild bison and horses while hiking one of the park's eight trails. Possibly during a sunset! What more could you want?
• University of Florida College of the Arts: Contains smaller colleges like the School of Art and Art History, School of Music, School of Theatre and Dance, and Digital Worlds, and all offer art/lecture/performance/galleries for your enjoyment at little or no cost. Cultural evenings for free for you and all your roommates.

Here's the city of Gainesville's official .gov for local community Programs & Events.

Compare Gainesville roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

GRAND RAPIDS

Average roommate rent in Grand Rapids is $500.

Find a roommate in Grand Rapids: 1067th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 84th for quality of life.**

Your Grand Rapids roommate search may experience #20 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #26 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy a low cost of living in one of the best cities for young professionals with new Grand Rapids roommates: 45th Best for Young Professionals and 70th Lowest Cost of Living out of 228 cities in America.****

Grand Rapids neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Eastgate, Eastown, Fulton Heights, Ottawa Hills, North East Citizens Action, East Hills, Midtown, Michigan Oaks, Heritage Hill, and Belknap Lookout*****

Grand Rapids's largest hoodmap tags: hipsters trying too hard, MLK hood, the 1% live here, ramblehood, dive bars, older Christians, white Christianville.*******

Average commute = shorter than average (19 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Grand Rapids roommate rundown:

Probably most importantly for most is Grand Rapids is smaller, more navigably compact, more family-friendly, more neighborly, less expensive, with lower crime and better air quality . . . but still close enough to travel regularly to both Chicago and Detroit.

Not many commute round trip several times a week for work, but a few times a month for the cultural amenities exclusive to the largest urban areas? That's a good time for many roommates.

But what's to love when you're home in Grand Rapids?

It's lovingly and variously nicknamed: "Furniture City" (as the home of 5 leading office furniture companies), "River City" (the Grand River) and "Beer City" (there are about 40 popular craft beer spots right in the urban area).

Hopefully you'll also love all the seasonal weather. Grand Rapids' humid continental climate means humid warm summers, cold snowy winters, and enjoyably mild but short spring and fall seasons. Grand Rapids is one of the country's most snowy cities, with an average of 75 inches a year.

And hopefully you'll enjoy some of that seasonal weather outdoors. About 75% of residents live within a few minutes walking distance of a public park! You may also love the proximity to freshwater beaches, plus the two large urban nature centers totaling over 300 acres?

You may not love the lack of professional sports teams (they're all playing in nearby Chicago and Detroit), but it would only make sense to learn to love local ice hockey.

Grand Rapids is also well-known as a center for Christian publishing and excellent fruit. They particularly love their locally grown apples, peaches, and blueberries.

The rest of the Grand Rapids roommate lowdown:

• Grand Rapids was developed on the banks of the Grand River, 25 miles inland from Lake Michigan, where there was once a set of rapids above sea level that ships used for navigation. Grand River still flows through the center, but the rapids were long ago eradicated by dams.
• You will definitely need both heat and air conditioning for all the seasonal weather.
• second largest city in Michigan with about 200,000 within the city limits and about 550,000 in the surrounding county
• You can tell which quadrant of the city is referenced by its street address, they mostly have NW, NE, SW, or SE after the street name. East to west roads are usually called "Street." North to south roads are usually called "Avenue."
• There are connected bike routes, and "The Rapid" bus service has routes throughout the city. DASH buses ("Downtown Area Shuttle") provide free rides to and from parking lots designated as loading areas. But most of the time, especially during winter, you'll probably want a car. Convenient free parking is available most places outside downtown, and even downtown parking is not usually enforced evenings and weekends.
• home to several colleges and universities, including Grand Valley State University, Ferris State University, the Kendall College of Art and Design, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, and Western Michigan University
• Heritage Hill is one of the largest urban historic districts. You and your roommates could stroll by over 1300 structures representing over 60 architectural styles, all within one neighborhood directly east of downtown.
• center for Christian publishing companies and several private religious schools
• known as a center for apple, peach, and blueberry farming

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Grand Rapids':

• Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park: An outdoor sculpture park and the largest tropical conservatory in Michigan, plus an amphitheater with concerts in the summer
• Grand Rapids Ballet: If you and your roommates enjoy ballet, don't miss Michigan's only professional ballet company
• Blues on the Mall: Every Wednesday during the summer at Rosa Parks Circle. It's the best for summer downtown people watching.
• ArtPrize: Sculptures, murals, paintings, and performances! All in downtown Grand Rapids, and all competing for a cash prize of at least $200,000. Some say it's the world's largest art prize decided by public vote.
• home to two large urban nature centers, the Calvin Ecosystem Preserve, and the Blandford Nature Center, in total over 300 acres of nature trails, wildlife preserves, an animal hospital, and their "heritage village"
• Grand Rapids Symphony: The largest performance arts organizations in Grand Rapids. Since 1930!

Here's the city of Grand Rapids' official .gov Downtown Commuter Resource Guide, including a helpful map of bike trails.

Compare Grand Rapids roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

HALIFAX or DARTMOUTH

Average roommate rent in Halifax / Dartmouth is $475.

Find a roommate in Halifax, where the average proportion of income spent in rent plus utilities is 23%. Only 8% of renters live overcrowded.*********

Halifax is 26th out of 153 Canadian cities for cost of living, 19th best city to live in Canada, and 1st most livable city in Nova Scotia.**

Halifax's roommates are spending 47% < $ than NYC's.******

Halifax's largest hoodmap tags: dog walkers and nature enthusiasts, pizza corner, rich sailors, croissants, old people, cranky people, The Old Bridge, Fake Harvard, The New Bridge.*******

SO, roomiematch.com's Halifax / Dartmouth roommate rundown:

Halifax is the largest city in the Atlantic Provinces. Its population is a little over 400,000, which is almost half the total population of Nova Scotia.

Dartmouth is both its own incorporated town but also linked to Halifax a lot of ways: economically, via a transit system, plus literally via the A. Murray MacKay Bridge, as well as the Halifax-Dartmouth Ferry Service, which is the oldest salt water ferry service on the continent.

And the two areas together are just like a snowy postcard.

A snowily seafaring postcard from a busy wintry seaport with a dramatically irregular rocky coastline. That's over 250 miles long. That's a dramatic coastline.

It also features the most iconic "postcard" view of all of Canada, the beautifully stark Lighthouse at Peggy's Cove.

Apart from its ruggedly picturesque coast, Halifax also distinguishes itself with its dramatic enthusiasm for public transport.

And local celebrations by the sea.

(Often combining the two, as you would too, if you and your roommates lived in Halifax / Dartmouth.)

The rest of the Halifax roommate lowdown:

• Halifax is located on a peninsula with the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the north, the Bay of Fundy to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east.
• Dartmouth is nicknamed "City of Lakes." (Should we even say that's because there are a lot of lakes? But there are.)
• Halifax has the most used public transit in Atlantic Canada. There are dedicated bus lanes, regional express routes, passenger rail, and more public ferry service upcoming.
• Halifax has heavy precipitation year round, with winter featuring frequent freeze-thaw cycles. Hurricanes are occasional, and fog is often serious.
• Heavily indented coastline causes over 250 miles of coastline. It's mostly rocky with small sandy beaches in sheltered bays.
• over 200 official communities with various urban-rural characteristics
• wide variety of festivals throughout the year, including: Atlantic Film Festival, Atlantic Jazz Festival, Greekfest, Halifax International Busker Festival, Halifax Pop Explosion, Multicultural Festival, Natal Day, Nocturne Festival, Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, Shakespeare by the Sea, and one of the largest Canada Day celebrations
• naval and governmental center
• home to University of King's College, Mount St. Vincent University, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, St. Mary's University, Dalhousie University, Atlantic School of Theology, and the Technical University of Nova Scotia
• Halifax is represented by two professional sports teams, in both lacrosse and European football/soccer. There are quite a few smaller and local but enthusiastically supported ice hockey teams, and several amateur rugby clubs.
• Halifax has become increasingly attractive to cyclists with over 60 miles of dedicated bicycle lanes. More bicycling infrastructure is planned for the future!

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Halifax and Dartmouth's:

• Lighthouse at Peggy's Cove: Many have said this is the most iconic viewpoint for all of Canada? It's an historic lighthouse over granite cliffs. Many have also called it both bleak and beautiful.
• Maritime Museum of the Atlantic: Along with local Halifax artifacts, includes some associated with the sinking of the RMS Titanic
• Halifax Waterfront: 2-mile-long boardwalk with historic buildings, shops, and restaurants. During the summer you and your roommates can also catch a harbor boat tour.
• Halifax Common: Canada's oldest public park, since 1763
• Art Gallery of Nova Scotia: featuring the celebrated work of local artists: Maud Lewis (folk art), Alex Colville (magical realism) and Indigenous Mik'maq

Here's the city of Halifax's official .ca for Hurricanes, and general storm preparedness.

Compare Halifax roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

HARTFORD

Average roommate rent in Hartford is $800.

Find a roommate in Hartford: 1223rd out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 71st for quality of life.**

Your Hartford roommate search may experience #56 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #66 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy outdoor activities in a diverse city with new Hartford roommates: 66th Best for Outdoor Activities and 70th Most Diverse out of 228 cities in America.****

Hartford neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Downtown, Sheldon-Charter Oak, West End, Blue Hills, South West, and Asylum Hill*****

Hartford's largest hoodmap tags: you grew up playing ball here, this park be lit, rich white people in their 30s, private school nestled between hoods, even more rich soccer moms, old people live here, people exercising.*******

Average commute = shorter than average (22 minutes). Most households have only 1 car, less than the national average of 2 cars per household.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Hartford roommate rundown:

Hartford is one of the oldest cities in the United States.

Hartford also wants you to know it still hosts the oldest public art museum, oldest continuously published newspaper, oldest public farmers' market, oldest public rose garden, and the oldest publicly funded park in the entire country.

In addition to all the oldest listed above, Hartford also hosted the first coin-operated payphone. It was installed in a bank. However, that corner now hosts only a small blue plaque commemorating its location as "World's First Pay Telephone, Invented by William Gray and developed by George A. Long, was installed on this corner in 1889."

And a lot of Hartford is exactly that historical vibe.

But everything older in Hartford is celebrated by many well-educated younger, with the University of Connecticut, the University of Hartford, and Trinity College all nearby.

So you'd think something listed up above would have taken responsibility for Hartford's dominant nickname, right? But no.

As the headquarters for many insurance companies and the historic international center of the industry, Hartford has often been referred to as "Insurance Capital of the World" and "America's Filing Cabinet."

While that is a lot of paperwork, the city's motto still seems more profound, in Latin, "Post Nubila Phoebus" or "After the clouds, the sun." Seemingly appropriate for Hartford on a number of levels, not just the weather?

While Hartford gets a lot of clouds and a lot of sun (literally, all 4 seasons are a lot) . . . some metaphorical clouds are happening too.

Before the pandemic, downtown Hartford was mostly about the insurance offices and the insurance office employees, during the day. And not much else. As several companies relinquished their office space as their employees opted for remote work, downtown depopulated quite a bit. Ultimately, unfortunately, the pandemic didn't do downtown Hartford any favors.

But city planners have revival ideas for the future! Downtown plans that are less dependent on the office, including residential, including new units.

Plus live music and other events planned for weekends.

The rest of the Hartford roommate lowdown:

• Connecticut's capital, on the Connecticut River, 40 miles north of the Long Island Sound, 110 miles northeast of New York City
• Hartford's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean leads to strong northeast winds - very cold in winter and very warm in summer - periodic snow in winter - summer thundershowers
• about 125,000 residents
• home to Charter Oak State College, Central Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Hartford Graduate Center, Trinity College, Saint Joseph College, University of Connecticut, University of Connecticut School of Law, University of Hartford, and Wesleyan University
• Hartford is served by Amtrak, a number of buses (CTtransit), and the Hartford Line (commuter rail connecting Hartford with New Haven and Springfield). "CTrail" trains provide service along this corridor. There's also a free bus circulating downtown, the Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH).
• Hartford has a bicycle route running right through the middle including Bushnell Park, which is part of the East Coast Greenway, a 3000 mile route from the Florida Keys up to Maine. Some of the bicycle lanes are designated. You and your roommates can check with the city for same day bicycling updates.
• Hartford is known for its Italian cuisine, particularly its giant grinder shops, many in the South End.
• Many citizens of Hartford experience an intense rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the NY Yankees, even though (you are noticing, right?) both of those teams are not from Hartford? So you can't know who you'll offend with that one. You could play it safe and express enthusiasm for the UConn Huskies. No one will fault you for focusing your fandom on Hartford's local Huskies instead, especially their championship-winning men and women's basketball teams.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Hartford's:

• Bushnell Park: Near the state capital, designed by the same architect who designed Central Park in NYC, and the first publicly funded park in the country. Features historic sculpture, fountains, and a carousel.
• Elizabeth Park: Over 100 acres of green including more formal gardens, walking trails, a cafe, and the oldest public rose garden (also the 3rd largest rose garden in the country)
• Wadsworth Atheneum: Since 1842, America's first and now oldest public art museum, with more than 45,000 pieces in its permanent collection. Free for you and your roommates if you visit between 4 and 5 p.m.
• Connecticut Science Center: 9-story, architecturally significant, $165-million-dollar museum on the riverfront
• Dunkin' Donuts Park: Baseball field inaugurated in 2017, now hosting the Hartford Yard Goats
• Old State House Farmers' Market: Since 1643, the oldest public farmers' market in Connecticut, with fresh produce and local crafts summer through fall.
• Real Art Ways: Non-profit art space since 1975. Known for visual art, independent cinema, live music, and literary community events.

Here's the city of Hartford's official .gov for residents, with info on public libraries, trash, public safety, and transportation.

Compare Hartford roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

HONOLULU

Average roommate rent in Honolulu is $800.

Find a roommate in Honolulu: 148th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 83rd for quality of life.**

Your Honolulu roommate search may experience #59 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #118 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy health with young professionals with new Honolulu roommates: 24th Healthiest and 55th Best for Young Professionals out of 228 cities in America.****

Honolulu's roommates are spending 20% < $ than NYC's.******

Honolulu's largest hoodmap tags: canoes and filthy water, ugly airport from the 70s, US Air Force, spectacular sunsets, old money, football and swap meet, beverly hills of hawaii, 1000 people learning to surf, US Marines, colonizers in suits, nice drive.*******

Average commute = longer than average (29 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Honolulu roommate rundown:

Honolulu is Hawaii's capital, largest city, main airport, and overall port of entry for most of Hawaii's millions of visitors. Honolulu hosts about a million residents, and several million more tourists every year.

To say that cruise ships frequently leave the mainland to land at Honolulu is an understatement. Honolulu contributes $10 billion annually to their local economy via tourism.

Honolulu is the closest thing to paradise to many: tropical monsoon climate year round, lush green landscapes, peaceful nature trails, stunning waterfalls, pristine white beaches with endless surfing and sunbathing, and palm trees swaying near amazing fresh food, including delicious local bananas, papayas, and pineapples.

Also forget bundling up ever again while in Honolulu.

You don't even have to wear long pants. So most Honolulans don't.

No long pants = standard issue traditional Hawaiian culture merged with laidback mainland (Californian?) vibes. Their friendly, welcoming and relaxed vibes are known as aloha spirit! Aloha! Aloha is intended to be a relaxed but welcoming approach to life thought to reduce stress.

Which some find slightly ironic, from time to time. In addition to all the Aloha vibes, Honolulu Stress is real too, and you may need a lot of Aloha to handle it.

Because Honolulu also features a high cost of living and the worst traffic in the world.

You also have to keep a closer eye on anything that could rust or mold or suddenly get stolen.

Traffic in Honolulu and on the rest of Oahu is an ongoing crisis. Honolulu's rush hours have been ranked among the worst in the world, definitely the worst in the country. Try to spend less time overall driving anywhere near the interstates. If you can manage it, stay on smaller roads only, or no driving at all. Most roommates would be happiest spending as few as possible of their hours between 5-9 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. on any main road.

Honolulu is relatively low in violent crime, but property crime is significant. While exploring the city, keep all valuables stashed out of sight on your person, or whenever possible, locked up securely somewhere else entirely, possibly hotel safe or someone's home.

Your car is never a secure place to store anything. Assume anything even resembling anything valuable left out on a car seat visible to a public street even during the day will result in smashed windows.

Most drivers who've become accustomed to driving Honolulu make a concerted effort to leave their vehicle conspicuously visually empty, devoid of not just anything valuable, but any bag of any size that could potentially be full of . . . anything at all. Even dirty laundry has been stolen, leaving a sad pile of broken glass in its confusing place.

And yet, if that sounds too discouraging, Honolulu is also known for its relaxed and pleasant drivers, particularly compared to the mainland. They rarely use horns; they share their lanes; they're not in an overwhelming rush.

Overall, tourist areas tend to be higher in entertainment value but also higher in property crime. This is as it goes in Honolulu . . . but Honolulu is actually safer than most cities its size in terms of violent crime.

You'll also want to keep in mind that moving to Honolulu means that unless your loved ones also live in the Hawaiian Islands, visiting them will be costly in time and usually money. There won't be any weekend road trips to another state either.

While this has been an issue for many, for others, not as much as they'd previously imagined. If you make a lot of friends on the mainland then move to Honolulu, most will want to visit. Everyone you know will want to enjoy everything Hawaii has to offer as a tourist, but now with a helpful local (YOU) plus free lodging!

Especially with a guest room or even just a sleeper sofa, you could move to Honolulu, then just allow everyone you love on the mainland to take turns visiting. YOU will be their exciting new vacation destination!

The rest of the Honolulu roommate lowdown:

• Honolulu is on the southern shore of the island of Oahu. It's the main seaport for the Hawaiian Islands, and a major seaport overall since the 1800s.
• Honolulu means "sheltered bay" in Hawaiian.
• tropical monsoon climate, consistent and consistently lovely to most but prone to the occasional natural disaster or hazard like volcanoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis
• the extremely moderate climate means very little change in temperature throughout the year - the water stays warm year round with nearly tropical weather - the only noticeable seasonal difference is a few inches > rain in winter
• Honolulu rains suddenly and hard for about 10 minutes at a time, causing a lot of mold and rust. Many things outdoors have to be replaced more often due to the salty humid air.
• Even with all the downpours, only tourists carry umbrellas.
• center of government, commercial center, and the state's best known tourist destination: Waikiki Beach
• tourism and health care are the most prominent industries
• Honolulu features a high cost of living due to isolation from national markets. Generally higher costs for gas, electricity, groceries, and a lot of retail. Any food not locally sourced from the Hawaiian Islands is mostly flown in from much farther away. It's at least a 5-hour flight to the mainland.
• Keep in mind, unless your loved ones also live in the Hawaiian Islands, visiting them will be costly in time and usually money if you move to Honolulu. There won't be any weekend road trips to another state either.
• Asian Americans are most of Honolulu's population. The largest ethnic groups include Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Pacific Islander, and Korean.
• military defense hub, several military bases nearby, including Pearl Harbor, now home to the USS Arizona Memorial
• home to Chaminade University, Honolulu University, Hawai'i Pacific University, and the University of Hawai'i at Manoa
• Honolulu is not laid out in a grid. In addition, roads tend to take sudden twists and turns, basically swerving around local geography. Because attempting to tell north from south on an island confuses many, directions are given in terms of local landmarks, or mountains versus the sea, as well.
• Honolulu's streets can be narrow compared to the mainland, and everything a bit harder to see when it rains at night, which it often does. Drivers new to Honolulu are advised to plan to go slow on narrow streets and in the rain, to emotionally prepare yourself for other cars to drive very close to you (narrow streets), and to plan your routes in advance.
• Honolulu has a high percentage of car-free households (18%). In addition, even many with cars carpool to work or use public transportation with a wide and variable patchwork of options (more link below). Walking and bicycle sharing (Bikeshare Hawaii) are common as well. Bikes require more care to avoid rusting.
• Honolulu has no professional sports teams. And they're not likely getting any either, not if that would mean much traveling back and forth from the mainland. But they love their local road races which draw a competitively similar number of participants and spectators, including: the Great Aloha Run, the Honolulu Marathon, and the Honolulu Triathlon. The Honolulu Marathon draws more than 20,000 competitors every year, about half from Japan.
• There are also an absurdly large number of local sports teams, from high school to Little League to Ironman Hawaii.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Honolulu's:

• Bishop Museum: huge museum with large collection of Hawaiian and Polynesian culture artifacts, including the legacy of the last descendant of the Kamehameha Dynasty - also a planetarium, a Hawaiian history hall, and an area dedicated to volcanology
• Hawaii State Art Museum: visual art by Hawaiian artists
• Honolulu Museum of Art: largest art museum in the city, huge collections of both Asian and Western European art
• Diamond Head: ancient volcanic crater offering an incredible view over the city - however, either beware or rejoice (depending on how much cardio and/or sun you wanted that day) there are two sets of stairs, but both almost 100 steps and both nearly no shade. Locals advise you go early and bring water.
• Makapu'u Point State Wayside: roadside stop with an awesome view of Makapu'u Point and the Windward O'ahu coast, and sometimes humpback whales!
• Foster Botanical Garden: beautiful plants from around the world
• Liliuokalani Botanical Garden: also beautiful plants, this garden only plants native to Hawaii
• Waikiki Aquarium: partnered with the University of Hawai'i, contains a working marine biology lab
• Nisshodo Candy Store: Japanese sweet shop in business for almost 100 years, known for their Hawaiian style mochi, softer and less chewy than the Japanese variety.
• Ali'iolani Hale: Once a royal palace for King Kamehameha V., still features a larger-than-life gold leaf statue of him in front. But now home to the Hawaii State Supreme Court, that judiciary's law library, and their history archives. The Judicial History Center includes permanent collections open to you and your roommates.

Here's the hawaii.gov newcomer's guide, including info on how you and your pets can become residents, plus vehicle and other transportation options.

Compare Honolulu roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

HOUSTON

Average roommate rent in Houston is $700.

Find a roommate in Houston and save more than $420 per month ($5040 per year).* Houston is 903rd out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 93rd for quality of life.**

Your Houston roommate search may experience #140 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #120 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy diversity in one of the best cities to raise a family with new Houston roommates: 16th Most Diverse and 76th Best to Raise a Family out of 228 cities in America.****

Houston neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Medical Center area, Neartown-Montrose, Memorial, Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park, Clear Lake, University Place, Fourth Ward, Greenway/Upper Kirby Area, Meyerland, and Kingwood Area*****

Houston's roommates are spending 30% < $ than NYC's.******

Houston's largest hoodmap tags: Devil's Crossroads (aka traffic), gentrifying rapidly, habla espanol, trinity gardens, young rich professionals, good bar scene, still hood, trap trail, moms with cadillacs, south park mexican listeners, little mexico, huge old rich houses, doctors, gay friendly, here is where you go for breakfast tacos*******

Average commute = longer than average (28 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Houston roommate rundown:

Houston is the most populated city in Texas (about 2.3 million) over a sprawling metropolitan area. It's one of the nation's largest metros geographically. It's more than twice the size of Rhode Island.

So large in large part because their real estate development SPRAWLED. Many say Houston's lack of zoning kept it affordable, with a low cost of living for a large city in Texas - lower than both Dallas and Austin.

However, it also keeps spreading out (and out, and out again), virtually ensuring Houstonians remain automobile dependent. Much was built on forests, marshes, and swamps, with mostly flat terrain and four bayous passing through. Houston now has over 650 square miles of developed gulf coastal plain and prairie, some now prone to flooding.

Most Houstonians feel their highway system makes driving around Houston relatively easy, except for construction (somewhere, always) and rush hour (7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.). During rush hour, traffic often crawls to a halt.

Other than a few limited areas near downtown, Houston isn't friendly to pedestrians and bicycles. However, a number of non-profits are working on changing that. You can bicycle in Houston on 160 miles of dedicated bikeway, so far. Which is not enough to bicycle through any meaningful percentage of Houston . . . right now. But stay tuned.

Houston also has a reputation as hot and dangerous. Both the weather and the Houstonians.

The reference to crime could be described as both deserved and undeserved. While their violent crime rate is high, it concentrates a lot in neighborhoods known for gang activity. Generally, it's best to be aware where you are at all times, don't explore areas new to you all by yourself after dark, and stay out of deserted areas entirely.

But with regard to the weather? Entirely deserved.

Well. The weather in Houston from October to April is usually pleasant. Other months locals just shake their heads at heat-exhausted newcomers. "No, it's NOT a dry heat."

It's often extremely hot, but with a thick and enveloping humidity. It exceeds 90F most days from June to September. Until you're used to it or perhaps forever, limit your time outside in the summer between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., protect your skin (clothing/sunscreen/hat/all of the above) when you are outside, and hydrate at all times. Consider heatstroke an ongoing threat.

So you and your roommates will need a car to leave your immediate Houston neighborhood, almost always. And it must be air-conditioned. You need air conditioning indoors most places during the day as well. These things are all true most of the year. Newbies to Houston: Don't even argue or you might just die.

You also need to beware of hurricanes, flooding, and mosquitoes.

But hey, Houston also distinguishes itself with over 70,000 acres of dedicated parkland, for a grand total of 337 parks. Not even going to list all, but even 25% would be way more park than you could manage to explore anytime soon. You move to Houston? You're set for parks! (but go on a cooler day)

There's also the Big Thicket. That's the name given to over 100,000 acres of heavily forested Houston/Southeast Texas, recognized as containing several of its own ecosystems plus incredibly high animal and plant diversity. Some say it's the most biologically diverse area in the world! It's also now recognized as its own biosphere and national preserve. You and your roommates probably don't require the Big Thicket for anything practical, but you should probably go look. Just to experience it.

Because how many get a Big Thicket as interesting as all that? Near(ish) where you live inside a real city, even?

Only Houstonians. Everyone else can visit, but the Big Thicket belongs to Houston.

The rest of the Houston roommate lowdown:

• 50 miles inland from the Gulf Coast
• Houston is predominantly Hispanic or Latino, and also home to a number of large immigrant Asian communities.
• mild winters, intense summer heat and humidity, foggy year-round, frequent thunderstorms, hurricanes possible
• Houston currently has excessive ozone levels, or smog, which means some air pollution.
• both oil and international immigration have continued to bring Houston new citizens, now the 5th largest metro area
• Houston is a worldwide leader in oil, natural gas, medical research, and aerospace and aviation
• growing in tech startups including renewable energy
• over 50% occupied by renters
• Houston's extensive and rapid real estate development over a lot of flat terrain has led to flooding of the prairie land, which can become overwhelmed during storms, even with Houston's extensive drainage system. Houston has experienced significant property loss from floods during storms.
• Houston is the third most Christian metro area by % of population, with about 75% of Houstonians self-reporting Christian affiliation, second to Dallas. Lakewood Church has been reported as the country's largest Christian megachurch, with approximately 40,000 weekly.
• Houston sports a team for every major professional league except hockey. Houston Astros (baseball), Houston Texans (football), Houston Rockets (basketball), Houston Sabercats (rugby), and Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash (men and women's soccer). There are also several enthusiastically supported college teams, some golf tournaments, a Motocross, a Grand Prix, and IndyCar Series, and an Art Car Parade.
• Long known for excellent Tex-Mex, Cajun, BBQ, and Texas steakhouses, Houston now offers almost every ethnic restaurant option, many ranging from fine dining to food truck. Houston is also known for fresh produce and Gulf seafood, in particular crawfish and oysters from Galveston Bay.
• home to University of Houston, Houston Baptist University, Houston Christian University, Prairie View A & M University, Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, Texas Southern University, University of Texas Health Science Center, and the University of Saint Thomas
• Houston's Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world. It represents dozens of non-profit medical organizations and employs almost 75,000 people in virtually all health science capacities.
• no state or local income tax in Houston, but the combined state, county, and city sales tax is 8.25%
• Houston is hot and humid and built on swampland. That means serious mosquitoes. Outdoor parties with food mean you need insect repellent.
• Have a disaster plan and share disaster supplies with your roommates. Does your home have a disaster preparedness kit if you encounter severe weather there? If your home floods and cell service goes down, where will you meet? Do you have go bags?

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Houston's:

• Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo: World's largest annual livestock exhibition and rodeo show. 20 days in March.
• Houston Galleria: Largest mall in Texas, 9th largest in the United States. Almost 400 stores and 2 hotels.
• Museum District: 19 museums, most are free for you and your roommates on Thursdays
• Houston Theater District: 17-block area with 9 major performance arts organizations and 6 performance halls - also an entertainment complex with restaurants, billiards, bars, movie screens, and live music
• Downtown Houston Tunnel System: Largest underground pedestrian tunnel system in the US, 7 miles of air-conditioned tunnel, linking offices plus various downtown shops and restaurants, walk to all before resurfacing
• Art Car Parade: Annual event for "rolling art." Quite a few different vehicles have been spotted, including 2-wheelers and human-powered, but probably most loved for classic cars and highly modified, creatively decorated lowriders
• Space Center Houston: Visitor center for NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
• Hermann Park: 440 acres of pedal boats, nature trails, sculpture gardens and the Houston Zoo
• Smither Park: Mosaics from more than 300 folk artists working with various broken objects - you and your roommates are invited to walk around and enjoy a picnic - park continues expanding as more artists contribute!
• Rothko Chapel: Part chapel, with interior walls featuring the art of American Abstract painter Mark Rothko, and all work of art. Windowless building designed as a place of worship or meditation for any denomination or religious tradition. Since 1971.
• Houston hip hop: While Houston hasn't been as celebrated for its music scene as Austin, it holds its own with Southern and Southern Texas styles such as blues, country, dubstep and Tejano. Houston has also pioneered its own choppily remixed hip hop style, now claiming itself as the birthplace of many successful Houston hip hop artists, including Destiny's Child and Megan Thee Stallion.

Here's the city of Houston's official .gov for residents, with links to most city services.

Compare Houston roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

INDIANAPOLIS

Average roommate rent in Indianapolis is $400.

Find a roommate in Indianapolis and save more than $441 per month ($5292 per year).* Indianapolis is 903rd out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 93st for quality of life.**

Your Indianapolis roommate search may experience #68 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #48 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy higher quality real estate in a city with a lower cost of living with new Indianapolis roommates: 36th Best City to Buy a House and 50th Lowest Cost of Living out of 228 cities in America.****

Indianapolis neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Glendale, Broad Ripple, North Central, Delaware Trails, Wynnedale-Spring Hill, Millersville, Nora, Castleton, Meridian Kessler, and Clearwater*****

Indianapolis' roommates are spending 45% < $ than NYC's.******

Indianapolis' largest hoodmap tags: fast & furious wannabes, every type of food, fast cars drive in circles, golf courses, white hood ground zero, golden corral = fine dining, actually hipsters, cool new food court, artsy ppl w/antiques, hipster lake, lafayette scare, ppl who sit in lawn chairs in garages, cars on cinder blocks*******

Average commute = shorter than average (23 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Indianapolis roommate rundown:

Indianapolis is Indiana's capital, largest city, and geographic center. It's known for giving big city with smaller town mentality vibes.

Some have called it sleepy, and thought its nickname "Naptown" was somehow insulting and offensive. Like it was insinuating Indianapolitans were napping more than they somehow should. Because they're . . . too sleepy?

But different others say nope. "Nap" is just an informal stress on the fourth syllable in Indianapolis, with adding "town" a cute way of avoiding the rest of the syllables. They proudly stress "Naptown" was first coined by local jazz musicians, starting in the 1920s.

Lately there's also the Naptown Roller Girls and Naptown Stomp. Also Naptown = Too Sleepy would be hard to reconcile with Indianapolis' other popular nickname, "Racing Capital of the World!"

Did we need to mention Indianapolis is a major hub for motorsports? You've heard of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500 (and many other races), but did you know there are hundreds of other motorsport companies and teams, employing a total of about 10,000 locally?

That's sporting. In addition to everything Indy 500 (and many other races), Indianapolis is represented in the NFL and NBA, plus minor league baseball. And it also deservedly refers to itself as the "Amateur Sports Capital of the World!"

Multiple collegiate athletic conferences and associations all meet here. The general high enthusiasm for basketball throughout the state, not just their NBA and WNBA teams, but starting with large high school tournaments, then continuing through college, has been referred to as "Hoosier Hysteria!"

The hysteria itself is named after the critically-acclaimed film (Hoosiers), which is named after their 1954 state championship.

They've been Hoosier Hysterical since then. That's why they're also known as Hoosier Country?

Like a country with a river you can float down. Long ago, city founders wanted Indianapolis to become an important port. However, the White River wasn't navigable enough of the time. Sad for city founders back then, happy for you right now or whenever you'd like to kayak or paddleboat along a gorgeous canal large enough for ships but entirely without any ever getting in your way. No need for your own paddleboat either, it's easy to rent one right there.

The driving is also easy, especially for a city this large. It's laid out in an easily navigable grid. Traffic jams are rarely a concern, and drivers are polite and non-aggressive. That's the good news.

The bad might be you and your roommates will need that car. There are a few public bus routes (Indy Go), but waits are long and they don't go far. There are few nice bike lanes with many more miles planned throughout the next decade, but their bike lanes don't go that far yet either, and none are dedicated. Not a lot of walkable sidewalks either.

Indianapolis scores low on walkability but fairly high on all things driving. They do love driving.

They also love performing for each other, seemingly more than the usual amount. So many are so often singing, playing instruments, marching, and dancing.

And there are a lot of local performing arts organizations. Not just a regular symphony and a regular orchestra and a chamber orchestra, but a specifically Baroque orchestra and an orchestra just for kids. The American Pianists host their association here, along with Drum Corps International and Percussive Arts. There's even a non-profit just for music from the baroque, medieval, and renaissance eras, with an emphasis on including historically correct instruments.

Also they love dinner theater of the cocktail & cabaret variety. They really get into sounding both saucy and sauced, probably as soon as they're done racing around that day.

They're Indianapolitans!

The rest of the Indianapolis roommate lowdown:

• about 875,000 residents of the city, with about 2 million in the greater metro
• hub for agricultural and livestock commerce, academic medicine and health sciences research, drugs and pharmaceuticals, and information high tech
• Indianapolis has 100s of farms covering 1000s of acres, usually on the outskirts but within city limits, interspersed with housing developments, especially unusual compared to other similarly-sized cities
• Not exactly temperate, they do experience all 4 seasons, but with seasonal highs and lows less than most of the northeast and midwest. It tends to top out at about 85F in summer, it only snows every few years, and catastrophic storms are rare.
• Low unemployment rate, and many companies based in the region, including academic medicine and health sciences, agricultural, health insurance, logistics, and pharmaceutical. High tech, especially for logistic, is growing. Amazon and FedEx reroute a lot of packages right here. Sports tourism and the hospitality to support it are also huge.
• home to Butler University, Franklin College of Indiana, Herron School of Art and Design, Marian College, Anderson University, Indiana University, Purdue University, and the University of Indianapolis
• many golf courses (including one or two miniatures), and over 200 parks
• Indianapolis is known for deep-fried pork sandwiches, beef Manhattans (that's an open-face sandwich which might have mashed potatoes on top), and sugar cream pies.
• Also microbreweries. There are already about 50, with Sun King Brewing probably the largest, known most for Scottish-style and cream ales plus all the beer awards they won making those. If you and your roommates are at least 21, you can book a tour that would include samples of their most popular brews. But don't forget your ID, and don't wear sandals.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Indianapolis:

• Indianapolis Zoo: Home to the first underwater dolphin viewing dome. Also over 200 species of animals, and the White River Gardens with over 3000 different plants adjoins.
• Holcomb Observatory & Planetarium: Would you and your roommates like to look through the largest telescope in Indiana in one of the largest public observatories in the world? Have I got a planetarium for you!
• Indiana State Museum: Learn all about Indianapolis from way back when (fossils, Civil War) all the way through a hall dedicated to the Hoosiers and a sculpture garden dedicated to the counties of Indiana. Indiana-related trinkets in the gift shop and famous chicken soup in the Tea Room.
• Indianapolis Museum of Art: Since 1883, now covering over 150 acres. And over 53,000 works and over 5000 years of human history. The emphasis on outdoor art, murals, and public historic nature park installations featuring lush gardens emphasize their preference that art exist within and contribute harmoniously to the natural environment.
• Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art: Featuring a lot of Western art plus artifacts, art, and Native American history. They would like to help us understand Indigenous people through exhibitions of their art and culture. Many free lectures you and your roommates could attend.
• Conner Prairie Interactive History Park: Would you like to experience some authentic historical details of life in Indiana back in the 1800s? Periodic exhibits and a gift shop too.
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum: World's largest collection of racing, classic, and antique cars. You can also ride around the track.
• Indianapolis 500: Hosted above, but the main event is in May. Do you like loud cars, louder crowds, and tailgating? Don't miss it.
• Indianapolis Cultural Trail: 8 miles of maintained trail lined with public art, with Fountain Square and White River State Park along the way
• Monon Trail: over 20 miles, popular with walkers, joggers, bikers and rollerbladers, connects downtown Indianapolis to the suburbs
• NCAA Hall of Champions: Explore the history of college athletics
• Indiana State Fair: Everything you'd expect, plus Hoosiers and Prairie Home Companion - the best-attended summer event in Indiana.
• Oktoberfest: Do you enjoy German food, beer, live music, and dancing? Guess where you can do all four together? Annually since 1974.
• Indy Irish Fest: Dancing, food, booze, live music, sheep herding, Civil War reenactments, Celtic Mass, and a kilted mile.
• Bands of America Grand Nationals: The best marching bands in the country all competing together in one stadium.
• Harrison Center for the Arts: Local art and artists, four art galleries, dozens of personal studios, and First Fridays where you can check it all out for free, usually with live music.
• Kurt Vonnegut: As their most famous writer, Indianapolitans gave him The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library in 2010, and there's also a mural of him on Mass Avenue. Because he's a true Hoosier.
• Gainbridge Fieldhouse: See the NBA Indiana Pacers (November-April) or the WNBA Indiana Fever (June-September). Or you and your roommates could check out both home teams. WNBA tickets tend to be cheaper.
• Naptown Stomp: Teaching and spreading enthusiasm for vintage dancing, including Lindy Hop, with an emphasis on big band sounds of the 1920s and 1930s.
• Naptown Roller Derby: Indiana's first Women's Flat Track Roller Derby Association team. Watch the Tornado Sirens and another team go for all the rollerskate gusto.

Here's the city of Indianapolis official .gov for Moving to Indianapolis, including registering to vote and suggestions for life in Indy.

Compare Indianapolis roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

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And here's the roommate matching metro list.

JACKSON

Average roommate rent in Jackson is $300.

Find a roommate in Jackson: 1984th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 63rd for quality of life.**

Your Jackson roommate search may experience #120 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #96 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy a very low cost of living with new Jackson roommates: 23rd Lowest Cost of Living and 198th Best for Outdoor Activities out of 228 cities in America.****

Jackson's largest hoodmap tags: black people, trucks*******

Average commute = less than average (20 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Jackson roommate rundown:

Jackson is experiencing a lot of problems.

Serious problems.

Many apologists blame the pandemic and recent floods for seriously stressing their civic infrastructure. However, even more say almost all their current problems were a long time coming, insisting Jackson was headed for disaster due to long time neglect.

And they're no longer just headed, disaster's here. At least, a lot of the time. Sometimes Jackson sees civic services. Sometimes they don't.

It's true that Jackson also struggles with poverty (an alarming 25%), and cities that struggle with poverty tend to struggle to fund their infrastructure. But many have pointed out that despite Jacksonian lower median income, the neighborhoods that matter (the University, the Capital, all wealthier suburbs) seem to get the civic attention they need as soon as they need it . . .

. . .while other areas of Mississippi's capital city languish, going weeks or even months at a time without basic services? Like potable water? And trash pickup?

And with so much urban stress that's some percentage natural disaster, some percentage externally imposed, it's hard to say which other problems Jackson is experiencing are reacting or contributing?

Or reciprocating?

Jackson's recent troubles include: overflow flooding, severe unrepaired potholes all over public roads, abandoned buildings collecting problems but never torn down, sewage overflows into the river (swimming unsafe), tap water unsafe (must be boiled before drinking or bathing), filth coming out of faucets, nothing at all coming out of faucets/no water pressure, multiple and massive school closures due to lack of water pressure, a high poverty rate, a high unemployment rate . . .

. . . and the highest homicide rate in the country for the last few years.

And maybe file under "sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better," Jackson has now been judged so severely mismanaged it's actually illegal, in a federal sense. Basically, the federal government has decided the Mississippi state government let things get so bad in Jackson they should lose some of their "running Jackson privileges." So, they're going to take running Jackson out of the the state government's hands for a while.

Somehow. For some period of time, until some amount of improvement? Think they're still working it out.

So in the meantime? Why wouldn't you just write off Jackson entirely?

While no one wants their problems, you'd also be writing off the rest of Mississippi's state capital, this "city of soul," this "crossroads of the South," with a very low cost of living and very low rent.

Jackson is also home to most of the higher education in Mississippi, home to more Mississippians than anywhere else, and an historical hub of civil rights activity with their own museums explaining absolutely everything Jackson.

Last but not least, Jackson is a growing hub for both chefs and artists. Both groups tend to be interested in Jackson's low cost of living, abundant cheap fresh produce, and Southern hospitality.

Helpful locals say possible new roommates should know that while Jackson does have a high violent crime rate and that is a serious source of concern, most can avoid being near the crime that drives it. There's a lot of crime on the city's South side, because there are a lot of abandoned buildings and not a lot of civic services. That poor urban situation in turn has attracted gangs looking for unmonitored spots to commit crime.

Most of Jackson's crime doesn't take place in neighborhoods with destinations folks come from out of state to visit. If you're headed for the capital or a university or a well-known restaurant, gallery, or museum, that's not likely a high crime area.

Locals say be aware where you are in Jackson at all times.

Don't go exploring anywhere abandoned and/or anywhere on the South side by yourself.

Especially at night, stay near well-populated nicer areas seemingly far away from gangs dealing drugs. If you see an abandoned building and/or boarded up/broken/missing windows, go back from whence you came, STAT.

And hoard some bottled water.

The rest of the Jackson roommate lowdown:

• Jackson is Mississippi's capital, largest city, and most populous - a little over 150,000 in the city and 600,000 in the greater metro area
• city of Jackson is majority African American (about 84%), greater metro area majority white
• Jackson is the only city in Mississippi with > 100,000 residents
• named after President Andrew Jackson
• humid, swelteringly hot summers, mild winters, rain throughout the year, snow is rare but Jackson is prone to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, occasionally with large hail
• minimal public transport, not a lot of bike lanes - there are a few pedestrian-friendly areas in the arts district, but most people use personal vehicles
• burned down twice in the Civil War, sparing only the original capital and governor's mansion, so they don't have architecture from before the Civil War
• tourism highlights local history and culture, number of museums, documenting history of the Deep South, particularly own role (which is good, because almost everything else burned down in the Civil War)
• Jackson is on the "Civil Rights Trail," site of mass demonstrations in the 1960s, with many dramatic non-violent protests
• still processing the area's livestock, soybeans, cotton
• very low rent, one of the lowest costs of living of any US urban area
• about 25% residents below poverty line - Mississippi has the highest poverty of any US state
• one of the highest crime rates in America
• home to most higher education in the state, including: Antonelli College, Belhaven University, Hinds Community College, Jackson State University, Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Tougaloo College, University of Mississippi, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center
• one of Jackson's nicknames: "City with Soul" . . . birthplace of a lot of blues, gospel, folk, and jazz
• another of Jackson's nicknames: "Crossroads of the South." Jackson is in the Deep South, halfway between Memphis and New Orleans on Interstate 55 and halfway between Dallas and Atlanta on Interstate 20
• relatively high percentage college students and a lot of retirees

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Jackson's:

• Old Capitol Museum: Was not burned by Sherman, original Mississippi statehouse, from 1839-1903
• Mississippi Governor's Mansion: The other large building in Jackson from before the Civil War, you and your roommates can go on a tour.
• Mississippi Civil Rights Museum: Jackson was an important site of Civil Rights action.
• Mississippi Museum of Art: Since 1911, nationally significant and local artists
• Outlets of Mississippi: largest outlet shopping in the state
• LeFleur's Bluff State Park: Lush green spot with nature trails and camping in the middle of urban Jackson
• Big Apple Inn: Home to civil rights history, incredible tamales, and pig ear sandwiches
• Mississippi Petrified Forest: preserved stretch of ancient forest or fossilized tree or petrified wood. Over a hundred feet tall when they were alive, turned to stone millions of years ago. Maintained as a national landmark, also a gem and mineral museum.

Here's the city of Jackson's official .gov for residents, including public transportation, municipal services, and community events.

Compare Jackson roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

JACKSONVILLE

Average roommate rent in Jacksonville is $450.

Find a roommate in Jacksonville: 941st out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 87th for quality of life.**

Your Jacksonville roommate search may experience #16 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #35 in Best Places to Retire vibes***

Enjoy diversity and outdoor activities with new Jacksonville roommates: 52nd Most Diverse and 65th Best for Outdoor Activities out of 228 cities in America.****

Jacksonville neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Deercreek, Avondale, Jacksonville Beach, Secret Cove, Deerwood, Miramar, Windy Hill, Baymeadows, Southside, and San Jose Forest*****

Jacksonville's roommates are spending 42% < $ than NYC's.******

Jacksonville's largest hoodmap tags: successful blacks, people who speak in tongues, cruise ships and drunks, hipster hangout, Gotham City, old money, strip malls, kmart wasteland, traffic jam with a side of mall, florida state college, sailors, megachurch hell, The Ditch, more mf sailors, here be traffic.*******

Average commute = average (27 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Jacksonville roommate rundown:

Jacksonville is a land of beaches, bridges, golf courses, and parks.

All their bridges, all seven straddling St. Johns river, are a little bit famous. "River City" bridges are an iconic Jacksonville experience.

As is Southern Rock. Many say Jacksonville is the birthplace of Southern Rock, as it's definitely the birthplace of Lynyrd Skynyrd, so it's the epicenter, so there you go.

And all that's popular with vacationers, college students, and retirees. Many are the same folks at different stages . . . so just good reviews, ultimately.

Jacksonville is a beach town that still feels like a beach town should to many . . . a little more sleepy than completely unaffordable. It's still Sunshine State for sure, but someplace with lower roommate rent.

Beach bunnies love their beaches just as much in Jacksonville as anywhere else, but they're less crowded than in south Florida, and you've got three: Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and Neptune Beach. No surf breaks like Hawaii, but you can still catch a wave. Occasionally, you could even sidle right up to a waterside bar with no line ahead of you and get a drink almost immediately. Take that, Miami!

In addition to the abundance of available beachfront, did you know Jacksonville is not just the largest city in Florida by land area (over 870 square miles!), but also largest population within city limits, at almost a million?

Also, it's a serious mecca for golf tournaments. So obviously really nice courses the rest of the year too. Lots of golf and golf tourism, particularly related to the PGA Tour.

Jacksonville's NFL team is the Jaguars. Teal, black, and gold worn all together probably means someone's just a bit Jaguars-obsessed. If you want to get along with that person, you're a fan too. At the very least, you better not be rooting for Georgia.

Jacksonville also has several minor league teams, including a minor league baseball team (Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp) and . . . an NHL-affiliated ice hockey team? In Florida, yes, there they are, with an enthusiastic local ice hockey fan community!

Fans of the Jacksonville Ice Men!

If you'd like to enjoy the great outdoors but less beaches or golf courses or sporting events, perhaps more something with a tree-lined shady vibe? Or something less commercial?

Jacksonville has the largest urban park system in the country, with more than 80,000 acres of parkland over more than 400 locations around the city. You can boat, fish, jetski, sail, surf, swim, or just wander around in green.

So what's the bad news? It's up there already, but in a glass half full kinda way.

All those lovely urban features spread out over all those hundreds of square miles of still affordable real estate allowing those low roommate rents near all those beaches and parks and golf courses?

Glass half empty = Jax sprawls like a suburb.

Even though Jacksonville is actually literally urban, it's still too sprawling and still too suburban.

So traffic is often an issue along major arteries. There's little public transport, and it'll be expensive to improve on that, because there's too much land to cover. You and your roommates will want to plan all your routes in advance to avoid anything resembling a freeway anywhere near rush hour. Your quality of life will rely upon avoiding the wrong traffic (all of it) at the wrong time (whenever there's traffic). It's your happiness at stake.

In addition to rush hour on the interstate, summer's flying insects also frighten many. The mosquitoes and the roaches come super sized!

But summer's air conditioning bills frighten many Jaxons more.

The rest of the Jacksonville roommate lowdown:

• Jacksonville is in northeast Florida, about 25 miles south of Georgia and about 350 miles north of Miami, 16 miles from the Atlantic Ocean
• largest deep water port on the southern Atlantic Coast, nicknamed, "The River City" - leading port for auto imports
• almost a million in the city, greater metro area about 1,730,000, largest city in Florida by land area and population within city limits
• very heavy humidity, very rainy in July and August, winters are mild, humid subtropical climate, hot and humid summers, warm but mild and more dry winters
• home to Edward Waters College, Flagler College, Jones College, Jacksonville University, and the University of North Florida
• 20 miles of fairly available not crowded beaches
• 20% water, crossing bridges is an iconic experience, seven bridges over St. Johns River. In addition, Interstate 10 and Interstate 95 intersect in Jacksonville. This is the busiest interchange in the region, over 200,000 vehicles per day. Construction of new high speed interchanges and new freeways are under construction to relieve congestion, but it's an ongoing problem.
• Jacksonville rarely gets a direct hit from a hurricane, few hurricanes have caused severe flooding and knocked out power, but some areas experience periodic flooding
• more diversified, less based on tourism than a lot of the rest of Florida - banking, healthcare, insurance, logistics
• military and civilian deep water port - Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, U.S. Marine Corps Blount Island Command, and the Port of Jacksonville - third largest naval complex in the country, after Norfolk and San Diego
• sprawling over a huge geographical area, anything outside downtown, you and your roommates will need a car - over 870 square miles along both sides of the St. Johns River
• The Trout River (a tributary of the St. Johns) is entirely within Jacksonville.
• few bus routes, but they're not usually on time, they don't run at night - might enjoy biking or hiking the urban core, enjoy some of the architecture . . . not so much otherwise
• college sports, especially college football, very popular, number of rivalries including the Florida-Georgia game
• number of community theaters, including: long operating community, dinner, dedicated to arts education, and on the beach!
• There's a free monorail operated by Skyway downtown, connecting the north and south banks of the river, and offering a great view of the city. It's fun, it's a great view, you and your roommates should go . . . but it won't take you to the rest of jacksonville, nope!

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Jacksonville's:

• Friendship Fountain: World's largest and tallest fountain! One of Jacksonville's most popular free attractions, capable of spraying 17,000 gallons per minute, in a park with a nice view of downtown Jacksonville. Frequently lit at night, always near the Jacksonville Maritime Museum.
• Riverwalk: Scenic walking along the shores of the St. John's River, various attractions including the Friendship Fountain, jogging, biking, socializing, exercise equipment along the trail
• Riverside Arts Market: outdoor arts-and-crafts right on the Riverwalk, every Saturday from March to December under the Fuller Warren Bridge
• Jacksonville Public Library: The largest public library in Florida, circulating over 6 million items
• Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens: Art museum and formal garden along the Jacksonville waterfront - European, American, and Japanese paintings as well as porcelain - free to you and your roommates on the first Saturday of the month
• Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville: Downtown in the historic Western Union Telegraph Building across from Hemming Park - free to you and your roommates the first Wednesday evening of the month
• Ritz Theatre and Museum: On the site of the 1929 Ritz Theater movie house in Jacksonville's historic African American community, number of exhibits, events, and shows, part of a "scene" known as "Harlem of the South"
• Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens: > 2000 animals and > 1000 plants!
• Jacksonville Jazz Festival: second largest jazz festival in the country, more than 40 years, over Memorial Day Weekend
• Springing the Blues: Free outdoor blues festival, downtown Jacksonville Beach, in April - national, regional, and local blues artists
• Jacksonville Farmers' Market: Established in 1938, oldest in the state, unique local stuff!
• Lewis Ansbacher Map Collection: Do you love maps? Would you like to see hundreds of them? Now in the Jacksonville Public Library.
• Chamblin Bookmine: 23,000 square feet of floor to ceiling books, over 3 million "gently used" books in stock. Since 1976.

Here's the city of Jacksonville's official city website for community services, including animals and pets, garbage and recycling, driver's licensing, traffic information, and local maps.

Compare Jacksonville roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

KANSAS CITY

Average roommate rent in Kansas City is $550.

Find a roommate in Kansas City and save more than $375 per month ($4500 per year).* Kansas City is 1398th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 87st for quality of life.**

Your Kansas City roommate search may experience #73 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #115 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy one of the best cities to live with a lower cost of living with new Kansas City roommates: 71st Best City and 80th Lowest Cost of Living out of 228 cities in America.****

Kansas City neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Longview, KCI, Shoal Creek Valley, Midtown/Plaza, Country Club/Waldo, Line Creek Valley, Downtown, Red Bridge, Gashland/Nashua, and Little Blue Valley*****

Kansas City's roommates are spending 44% < $ than NYC's.******

Kansas City's largest hoodmap tags: poor grandmas, burnt hair smell, spooky rednecks, overpriced bars, our beloved beer factory, vinyl hipsters, liberal arts students, best hood BBQ, the blues, wedding pictures, expensive homes, BBQ for whites that are scared of blacks*******

Average commute = shorter than average (23 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Kansas City roommate rundown:

Kansas City is right in the middle of everything American. At least the lower 48.

It is America's heartland, especially in the sense that it is the geographic center.

Kansas City spreads across the border of Missouri and Kansas and splits, with Kansas City, Missouri on the east side of the Missouri River, and Kansas City, Kansas on the west. While the Missouri River is not the only separation, most people treat Kansas City as just one metropolis most of the time.

That's a metro that's a major meeting point for several very busy freeways. Four major interstate highways pass right on through.

And all of that is completely surrounded by suburbs.

And all those suburbs are completely surrounded by farmland.

And this whole region is famous for both barbeque and the blues . . . often known as jazz.

Kansas City is so famous for BBQ it hosts the American Royal BBQ Contest. That's the largest BBQ contest in the entire world.

Kansas Citians tend to feel Kansas City has the best BBQ, of course. Their sauce is distinctively sweetened with more molasses and more tomato than thinner sauces. They also celebrate their own "burnt ends," usually the charred edges of beef brisket. But there's even passionate debate over who has the best KC BBQ. With about 100 BBQ restaurants in the KC area, that's quite the contest.

Kansas City has its own large jazz scene with its own jazz style, bluesy and swinging. Dozens of restaurants and clubs feature their own live entertainment, some even nightly.

They also benefit from a diversified economy, and a low unemployment rate coupled with a low cost of living.

So with all that blues and BBQ, what could be bad?

It's unfortunately fair to say Kansas City has suffered significant damage from both storms and sprawl.

Yes, Kansas City is also famous for being in the middle of "Tornado Alley," the area from northern Texas up through the Dakotas where tornadoes are most frequent.

The weather can occasionally be as dramatic as you've been led to believe in the Wizard of Oz. You and your roommates and your little dogs too will need to beware of both tornadoes and ice storms.

Kansas City can be severely windy due to no large body of water nearby. Since there's next to nothing topographic to obstruct air currents, it's a continental climate. That means big swings and extreme changes. Their summers are hot and humid and often over 90F, while snow in winter can exceed a foot. Ice storms can also knock out your power.

Tornado sirens will warn you when a twister is nearby. Make sure you and your roommates have an emergency plan that includes an emergency bag with first aid supplies.

As for sprawl, remember all that highway? Their extensive freeway network has more highway lane miles than most metro areas, including much larger. The upside is less congestion, plus it's great for the local logistics industry.

The downside is the contribution to Kansas City's sprawl, which has been bad historically for areas near downtown.

But Kansas City locals still say all that lonesome highway is still upside, just not completely unqualified. Growth must be handled correctly to avoid asphyxiating downtown, but there's increasing civic motivation plus money behind doing better.

In last decade or so, downtown revitalization efforts have accelerated, with many once abandoned buildings downtown now being rehabbed into condos and lofts. They're also right near all the stuff in the middle you'd probably like them to be near, like downtown restaurants, clubs, performing arts and sports venues.

The rest of the Kansas City roommate lowdown:

• large city on the Missouri River, most populous in Missouri and largest by area - about 500,000 inside the city, about 2 million in the larger metro
• Many once abandoned buildings downtown now being rehabbed into condos and lofts, like the Power & Light Building, the Commerce Bank Tower, near the T-Mobile center (sports complex with almost 20,000 seats), and the Midland Theatre
• major league teams include the NFL Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), the MLB Kansas City Royals, MLS Sporting Kansas City. They don't have NBA, but they do have WNBA, the KC Crossover, and a team in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the Kansas City Current.
• home to Cleveland Chiropractic College, Kansas City Art Institute, William Jewel College, Avila College, Baker University, Mid-America Nazarene College, Ottawa University (Kansas City Branch), Park College, Rockhurst College, Saint Mary College, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, University of Kansas, University of Kansas Medical Center, and the University of Missouri
• A few densely populated neighborhoods are also walkable, but if you're in one that's not or leaving yours, you can ride a bus between tourist destinations in the metro core, which also connects downtown, and with limited service to the suburbs. Anything else you're car dependent.
• Kansas City is easily navigable, with east-west streets numbered from Main Street, and north-south from St. John Ave in the River Market area.
• diversified economy, good job market, low unemployment
• The federal government is the largest employer in the area, including the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Defense, Social Services Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• metro area hosts six casinos, plus riverboat casino gaming on the Missouri River

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Kansas City's:

• River Market: Restaurants, bars, a farmers' market every Saturday, even in winter
• Crossroads Arts District: 7-9 p.m. on the first Friday of each month is free entry to most galleries, who sometimes have free crackers, cheese, and wine. Often a whole crowd walking around, visiting food trucks, especially in summertime. Also former industrial spaces, some have now become home design or clothing stores.
• Country Club Plaza: Covered in fountains, from traditional to modern, some including synchronized jet displays - in large part why one of Kansas City's nicknames is "City of Fountains"
• Central Business District: Many art deco buildings
• Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium: Known for their sharks, starfish, and stingrays
• College Basketball Experience and College Basketball Hall of Fame: Over 40,000 square feet showcasing various college basketball claims to fame, including interactive basketball exhibits.
• Community Christian Church: Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
• Kansas City Irish Fest: Kiss them, they're Irish! Or drink the free-flowing whiskey. Or one then the other, maybe whiskey first?
• Charlie Parker Memorial at the Jazz Museum: Enjoy the 18-foot tall brass green head of Charlie Parker paying tribute to Kansas City, the Jazz Museum, and even jazz itself. "Bird Lives!

Here's Kansas City's official .gov, with all their departments, from health and housing to parks and recreation.

Compare Kansas City roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

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And here's the roommate matching metro list.

KNOXVILLE

Average roommate rent in Knoxville is $450.

Find a roommate in Knoxville: 1760th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 68th for quality of life.**

Your Knoxville roommate search may experience #21 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #43 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy a low cost of living in one of the best cities to live and retire in America with new Knoxville roommates: 51st Lowest Cost of Living, 91st Best City to Live, and 105 Best City to Retire out of 228 cities in America.****

Knoxville's roommates are spending 46% < $ than NYC's.******

Knoxville's largest hoodmap tags: lots of beer and coffee, craft beer, frat bro territory, cyclists & beer, college housing/parties, highschool dropouts, grad students.*******

Average commute = shorter than average (20 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Knoxville roommate rundown:

Knoxville is the third largest city in Tennessee, after Nashville and Memphis . . . and that's the way many who've spent time in Tennessee but not in Knoxville tend to think of it.

All 3 Tennessee metros share hot and humid summers, cooler winters, and an enthusiasm for local music and sports. But Knoxville has its own vibe and culture to recommend it that's all Knoxville and nobody else, no matter what Nashville and Memphis have to say about it.

Dolly Parton began her career here, and you can still visit Dollywood in nearby Pigeon Forge. And Quentin Tarantino references Knoxville in all his movies. Are you really going to argue with both of them?

Considered the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, as it's about half an hour from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it's a bit of an understatement to say Knoxvillians have access to great hiking trails. GSMNP for the less experienced, the Appalachian Trail for the very serious. On both the mineral-rich springs and fresh mountain air are thought to invigorate health.

Knoxville is one of the largest cities in the Appalachian region, and a proud repository of Appalachian culture, including music, literature, food, folklore, history and scholarship.

Knoxville is also extremely proud of Big Orange, otherwise known as the "Volunteers" or the "Vols" (the telephone area code for Knox County is 865 or VOL) or the University of Tennessee Volunteers football and basketball teams. Most athletics at UT are incredibly popular and attended by extremely enthusiastic fans. Big Orange has some of the largest on-campus stadiums in the entire world.

The University of Tennessee, with about 25,000 students, is within walking distance of downtown. But the love of Big Orange reaches a lot farther than that. Over 100,000 have attended a single game in Neyland Stadium.

Along with supporting their more mainstream local sports, many Knoxvillians are into some alternative athleticism as well. Like bass fishing, motorcycling, and craft ax throwing?

Nearby Kentucky Lake basin is legendary for largemouth bass fishing. And "America's Motorcycle Road," the "Tail of the Dragon," featurs a severely badass 318 curves over 11 miles. But you can motorcycle a lot of lower key loops as well. Local bikers love just riding through Smoky Mountain National Park or along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

And ax throwing kinda speaks for itself, right? If you're feeling completely horrified, you are intended to receive some preparatory instruction, then throw axes only at agreed upon targets within an approved facility. Let's hope everyone's listening to those instructions.

Knoxvillians also really love Christmas. Well, they love their local special events and festivals overall, but one of their longest and most attended is Christmas in the City. Many popular Christmas events take place at historical sites of interest all over the city, and it's eight entire weeks long, just one event after another, including: Big Ears Festival, Boo at the Zoo, Fantasy of Trees, International Biscuit Festival, Knoxville Hardcore Fest, Rhythm & Blooms Festival, and Volapalooza.

There's also a Singing Christmas Tree. That's a large tree-shaped object with platforms stacked with real human singers! Who sing at all of Knoxville! Because Christmas!

And you and your roommates could enjoy all that's uniquely Knoxvillian inside a diversified economy, with low roommate rent and a low cost of living.

The rest of the Knoxville roommate lowdown:

• Knoxville is on the Tennessee River between the Cumberland Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains, in the Great Appalachian Valley. The Tennessee River slices through the downtown area.
• almost 200,000 in the city, Knoxville greater metro is about 880,000
• Humid subtropical climate, hot and humid summer, much cooler winters with infrequent snow flurries. It's rarely below freezing, and precipitation is moderate year round. Summers are long, but the mountains ranges shelter it from extreme winter temperatures, and it's sunny about 200 days a year.
• home to Maryville College and the University of Tennessee
• Boaters love the Tennessee River, overall and that it runs right through Knoxville. If you're super stylish you could sail past traffic right up to Neyland Stadium for a big game.
• Knoxville's industries have historically been agriculture, mining, timber, some manufacturing, but in the last few decades tourism and second homes have assumed much larger roles.
• If you live someplace with a basement or another area that can collect moisture, you have to watch out for mold. There's also a lot going on for allergy sufferers. If one of your roommates suffers from dampness-related allergies, they might need to stock up on medication plus keep an eye on the basement.
• Parking is easy most of the time, only ever a problem around huge athletic events or right around the University of Tennessee. Pedestrians feel fine downtown, but anywhere else isn't amenable to walking or biking. There is a bus service (Knoxville Area Transit, or KAT) with a beautiful downtown terminal, which often offers special routes for downtown special events. There's also a free trolley that can take you around downtown and the U, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
  
  But overall, bus service is infrequent, and sidewalks outside downtown are also mostly non-existent. You and your roommates will need a car to "find your place on Rocky Top."

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Knoxville's:

• Market Square: Historic downtown square featuring popular local shops and restaurants, fountains, live music, and a statue commemorating Tennessee's fight for women's suffrage
• Volunteer Landing: Knoxville's riverwalk along the Tennessee River, complete with fountains you and your roommates can actually play in. Yes, we know many dream of playing in human-sized fountains, but so very often that's so disappointingly discouraged! But not at Volunteer Landing!
• Kentucky Lake basin: Do you like to fish? How about bass? This lake is the most legendary for largemouth bass fishing.
• Museum of East Tennessee History: History of Knoxville, including Native Americans through Davy Crockett and the Revolutionary War, then the Civil War
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Knoxville is a half hour away from one of the largest parks in the country, featuring hiking on 800 miles of nature trail, plus camping, fishing, horseback riding, and bicycling.
• University of Tennessee Botanical Gardens: Over 1000 woody and 2000 herbaceous plants over 12 acres. Free since 1982, over 50,000 folks visit every year.
• Knoxville Urban Wilderness: Over 60 miles of greenway, a nature center, wildlife area, fishing, lakes, quarries, playgrounds, hiking, ziplining, biking, climbing, paddling or just walking around in a 1500-acre outdoor adventure center . . . right in Knoxville.
• Greenways: Knoxville is in the process of expanding their paved greenways connecting the suburbs with downtown, the University, and the stadiums. These have various names, including: Neyland, Sequoyah, Jean Teague, and Cavet Station.
• Women's Basketball Hall of Fame: Uniquely dedicated to all levels of women's basketball
• Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Since 1935, the oldest orchestra in the southeast, performing hundreds of times a year
• Grindhouse Video: It's a video store! It's still there! Not only is it "still" there as a video store, but they actually moved to Knoxville in 2022. Because this place has its own cult following. New and used blu-ray, DVD, VHS, laserdiscs, and vinyl - also because when you're such a horror movie buff you require constant access to your favorites, you might have to go with some physical media after all. You can't necessarily rely on streaming services to keep everything constantly available, and more obscure titles possibly aren't available at all.
• Zoo Knoxville: More red pandas born here than any other zoo in the entire world. They've also got Tonka, the largest African bull elephant in the US, and a 525-pound 150-year-old Aldabra tortoise they call Al.

Here's the city of Knoxville's official .gov for city departments and offices, including community safety, area transit, and parks and recreation.

Compare Knoxville roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

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And here's the roommate matching metro list.

LAS VEGAS

Average roommate rent in Las Vegas is $500.

Find a roommate in Las Vegas and save more than $437 per month ($5244 per year).* Las Vegas is 970th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 84th for quality of life.**

Your Las Vegas roommate search may experience #136 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #102 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy diversity in one of the best cities to retire with new Las Vegas roommates: 24th Most Diverse and 61st Best City to Retire out of 228 cities in America.****

Las Vegas neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Summerlin, Sovana, The Lakes, Peccole Ranch, and Canyon Gate*****

Las Vegas' roommates are spending 43% < $ than NYC's.******

Las Vegas' largest hoodmap tags: it stinks right here, bezosland, lock your doors and watch yo kids, little mexico, locals be gamblin', actual culture, golf for old men, hood walmart, china town, sin city goons, you'll get robbed, north town, high profile golf people here, tupac got shot here, ethiopia, hendertucky, educated professionals, the olds, mormons and really old people*******

Average commute = shorter than average (26 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Las Vegas roommate rundown:

Las Vegas is the largest city in Nevada, in a basin in the Mojave Desert. It's the driest metropolitan area in America.

Common nicknames include: Sin City, Entertainment Capital, The Brightest Spot on Earth, Disneyland for Adults and . . . Wedding Capital of the World.

They've also got a very famous slogan, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

And some of that is true. Some's more hype than reality.

With regard to boozing in public, walking around the Strip with an open container of alcohol is allowed. And it's always cocktail hour in Vegas. For someone. Who's probably just getting off work, possibly from her strenuous job performing, so there's a more freewheeling attitude toward partying 24/7 than anyplace else.

Gambling is legalized. Many gaming options exist all over the city.

And many Vegas stage shows are sexually suggestive.

And . . . that's about it.

Meaning, other than their unusually permissive attitude toward the previous, you still can commit crimes in Vegas that will get you in just as much trouble as anywhere else.

There are even places you can still get arrested for drinking alcohol from an open container on a public street. Usually not the Strip (if you're not obnoxious or obviously over your limit) but as other areas are possibilities, partiers need to know where they are.

And both drinking while driving and driving while intoxicated are definitely illegal here too.

But not to be negative, just constructive: If you and/or one of your roommates is new to Vegas, of course you're going to want to take a walk on the Strip. Go for it!

But locals warn that casinos are usually farther away from each other than they initially appear to be, due to their looming size within their own landscape. In addition, the extreme heat on asphalt during the day may make walking more exhausting for newbies unaccustomed to extreme heat. Heatstroke is happening in Vegas, more often than most new roommates imagine.

Take care to avoid both dehydration and overheating, especially when walking outside with alcohol in your system. Even after dark! Many casinos are connected via underground tunnels or air-conditioned shuttles. Many thought they were too hardy to bother with tunnels or shuttles, then sweatily turned back a short time later after outdoors felt like a furnace.

Las Vegas in general but particularly the Strip attracts pickpockets . . . just like most larger tourist destinations. So keep your wallet in an inner pocket and/or your purse securely closed and strapped to your body, or consider stashing purse valuables in inner pockets too.

Also FYI, casinos have security cameras over every square inch of their property, plus both uniformed and plain-clothed security officers constantly patrolling. No one should behave in any way that's against their rules and expect to get away with it, that's unlikely. But if someone is bothering you it's very easy to get them to stop.

But all that security still won't save pedestrians from being hit by cars? Yes, the Strip is uniquely dangerous to pedestrians. Some drivers become mesmerized by the gorgeous displays of music, water, and light. And some drivers become drunk by free cocktails.

Anywhere in Vegas, especially near a casino, pedestrians need to assume all drivers are out to mow them down like they're all triple jackpots. Pedestrians in Vegas need to keep THEMSELVES safe.

And in a car? Most locals avoid driving longer distances anywhere near the Strip or downtown, especially on weekends, it's almost all gridlock. Locals either park their cars nearby, then get out and walk to their final destination (when heat allows), or use nearby lesser-known streets to get almost all the way there, joining the gridlocked herd for as little mileage as possible.

As a pedestrian and in a car, you and your roommates will need similar traffic-avoidance strategies if you plan to spend much time near the casinos but would rather not spend an equal amount of time in a massive traffic jam. Basically, you'll need to figure how to go where you need to go in air-conditioned comfort while avoiding most everyone else doing same.

Figure the best route possible, maybe even involving free hotel shuttles that often cheerfully transport non-guests, even those living nearby that never stay in the hotels. Hardly anyone cares as long as you're polite. Don't behave in any way to make that free (to you) shuttle difficult or unpleasant for the hotel customers actually footing its bill, and it's unlikely anyone will boot you.

As for Las Vegas being the Wedding Capital of the World, well, that's the only nickname mentioned so often UNenthusiastically? At least for many, depends on who you're asking, but Las Vegas' legitimate reputation as Wedding Capital of the World is paired with its also legit rep as Divorce Capital of the World.

And yes, if you regard marriage as a sacrament, too many might seem sacrilegious. To you. But you might want to refresh critics on a few details: Many do get married same day in Vegas, even by Elvis impersonators, yes it's true. But unlike what's popularly imagined, you still do have to apply for a marriage license with valid government ID. While the Las Vegas Wedding Bureau is open most of the time (including holidays), and no blood test or waiting period is required, it's not happening within a half an hour or less, definitely nope.

You can actually get turned away for drunkenness too . . . though that's unreliable.

So it's amusing that some negatively judge Las Vegans for facilitating all that marrying and divorcing, because they didn't choose the participants, did they? So if anyone's making fun of Vegas for helping out, you could point out that sure, that's happening, but everyone else involved is usually coming from out of town?

This is probably a good time to point out that all these warnings are necessary because SO MANY go to Las Vegas TO HAVE FUN. And judging from repeat visits, most succeed. All the warnings are necessary because sometimes adults have a little more fun than they can handle and need to take a few more precautions.

But you wouldn't need all the precautions around all that fun if fun wasn't happening in the first place. You and your roommates should just Vegas safely.

While Las Vegas can feel more like an oven outdoors several months out of the year, the winters make everyone jealous. And while many leave it to the winters for outdoor exploring, some braver souls go year round, particularly in campervans.

Within a day's drive in your campervan are several climbable limestone canyons and peaks, plus national parks and preserves, to explore on their own, as well as for overnight stays.

Hiking, camping, rock climbing, mountain biking and skiing are all available in the nearby mountains. Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire State Park are particularly stunning.

Given the high temps, many are also surprised that ice skating is popular? On the other hand, if you can have all those fountains on the Strip outdoors in the heat, why not indoor ice skating rinks?

They have an NHL ice hockey team (Vegas Golden Knights), and a Las Vegas Ice Center, inviting all levels, from family skate to figure. A few hotels also feature rinks, particularly for seasonal presentations.

It's really the vibe of Vegas that it is Christmas year round. Along with always time for a cocktail.

Even though it's never actually cold enough for even ice cubes to last outside, perhaps you and your roommates should do Christmas year round in Sin City too.

The rest of the Las Vegas roommate lowdown:

• 6th most visited city in the US, with almost 3 million visitors annually, more stuff open 24/7/365 or very close to it than anywhere else
• about 630,000 live in the city, 2.2 million in the greater metro
• in a basin in the Mojave Desert, surrounded by mountain ranges, rocky deserts, occasional flash floods due to monsoons in July and August
• home to the University of Nevada, College of Southern Nevada, Nevada State College, the Desert Research Institute, and Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts
• famous for casinos and mega-resorts, usually lavishly decorated and neon-lit, replicas of famous architecture from around the world
• Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fights are their most popular in Las Vegas
• So are really elaborate fountains.
• typical desert climate, extremely long, hot summer, cools off at night, winters are mild, about 310 sunny days a year
• with very low humidity and temps often exceeding 100F, newbies will need more sunscreen outdoors than many initially imagine
• Vegas charges more absurd transaction fees than almost anywhere else, so avoid withdrawing cash from any ATM inside a casino or nightclub, they often charge ridiculously high fees. Instead check with your bank to determine where you can withdraw for free.
• There is a Nevada state law that all gamblers must be at least 21 years old, with current government-issued ID saying so. If you look underage and have no ID saying otherwise, you will be asked to leave. Local police may also give you a ticket (probably not) but if someone under 21 wins a jackpot all by themselves they probably won't collect, as their bet will be voided as illegal. So anyone with roommates under 21 should warn them that even if they somehow sneak their way in without proper ID and win a jackpot, they probably won't actually collect.
• Downtown Las Vegas, The Strip, Henderson and East Los Vegas are neighborhoods that are saturated with casinos. West of I-15 and North Las Vegas are mostly residential and suburban.
• The Las Vegas economy is heavily gaming (gambling), tourism, and conventions, which in turn drive retail. The University also contributes substantially.
• There are frequent buses on the Strip connecting to downtown. The Las Vegas monorail goes to several Strip hotels and the Las Vegas Convention Center. It'll give you a slow-moving tour of the back entrance to all the Strip hotels. But since it doesn't go very far, not even connecting to downtown or the airport, it's not practical for much else.
• Las Vegas has been the leading entertainment hub for adults since Nevada legalized gambling in 1931. Las Vegas has no competitor in terms of amount of US gambling. Also no competitor in terms of Southern Californians crowding I-15 every weekend going back and forth.
• Las Vegas' buses are all air-conditioned. Tickets are only 2 bucks, and there are convenient ticket vending machines. You can also buy passes. They're great for recuperating and cooling off.
• The hotel gift shops and convenience stores near the Strip tend to be outrageously overpriced. There are no major groceries anywhere near the strip, not for a few miles away. You and your roommates should plan to do your grocery shopping elsewhere or overpay.
• Most of the hotels in Vegas are famous for their buffets. Most feature a spread, but going for breakfast or lunch will usually be a much better value.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Las Vegas':

• World Series of Poker: June and July, almost all top poker players attend
• Las Vegas Aces: WNBA team that relocated from San Antonio, now their arena is inside the Mandalay Bay casino
• America's Party: New Year's Eve, every year. The Strip is closed to cars so the crowd and the fireworks can commence. If you'd like to ring in the New Year in the middle of a massive mob doing same, this is the party for you. If NOT, definitely avoid anyplace in Vegas near any casino. You could get swept up in festivity against your will.
• Mob Museum: Otherwise known as the National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement, its mission is "to advance the public understanding of organized crime's history and impact on American society." Experience artifacts like wiretap recordings, Bugsy's sunglasses, one of Nucky Thompson's suits, and a valise with hidden flasks.
• Pinball Hall of Fame: Not far from the Strip, many you can play for only 25 cents, a few cost more, and there's over 200.
• Cactus Joe's Desert & Garden Nursery: Voted Best Garden Store/Nursery by the Las Vegas Review - Would you and your roommates like some succulents or cacti to decorate your home or yard? Seven acres, including outdoor furniture, yard sculptures, and cholla skeletons. There's also a chapel, a koi pond, some yoga gatherings, and a gift shop with Indigenous pottery. Since 1989.
• Neon Museum: Neon signs from Las Vegas' retro modern, burlesque, and kitschy iconic past remain in this storage yard. Tours are offered daily, and if you and your roommates go on yours after sunset you can see some of the signs light up.
• KISS by Monster Mini Golf: 13,000 square feet of KISS memorabilia, including a giant Gene Simmons head. You can play a round of miniature golf and renew your wedding vows in their "Hotter than Hell" wedding chapel, all to the sounds of a live DJ spinning KISS nonstop.
• Electric Daisy Carnival: Rave in mid-May with the world's biggest DJs. Interactive art, dancing for days, and you can chill out in between events in a "shift pod." You and your roommates should use the buddy system, and newbies need to remember to avoid getting so high you dehydrate or require medical intervention for another reason.
  
  Wear lightweight clothing and comfortable shoes, and don't forget your water bottle for the free refill stations.
  
  Then don't forget to actually use the free refill stations, then drink from your water bottle.

Here's the city of Las Vegas' official .gov for new residents, including registering to vote, local maps, neighborhood services, natural gas, and the DMV.

Compare Las Vegas roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

LITTLE ROCK

Average roommate rent in Little Rock is $300.

Find a roommate in Little Rock: 1839th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 83rd for quality of life.**

Your Little Rock roommate search may experience #102 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #119 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy a low cost of living in one of the best cities to buy a house or retire healthy outdoor activities with new Little Rock roommates: 34th Best to Buy a House, 39th Best to Retire, and 53rd Lowest Cost of Living out of 228 cities in America.****

Little Rock neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Hillcrest, River Mountain, Downtown, Heights, Midtown, Walnut Valley, West Markham, Rock Creek, and Briarwood*****

Little Rock's largest hoodmap tags: back to business, psycheward, gentrification in progress, giant hospital sirens every day, art and food, you might die here, pokemon GO*******

Average commute = shorter than average (25 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Little Rock roommate rundown:

Little Rock is proud of its place on our nation's civil rights trails (plural, various).

From Jazz in the Park to Juneteenth (they've been celebrating theirs for decades now!), Little Rock has been celebrating Little Rockers' proud place in our nation's Civil Rights history. They're also a part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, connecting more than 100 sites across 14 states, directing historical appreciators to those landmarks that define Arkansas and America's civil rights history.

Including Rockers' pride in celebrating aspects of the 20th-century American woman - decade by decade, through her handbag and the contents within. Because this is who she is in our American public sphere.

In addition to Bill, they love their Hillary too (especially at the airport), along with their rightful and important place in civil rights history.

Along with purses and handbags. And cheese dip.

So Jazz, Juneteenth, purses and handbags, Bill and Hillary, and cheese dip. Are these interacting with each other? Obviously. Exactly which or what and with who? You and your roommates can decide.

Sure, we know, exactly who doesn't love good cheese dip? But did you know they take theirs so seriously, a nice-sized wedge of Little Rocker Octobers are dedicated to hosting the World Cheese Dip Championship?

FYI: Yes, there are musicians and it's a nice place to kick back but you can't bring your dog to eat dip. It's not allowed. Little Rock is generally dog-friendly but they need you to understand how destructive a dog could be to a dip event. You shudder to think. You'd shudder even more to clean the dog.

At most events and Little Rock in general, they also tend to offer barbeque, baking, and burgers . . . much of which you could enjoy outdoors on a nice day. Along with a whole lot of the rest of Little Rock, with their truly excellent nature galore with trails practically demanding your presence over spectacular bridges and highways, along with their usually easygoing climate.

There are a number of fine loops for pedestrians, some connecting downtown, and the Big Dam Bridge, linking the Murray Lock and Dam with Cooks Landing Park. That's the longest bridge in the world for pedestrians and bicyclists only, part of the Arkansas River Trail at the juncture where it's 90 feet over the river.

There's really no lack of lower key but still relatively macho hiking and biking situations you could enjoy almost any time of the year. The only thing Little Rock might be said to lack would be the public transport that might make more of them more available for the less hardy? Unfortunately, the infrastructure for commuting by bicycle isn't great in most areas.

Even though for recreational biking Little Rock is superb, more than that would be financially challenging for a city this size. So with the money you may be saving via Little Rock's low cost of living otherwise . . . you should probably make do with your car, which you'd want anyway. Even if you're hell on wheels on a bike, there will be some days you wouldn't rather, possibly weather?

Along with celebrating all the above a lot, Little Rockers also strongly encourage their visually creative to mural. There's an official Little Rock Mural Tour (LRMT)! So far they've got dancing produce to Arkansas musicians to celebrations of local harvests. (You and your roommates could make some art to join the tour too. Definitely maybe! Check with the LRMT!)

The rest of the Little Rock roommate lowdown:

• capital of Arkansas, largest city in Arkansas - about 200,000 in the city, metro residents are about 700,000
• Where the Ozarks Mountains, the Ouachita Mountains and the Mississippi Delta converge. Little Rock features flat land and their own version of a hill country, in the center of the state along the Arkansas River.
• Many enjoy their extra colorful fall foliage.
• hot, humid summers, mild winters with very little snow, can freeze in December or January but rarely stays that cold for long
• North Little Rock is technically another city, but most regard both as part of one large metro area.
• East Little Rock is mostly flat. West Little Rock gets more than a little hilly in places.
• Parking is generally easy and free. There's a cute trolley (River Rail Trolleys) that will take you around downtown attractions for cheap. There's also a city bus (Rock Region Metro), but problem with the bus?
• home to several colleges and universities, including University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the UAMS Medical Center, University of Arkansas Law School, Philander Smith College, and the Clinton School for Public Service
• home to the Clinton Presidential Library and the Little Rock Zoo

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Little Rock's:

• Central Arkansas Library Main Library: Former warehouse of the Fones Brothers Hardware Company, now the largest public library in Arkansas, since 1997.
• Arkansas Arts Center: Home to many major works, a Museum School, and a Children's Theatre
• William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Park: Over the Arkansas River, the largest in the system, dedicated to his two terms, and includes a replica of the Oval Office
• Clinton Presidential Park Bridge: Now pedestrian and bike only too
• River Market District: Would you and your roommates like a relatively nice but still affordable area full of restaurants, bars, museums, clubs, galleries, etc., all within walking distance along the Arkansas River? Have I got a district for you!
• Little Rock Zoo: Would you like to meet Kevin? He's a rhinoceros. He just turned 2. There's also a newer serval habitat, plus more than 200 other species.
• Mosaic Templars Cultural Center: Showcasing Arkansas's unique contribution to African American achievement from 1865 to 1950. The original mostly burned down in 2005, but they rebuilt and reopened an even larger and more modern facility. Also hosts Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.
• Murry's Dinner Playhouse: Serving buffet meals with a side of theatrical presentation. Since 1967!
• Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts: It's a combination of botanical garden and live theater!
• Riverfest: Little Rock's largest arts festival, held every Memorial Day weekend in Riverfront Park, and ends with fireworks over the Arkansas River
• Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden: More than 90 works of art, locals and from across the country - gardens with "a sense of whimsey and a Little Rock-focused sense of place"
• Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site: Famous for integrating 9 students in 1957, now enshrines their memory as brave desegregationists by functioning as a National Park Service. Interactive exhibits and an actual functioning high school within it.
• Little Rock Mural Tour: "No one gallery can contain Little Rock's thriving arts scene, so it's only natural that it spread onto walls and doors throughout the city."
• Arkansas River Trail: 17-mile loop, you and your roommates could run, walk, or bike, or camp at various locations on trails branching off, including down to the Delta or into . . .
  
  . . . Pinnacle Mountain State Park: Locals say no climbing experience is necessary for this one, but if you don't have any, definitely take the west trail, as the east is steeper. Good birdwatching and wildflower appreciating, and if you're really advanced, the Ouachita National Recreation Trail starts here and goes all the way to Oklahoma.
• ESSE Purse Museum: "Tells the evolution of 20th-century American woman through the bags she carried and their contents." It's a whole fashion museum revolving around handbags, their history and design. Also the stuff within. Hundreds of handbags curated by decade. Is this museum just about handbags, or about the entire history of the modern American woman, but told through her handbags? You decide.

Here's the city of Little Rocks's official .gov for new residents, covering a wide variety of local tidbits for you and your roommates.

Compare Little Rock roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

LOS ANGELES

Average roommate rent in Los Angeles is $790.

Find a roommate in Los Angeles and save more than $646 per month ($7752 per year).* Los Angeles is 35th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 93rd for quality of life.**

Your Los Angeles roommate search may experience #139 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #135 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy healthy outdoor activities in one of the healthiest places in the country with new Los Angeles roommates: 2nd (!) Best for Outdoor Activities, 31st Healthiest, and 31st Healthiest Place to Live out of 228 cities in America.****

Los Angeles neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Westwood, West Los Angeles, Rancho Park, Beverlywood, Palms, Hancock Park, Sawtelle, Mar Vista, Cheviot Hills, and Beverly Grove*****

Los Angeles' roommates are spending 19% < $ than NYC's.******

Los Angeles' largest hoodmap tags: secret hippie enclave, prius/granola moms, waiting for CalTrans, arts district, the scientologists are watching you, affordable colorful neighborhoods, beautiful black neighborhood, little mexico, warehouses, mexicans, mariachis, mexican stronghold, warehouse parties, new hipster area, broken dreams, white people moving into the hood*******

Average commute = tiny (22 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Los Angeles roommate rundown:

Los Angeles is a LOT.

It's actually #1 at a whole lot. Then after that it's just huge.

To start, L.A. is totally huge . . . the #1 largest city in California in terms of population (almost 4 million in the city) and geographical size (over 500 square miles, about 44 miles north to south and 29 east to west).

And it's in a bowl. An extremely sunny basin surrounded by mountains - ridiculously sunny, and almost always warm.

It only rains about 35 days a year!

Los Angeles is long famed for almost always pleasant weather, along with show biz, which are obviously intertwined, along with all the beaches leading to all the surfers contributing to a much larger surf culture!

With boating and beach recreation among the world's best. Obviously.

And Angelenos are still known for all of that, absolutely. But it's fair to say they're more diverse than that now?

For one, they're now also #1 at traffic jams. And worst rush hours. Those are intertwined too!

They're #1 at freeways that turn into parking lots on a regular basis during rush hour which is also #1 worst in the world and possibly happening anytime other than 11 p.m. - 4 a.m. The other 19 hours could all end up rush hour!

Assume a mammoth mob is laying in wait for you and your roommates to leave your house before they simultaneously speed to whatever road you're on and . . . you're not exactly wrong?

Severe traffic jams are possible whenever, so you will want to plan one or more alternate routes, then check conditions before takeoff! Always take the least gridlocked. And if you absolutely positively cannot be late, you're least likely to end up jammed between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Yes, that is the middle of the night, yes. So get there early! But then watch out for drunk drivers and off-peak construction.

Los Angeles does have considerable public transport options, especially considering its very large size, but the largeness is a large part of the problem right there. Even with routes optimized, it can still take a large amount of time to cross L.A.. Unfortunately, it's very difficult most times of day to avoid all ground traffic via any type of ground transport.

But do monitor via a smartphone with a traffic app that can reroute you when necessary. Hopefully!

Many Angelenos spend a lot of time in their cars.

And many live mostly without one, preferring public transport and/or remaining within one neighborhood for longer periods to minimize travel.

The happy medium might be car ownership, but optimizing geographically such that leaving your larger neighborhood is only necessary for special events . . . definitely not work or school several days a week, please no.

There are some nice L.A. places public transport doesn't go at all, and it rarely goes anywhere in a hurry. If you want to see the sights on the periphery of the city and/or would love driving around doing all your errands stunningly efficiently at 2 a.m., you'll definitely want a car.

You may have noticed motorcycle riders are bureaucratically incentivized to continue riding in LA, via the break on carpooling, plus a few other fares and privileges.

So you may want to ride L.A. too, but if you're not already experienced, please practice somewhere other than LA freeways first. Someone may split lanes with you. And bikers love the canyon roads, but locals warn first-timers they're even twistier than you think.

(That was a lot about traffic, but if you read all about it, hopefully you won't spend most of your days in it.)

Los Angeles is also #1 at America's film industry!

Hardly anyone isn't at least a little fascinated with Hollywood, which has been most of America's film industry for over a century. Hollywood will wow you with L.A.'s glamorous side, then warn you about its grittier grottier fringe cultures. There's a tension between have and have less that animates many movies, which is just like L.A., because it's just like the movies shot here, because they're also in L.A., etc., and back and forth forever.

More exciting #1ness: #1 largest cannabis market, #1 busiest US port, and the #1 largest number of Mexican or Mexican-American folks in the US! Also third in the world, after Mexico City and Guadalajara.

There's also a reasonable case to be made that L.A. is #1 in live music.

Because Los Angeles' local music scene has everything all the time. OK, not literally, but there's nowhere that's more true. There's nothing major it doesn't feature regularly, probably in larger scale halls (even Bowls) plus more intimate venues.

And there might be a gourmet food truck!

The rest of the Los Angeles roommate lowdown:

• Los Angeles is a huge city on the Southern California Coast, south of the San Bernadino Mountains. North of Los Angeles are the San Gabriel Mountains. And then the Mojave Desert. And surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Southern California Coastal Mountain Ranges.
• Mediterranean climate - Dry summer, very mild winter, rarely freezing or over 90, used to have a problem with smog but have been cleaning that up really aggressively the last several years.
• The legendary Santa Ana winds blow hot dry air from the desert into coastal areas, significantly raising temps and risk of fire.
• Geologic faults cause periodic tremors, and quite a few minor earthquakes happen, but they're usually harmless. Mostly beware of anything that could fall on your head, indoors or out. If you're in a car get out of traffic, if on foot move away from power lines and anything large attached to the side of a building . . . trees, street lights, glass . . . then shield your head and neck with your arms.
• Because of earthquake risk, the city has sprawled outward rather than upward. Extreme dependence on the automobile and population density have caused serious traffic problems.
• Apartments built more recently cost more. For this and many other reasons, Los Angeles has a large population of folks renting rooms in their homes.
• Parking tends to be expensive, especially downtown or before an event, parking fees are very high. Some residents drive to a train then take that the rest of the way, it could easily be cheaper and faster.
• Only enter carpool lanes at the permitted places, don't cross the double yellow lines, and don't enter at all with out at least two people (car) or you can do one on a motorcycle.
• Los Angeles has a number of public transport options: Metrolink (regional rail), Metro Rail (subway and light rail) and Metro (their main bus system but there are several). Three different systems plus several smaller ones, both faster than a large traffic jam . . . usually. Most neighborhoods in LA are accessible via one or more of these lines, but there are many options for public transport that intersect confusingly, plus they're very spread out.
  
  Basically: Many roommates new to LA have accidentally gone many miles in the wrong direction, so double check your routes.
• L.A. is famous for some extremely wealthy neighborhoods, but these are unaffordable for most. But don't despair, as so many more are much more accessible. There are neighborhoods that definitely feature more of some demographic groups than others, but everyone is everywhere by now, it's just relative percentages.
  
  Like: Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Koreatown and Little Armenia. Historic Filipinotown, Little Ethiopia, Tehrangeles, Little Bangladesh and Thai Town
  
  And: West L.A. (Indian, Pakistani and Japanese), East L.A. (Mexican), South Central L.A. (African-American), West Hollywood (gay men)
• L.A. has a reputation as high in crime due to gang activity, and this reputation is not undeserved. However, LA's gang activity is mostly in a handful of neighborhoods the typical tourist never visits. Basically, if you don't have business in a neighborhood with which you're not already familiar, don't go exploring it all by yourself after dark by foot or by car. Maybe not even during the day, not all by yourself.
  
  If you want to avoid going into a neighborhood likely high in gang activity, it won't be difficult if you stay aware where you are and stay where you're familiar.
• home to Claremont McKenna College, Pitzer College, Pomona College, Scripps College, University of West Los Angeles, Antioch University, Art Center College of Design, California Institute of the Arts, California State Polytechnic University, Cal State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harvey Mudd College, Loyola Marymount University, Mount St. Mary's College, Occidental College, Otis College of Art and Design, Pacific Oaks College, Samra University of Oriental Medicine, Southern California Institute of Architecture, The Masters College, West Coast University, Whittier College, Woodbury University, Azusa Pacific University, Biola University, California Institute of Technology, California School of Professional Psychology, California State University, Claremont Graduate School, Pepperdine University, University of California, University of Laverne, and the University of Southern California
• If you live in L.A. you have access to pretty much all foods, possibly even absolutely all if you're willing to follow a local food truck and participate in their fandom?
  
  Or not, if that's too much, but don't always fear the gourmet food truck! If you're worried their hygiene isn't up to par, read a recent review or two, or ask some friends, make sure no one's food poisoned, check them out for sure . . . but don't automatically say no to the truck.
  
  Many hang around a good long while and serve some of the best food for the money in L.A.!

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Los Angeles':

• Union Station: Mission Revival architecture, large waiting room, courtyards, some shopping. And you could get on a train.
• Los Angeles Zoo Botanical Gardens: Along with a large variety of native and local flora and fauna, they've got a garden of rare bootleg cycads, an ancient gymnosperm or palm specimen dating back millions of years that's . . . not really supposed to be there?
• Heritage Square: Life in LA for over 100 years
• Highland Park Bowl: L.A.'s oldest still operating bowling alley that's also kind of like a speakeasy. Since 1927, more recently restored but retaining a lot of original historical charm.
• Amoeba Music: If you love vinyl, locals say they're the best.
• Tournament of Roses Parade: Dozens of marching bands in front of floats and they're all before the Rose Bowl football game
• Chinese New Year: Would you like to celebrate in February with a dragon parade and fireworks? That's in Chinatown, along with live music and lots of food.
• Fiesta Broadway: Largest Cinco de Mayo festival complete with pinatas in the world?
• Getty Museum: Above the city on the Santa Monica mountains, many say it's one of the best European art collections in the world
• Aquarium of the Pacific: One of the best aquariums in the country
• Musso and Frank Grill: Oldest restaurant in Hollywood since 1919. Fettuccine Alfredo was invented here, and the menu remains old-fashioned, with classic favorites like chicken pot pie, sauerbraten, Bouillabaisse Marseillaise, and Lobster Thermidor
• Venice Beach & Santa Monica: They share a pier, amusement park, and a beach that gets very crowded in the summer. Fantastic people watching or overcrowded nightmare? You and your roommates decide!
• Hermosa Beach: Known for its extremely popular surfing and volleyball competitions! But most are just watching, you could too.
• Los Angeles Dodgers: famous baseball team
• Los Angeles Lakers: famous basketball team
• Los Angeles Sparks: WNBA, they play in same area as the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Kings (National Hockey League)
• Angel City FC: Started the National Women's Soccer League in LA in 2022

Here's the city of Los Angeles' official .gov for housing services, including rights for renters & homeowners, free home repairs for seniors, building permits & inspections, and neighborhoods.

Compare Los Angeles roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

LOUISVILLE

Average roommate rent in Louisville is $350.

Find a roommate in Louisville and save more than $390 per month ($4680 per year).* Louisville is 1821st out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 90th for quality of life.**

Your Louisville roommate search may experience #75 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #70 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy a low cost of living in a great place to retire with new Louisville roommates: 42nd Lowest Cost of Living and 98th Best City to Retire out of 228 cities in America.****

Louisville neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Deer Park, Rockcreek Lexington Road, Belknap, Crescent Hill, Brownsboro Zorn, Bonnycastle, Highlands, Bowman, Highlands Douglas, and Hawthorne*****

Louisville's roommates are spending 47% < $ than NYC's.******

Louisville's largest hoodmap tags: this job will eat your life, retail apocalypse case study, hipster on a budget, the west end wasteland, community leaders and organizers, gentrification battleground, rich people, University of Louisville, the rich gays, metal birds, world of grocery, obnoxious festivals*******

Average commute = shorter than average (24 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Louisville roommate rundown:

Louisville's laidback. And Louisville loves being laidback.

Louisville loves celebrating their historically distinctive cultural offerings while looking to the future . . . but in a very laidback way.

They're even laidback about the accepted pronunciation of Louisville? Even the number of syllables and vowel sounds are a bit arbitrary. Anything OTHER than "Lewis Ville" will probably work.

Along with locally-crafted-bourbon-infused relaxation, Louisvillians also love hosting Kentucky Derby horse racing. That's about two weeks in May, but their love of horse racing is year round.

And they look to the future by making everything else they love a lot nicer too, as fast as development allows. Lately in addition to bourbon and racing they're really loving urban forests, bicycling, and public art.

Louisville already has the largest urban forest in the country, also a National Audubon Society wildlife refuge . . . over 35 miles of trails that also permit camping and fishing.

Also bicycling! They love it and they're encouraging it.

Along with their three major parks that already have dedicated biking lanes, they're working on their City of Parks, an ambitious project to build 110 miles of continuous Louisville Loop for walking and biking in and around their many lovely parklands. Highlights will continue to include the evolving "Emerald Necklace," several flagship parks connected by scenic loops with cycling lanes, offering spectacular views of the city plus fountains and playgrounds and the occasional fossil bed. Big Four Bridge is a refurbished and pedestrianized bridge connecting the newer Waterfront Park with Jeffersonville, Indiana.

And that's the super scenic stuff. More practically, they're also steadily adding bike lanes and bike racks downtown.

Collective love of urban forests, bicycling, and public art? If you're wondering if Louisville likes to put their public art in their urban forests so they can ride their bikes all around it . . . they most certainly do! Sculpture and fountains are already present, additional installations are planned, and there's often eating and drinking opportunities along the way.

That some their enjoy public art with a side of local bourbon is already known. You can drink the country's finest bourbon all over the best spots downtown or select a major whiskey distillery, a smaller craft whiskey distillery, or even a go on a multiple distillery tour. Bourbon is born in the nearby countryside with rolling green hills. If you prefer to take your bourbon with a side of scenic beauty, "Bourbon Country" is lousy with beautiful tour possibilities.

Or would you rather take your bourbon with a Hot Brown? That's a sandwich invented at local Brown Hotel in the 1920s. It's an open face turkey on Texas Toast broiled with bacon, tomato, and mornay sauce.

If you're not into deli meats, you could check out the slow-smoked meat, fried catfish, fried chicken livers, or chicken-fried steak. Probably with a biscuit, maybe cornbread.

For dessert, how about Derby Pie? That's mostly pecan pie with chocolate added. Delicious with bourbon too!

So with a low overall cost of living, low taxes, low roommate rent, and all this local flavor, what's the bad news?

You could say it's extra good news they're encouraging bicycling for many. Because other than their lovely bicycle lanes, plus a few city buses running around downtown, you and your roommates will need a car to go anywhere else. Not driving doesn't seem realistic for most Louisvillians.

While Louisville remains reasonably safe, all of Kentucky has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic. This has led to the expected attendant increase in property crime and homelessness. However, the worst ravages in Louisville have been concentrated in neighborhoods that seemed to be struggling, both before and after.

This plus Louisville being a major transportation hub and UPS Worldwide, there's also a bit of a problem with pickpockets around various transportation stations. Many travelers are briefly moving through, and could easily be all the way out of town before they even notice they've been robbed.

So mind your valuables, and keep your purses and wallets secure whenever you go for a public ride.

Also, if you and your roommates have any airborne allergies, you will probably have to stock up on medication. But if you can manage with medication, that'll likely work.

With Louisville's low cost of living, you'll likely have no difficulty affording it.

The rest of the Louisville roommate lowdown:

• Louisville is Kentucky's largest city, with about 770,000 in the city, and 1.5 million in the greater metropolitan area
• in Northern Kentucky along the Ohio River, across from Southern Indiana, on the Indiana border
• Louisville is at the crossroads of three interstate highways with several railroads, a major port, and a large airport. This makes it within a day's travel of most of the US, and as a result, Louisville is the United Parcel Service's (UPS) worldwide hub.
• summers are warm and humid, winters are moderate - severe humidity and violent thunderstorms are possible in summer, with occasional freezes in winter . . . but other than that and the very occasional tornado usually the weather is easily manageable
• major center of American whiskey, about a third of all bourbon whiskey is born here
• home to several museums, including Frazier History Museum, Louisville Science Center, The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, and the Speed Art Museum
• hosts several colleges and universities, including the University of Louisville, Bellarmine University, Indiana University Southeast, Spalding University, Sullivan University, and Simmons College of Kentucky
• Louisville has one of the highest pollen counts in the US. You and your roommates with airborne allergies will need to stock up on your medication.
• College sports are popular, particularly baseball (home of the Louisville Slugger!), basketball, golf, and soccer, including Racing Louisville FC, an expansion team in the National Women's Soccer League
• Louisville is home to the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) chain, and you can visit the grave of Colonel Harland Sanders, one of the most recognizable product spokesmen in the world. His grave is marked with a bust designed by his daughter, and he's sporting his iconic white suit, string tie, and goatee. However, locals say for good and cheap chicken you can now get better at quite a few joints that are still actually local. But the Colonel remains one of Louisville's favorite sons.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Louisville's:

• Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft: Since 1981, a non-profit celebrating American and Appalachian Folk Art
• Thunder Over Louisville: the largest fireworks event in North America, part of the Kentucky Derby Festival
• First Friday Hop: A free bus will drive you and your roommates around several independent art galleries on the first Friday of every month!
• Bourbon Baroque: Performing the culture and music of the Baroque throughout the year, with a particular emphasis on historically-informed performances of music from the 17th and 18th centuries, often with period instruments
• Louisville Orchestra: Since 1937! Hundreds of performances a year with many of the same musicians, a local cultural giant. Also their official performance hall is the Louisville Palace, with an ornate Spanish Baroque style.
• Bardstown Road: Friendly to pedestrians, hosting many locally owned and local favorite bars, galleries, coffeehouses and casual restaurants. You and your roommates may want to wander around, especially in nice weather.
• Old Louisville: Largest historic preservation Victorian architecture district in the US
• Louisville Slugger Museum: Home of the Louisville Slugger Bat
• Kentucky Derby Museum: American Thoroughbred racing, obviously including the Derby. New roommates feeling sad they missed out on previous races can view their "time machine" with a replay of every Derby since the early 1900s.
• Louisville Mega Cavern: Used to be a limestone quarry under the zoo, now converted into an underground adventure park with an underground bike park, underground ziplining, and an underground rope course.
• Evan Williams Bourbon Experience: There are quite a few bourbon distilleries doing quite well in Louisville, but this is probably the most famous, as an operating distillery with its own museum. Yes, tastings are included with your tour (you'll need to be legal drinking age with ID), and there are group discounts for you and your roommates. There's also a cocktail loft and a memorabilia store offering bourbon merch.
• Mint Julep: Locally famous cocktail made from bourbon, sugar, crushed ice and fresh mint. However, most native Louisvillians save this drink for Derby days. They're not nearly as popular during other occasions.
• Muhammad Ali Center: "Presents and mobilizes Muhammad Ali's legacy of creating change, pursuing justice, and inspiring greatness." Exhibits highlights from his legendary boxing career, world travels, and spiritual journeys. Also showcases his six core principles.

Here's the city of Louisville's official .gov for Moving to Louisville, including info your driver's license, your recycling, your library card, and your pets.

Compare Louisville roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

MADISON

Average roommate rent in Madison is $500.

Find a roommate in Madison: 908th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 81st for quality of life.**

Your Madison roommate search may experience #11 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #37 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy healthy outdoor activities with new Madison roommates: 16th Best to Raise a Family, 17th Best City to Live, and 29th Best for Young Professionals out of 228 cities in America.****

Madison's roommates are spending 42% < $ than NYC's.******

Madison's largest hoodmap tags: rich people with boats, boat owners with problem kids, gentrifying quickly, hippies, biz hotels, ghosts with goals, frat douches, epic employees, drunk ice fisherman, student housing, ex-milwaukeeans*******

Average commute = tiny (22 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Madison roommate rundown:

Madison is Wisconsin's capital. Their greater metropolitan area is home to almost 500,000 Madisonians.

And the University of Wisconsin-Madison with over 40,000 students is proudly hosted right in the middle. U of W-M is about 65% of the vibe around here, but it works because they love it.

In fact, Madison has one of the best educated urban populations in the country, along with a very low unemployment rate and an overall neighborly feeling. That's because most moving to Madison are coming to work for the state government and/or the University and/or The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics system, itself associated with many startup generators and incubation tanks for health and biotech.

In fact, it's doing extremely well for its smaller size. Really the only "half empty" view is that Madison isn't terribly diverse, either demographically or the job base. But you could also argue that's just saying it's smaller, more or less. You trade some diversity for a more manageable size, a lower cost of living, and "that neighborly feeling."

The relative lack of diversity does means not a lot of people move here super casually or just for fun. Most people in Madison who moved here recently did so to work for the government, the largest university, and/or some of the associated healthcare/technology.

One of Madison's many nicknames is "City of Four Lakes," those being Kegonsa, Mendota, Monona, and Waubesa. This works because Madison really grooves on that athletic outdoor lake life, all year round. For transplants from warmer cities, you're not required to spend time on a frozen lake. But know your roommates (probably) and your neighbors (definitely) will.

Outdoor recreation in Madison in the warmer months involves all the lovely and expected walking, biking kayaking, and hiking all over their extensive trail system, with a little sailing on the lakes.

But what's often less expected is the aggressive athleticism that continues crossing their frozen tundra. Does snow or slush stop Madison from cross-country skiing, ice-boating, ice fishing, ice hockey, ice skating, ski jumping, or snowkiting?

Absolutely not. These snowbunnies get even sportier when their city freezes over. And with their low cost of living, Madison goes to 11 on maximizing frozen fun while minimizing expense.

And at all temps they also enjoy racing, roller derby, CrossFit, rugby . . . and sometimes curling.

There's a lot that's sporty and even nourishing and wholesome. Like all the museums, zoos, gardens, concerts, and art installations, so many of which are entirely free!

They just really want you to see!

So is there anything less wholesome going on? Well, in 2009, the City Council voted to make the plastic pink flamingo the city's official bird. You know, those decorations for your yard? They're extremely into them here, so much so that if you have a yard and don't put a pink flamingo on it, they'll charge you a large fine! And charging fines for failure to pink flamingo is perverted.

Just kidding!

Not about the flamingos overall, just about the fine. You and your roommates are on your own decorating your yard, you can flamingo (or not) at will.

Foodily speaking, many also love the James Beard award-winning restaurants, the largest producer-only farmers' market in the country (held around Capitol Square in the summer (it starts outside and moves indoors for winter)), and the local cheese curds and hot and spicy cheese bread.

So if you're considering Madison we hope you love cheese, cheesy bread, and cheesy flamingos, but you probably DO because WHY WOULD YOU NOT?

People who hate all that are probably not very nice or very Madisonian.

The rest of the Madison roommate lowdown:

• summer is pleasant, fall is temperate, winters are cold and stormy with frequent heavy snow - it can get SLUSHY
• home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison Media Institute, Madison Area Technical College, and Edgewood College
• many buildings of architectural interest, including some by Frank Lloyd Wright
• active local music scene, home of many music festivals
• several performing arts venues including the Madison Opera, the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and the Madison Ballet
• number of established "supper clubs," that traditionally serve food during the day, then convert into bars at night, frequently serving live entertainment, always serving a large selection of beer
• Metro buses cover a bit of downtown, but you and your roommates will need a car to go anywhere else. Street parking is free and plentiful everywhere except downtown and around the University of Wisconsin. If you don't have another plan, you might have to pay to park in a lot, but only those areas.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Madison's:

• Wisconsin Badgers: They love their men and women's college sports here, including football, basketball, ice hockey, and volleyball.
• Henry Vilas Zoo: Still free since 1914! You can even go on a special tour with a zookeeper, possibly with a focus on Wisconsin badgers.
• Williamson Street: "Willy Street" might be a nice place for you and your roommates to go for a walk, if you'd like that walk to include casual restaurants, a co-op, and some dive bars.
• UW Arboretum: Students and researchers are focusing on restoration here, but you can visit this man-made reserve for birdwatching and biking! Also just walking, if you'd prefer. Over 1200 acres, right in town.
• Madison Museum of Contemporary Art: Always free too! Permanent collections focus on Mexican Modernists and Chicago Imagists. Rooftop garden. Or you could enjoy their Art Fair on the Square in July.
• Overture Center for the Arts: In addition the above, also hosts the Madison Ballet, the Madison Opera, the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
• UW Geology Museum: Do you enjoy local rocks? Would you like to view fossils from way back when there were volcanoes in Wisconsin? Fluorescent minerals? Standing under the skeleton of a mastodon? Also free!
• Concerts on the Square: The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performs for free on the grounds of the Capitol. Many mill about on the lawn, some bring a blanket or snacks. Also free!

Here's the city of Madison's official .gov for Live & Work, including community programs, extreme weather, housing & property, and farmers' markets.

Compare Madison roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

MANCHESTER

Average roommate rent in Manchester is $550.

Find a roommate in Manchester: 662nd out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 70th for quality of life.**

Your Manchester roommate search may experience #51 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #15 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy healthy outdoor activities with new Manchester roommates: 35th Best for Outdoor Activities and 69th Healthiest out of 228 cities in America.****

Manchester's largest hoodmap tags: the school rich kids laugh at, meatheads, Manchganistan, juvie, pretend fancy mall*******

Average commute = shorter than average (23 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Manchester roommate rundown:

Manchester is the largest city in New Hampshire, northern New England's largest city!

But that's only about 110,000 residents.

Manchester experiences harsh winters with lengthy snow cover. Storms thrill skiers as there are lovely, less crowded local slopes . . . while non-skiers are meh.

Spring and fall are brief transitions, while summer is sometimes pleasant . . . sometimes exceedingly humid.

Like most cities this small, Manchester isn't celebrated so much for public transport. Very limited bus service. You and your roommates will need a car.

But especially compared to larger cities, there's very little crime!

Do you like shopping? There's no sales tax! That's part of why South Manchester's many retail outlets and the Mall of New Hampshire are popular! I mean, the Mall has 115 stores, plus several dining options. That's good shopping.

But many in Manchester craving fun but not into skiing or shopping occasionally take off north for Boston instead.

Manchester claims to have invented the chicken tender, maybe even at the Mall of New Hampshire? Several prominent residents have suggested that for tourism they rebrand themselves, "The Chicken Tender Capital of the World!"

This has remained controversial even though validated by America's Test Kitchen.

The rest of the Manchester roommate lowdown:

• located in South Central New Hampshire at the Amoskeag Falls on the Merrimack River
• 50 miles NW of Boston
• home to several sports teams, including ice hockey, Women's Tackle Football, and flat track roller derby
• home to a few minor-league teams, including Fisher Cats Baseball and the Phantoms soccer. They also love their Manchester Monarchs in the American Hockey League
• home to several colleges and universities, including Granite State College, the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the New Hampshire Institute of Art, Southern New Hampshire University, St. Anselm College, and the University of New Hampshire at Manchester

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Manchester's:

• Currier Museum of Art: Painting, photography, sculpture and performance. Free Saturday mornings!
• Elm Street: Walk to a number of popular bars and taverns. You may want to remind new roommates from elsewhere that last call is 12:45 a.m., quite a bit earlier than most cities.
• White Mountains: Drive around in fall for fabulous foliage viewing!
• Dean Court: The side street leading to the Manchester Library is now a public gallery for cat-centric street art. Painted right on and into the alleyway.
• SEE Science Center: "Hands-on science fun for everyone!" In addition to Physics Fun, Dinosaurs, Sun Earth Universe, and Bubbles & the Ocean, SEE is home to the LEGO Millyard. It's a representation of Manchester's millyard as it might have looked in 1900.
  
  It's the largest permanent LEGO installation at minifigure scale in the world.

Here's the city of Manchester's official .gov for Residents, including city announcements, city maps, landlords and tenants, list of parks, parking, polling locations, and vehicle registration.

Compare Manchester roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

MEMPHIS

Average roommate rent in Memphis is $350.

Find a roommate in Memphis and save more than $423 per month ($5076 per year).* Memphis is 1845th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 89th for quality of life.**

Your Memphis roommate search may experience #144 (out of 150) in Best Places to Lives vibes. Also #138 in Best Places to Retire vibes and #2 in Most Dangerous Places vibes.***

Enjoy healthy outdoor activities with new Memphis roommates: 26th Lowest Cost of Living and 162nd Most Diverse out of 228 cities in America.****

Memphis' roommates are spending 50% < $ than NYC's.******

Memphis' largest hoodmap tags: caucasians tread carefully, hipster town, trendy and instagrammable, shots fired, you got shot, hoods, hipsters, thrift stores, cheaper suburbia, white flight, mexican hood, voodoo village*******

Average commute = shorter than average (21 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Memphis roommate rundown:

Memphis offers serious Southern culture at a steep discount. By that we mean compared to living in all the other cities on this list, which would be more or less all similar size and larger as well.

No state income tax. Overall low cost of living.

Memphis is vibing Deep South, and a lot of neighborhoods have a lot of artists contributing highly to their art, but within their own lowest cost of living frameworks. This is a city where it's a lot easier to make that work than one where the average roommate rent is a few to several times what it is in Memphis.

Memphians regularly experience its many historic highs and lows, because some of them are more or less . . . ongoing?

Obviously sky high, properly considered by most as the Home of the Blues. Also home of Graceland, the Birthplace of Rock'n'roll, and American Soul!

Oh and: Buck, crunk, gospel, Memphis blues, Memphis rap, Memphis soul, rock n' roll, rockabilly, and sharecropper country style!

Fantastic local food, plus their "local" barbeque cooked in a pit, low and slow, with either a dry rub or brushed with sauce (wet).

Also there's a lot of golfing.

Any of that related to why Memphis can offer you the lowest cost of living for any city on our list . . . but also gets its own NBA team?

Memphis also has Tennessee's largest African-American population, after playing a major role in the civil rights movement. Memphis now hosts the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was assassinated. The hotel where he was shot is now also a showcase for his work.

They've also the largest Pentecostal denomination in the US, while hosting many theological seminaries.

However, many and various city indexes have ranked Memphis #1 on stuff you'd rather not, like: most dangerous, violent crime, overall crime including property, and homicide.

Memphis has also ranked the poorest city in the country in a previous Census, with 1 of 5 people reportedly living in poverty.

It's important to point out that the worst neighborhoods in terms of all types of crime feature both a lot of poverty and a lot of gang-related activity, almost without fail. The neighborhoods of Memphis are no exception to this overall rule.

Very conservatively, and until you're in the know: stay in touristy areas and/or well-populated areas and/or near the University and downtown, keep your valuables out of sight to avoid minor theft, and be aware of pickpocketing.

Not to disrespect your fashion choices, but we wouldn't recommend carrying an obviously expensive purse all over Memphis. If you follow the rules above, it's unlikely you'll suffer from homicide, but otherwise, somebody might try for the purse?

Some roommates might enjoy just driving around, taking in the sights, and think they'd like to "go for a longer drive" someplace new. Understandable, but locals recommend not after dark all by yourself, as you could accidentally go from one of Memphis' nicer neighborhoods to one of its worst super fast. Not last but least because . . . there's not much traffic.

Bottom line: You should be able to experience Memphis safely, but that relies on attention paid to where you are. After dark don't travel with visible valuables, especially left behind in your car, and stay in better populated areas with which you're already familiar after dark.

Everyone should warn new roommates from cooler climates about Memphis' hot and steamy summers, with a double punch of heat plus humidity many find overwhelming.

Driving is preferred to walking almost anywhere that doesn't attract a lot of tourists, and the weather can feel less walkable too, unless you'd like to arrive sweaty. And except for right around downtown possibly during an event, parking is usually free.

Which is helpful, because possibly downtown during an event is the only time you might not need a car, at least for a few hours. Otherwise, you will. There's a bus sometimes, but it might just stop running seemingly at random. It could be a low stress way for you and your roommates to tour the city one day, especially if you'd like to drink but not drive (good for you!) but do confirm your times and routes same day. Locals say otherwise you might get a little stranded.

But along with the no state income tax and overall low cost of living that sound like good news to most incoming roommates, their wages are very low too (particularly minimum wage).

Some say the dream situation might be working remotely, getting paid the higher wages that tend to be typical in most cities Memphis' size or larger . . . then not have to spend as much living right here.

The rest of the Memphis roommate lowdown:

• Memphis is Tennessee's second largest city after Nashville, and the largest city on the Mississippi River, near the Arkansas and Mississippi borders.
• Home to about 650,000 in the city, with a greater metro area of about 1.3 million
• home to Crichton College, Christian Brothers University, Le Moyne-Owen College, Rhodes College, Memphis State University, and the University of Tennessee
• frequent weather changes in winter, occasionally involving ice storms and freezing rain and downed power lines, lot of rain throughout the whole year
• lots of farmland nearby
• Spring = a lot of pollen = your roommates who suffer from airborne allergies will probably need to stock up on their medication
• Barbeque spaghetti is regular pasta but topped with smoked pork and BBQ sauce, sometimes with onions and/or peppers
• largest local employer is FedEx, who maintain a hub at the airport

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Memphis':

• House of Mews: "Feline adoption agency & Cat Lovers Gift Shop." It's the country's first and oldest no-kill cat shelter. It's kind of like an apartment, cats roam freely, you can sit and play with them. You can buy some cat supplies or cat merch to support them.
• Graceland: There's a Jungle Room
• Silky O'Sullivan's: Goats are drinking beer, right on Beale Street. There's a tower. Lager-loving goats amble up. They don't fall down . . . because they're goats. Also you can feed them!
• Beale Street: Memphis claims this row of bars and clubs with live music as the "Home of the Blues." At night it's closed to cars but "drinks to go" windows open.
• Blues Hall of Fame Museum: A "Memphis gem for both serious blues fans and casual visitors," this museum has 10 galleries of hard-to-find album covers, unique art, tour jackets, and costumes. And of course plenty of interactive displays featuring the stories and music of inductees.
• Sun Studio: Claims to be the "Birthplace of Rock'n'roll." Definitely where many musical legends recorded, including Elvis, Johnny Cash, Howlin' Wolf, Al Green, B.B. King, Roy Orbison, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, and Tina Turner. You and your roommates can take a tour during the day for $15.
• Stax Museum of American Soul Music: Museum opens in a Mississippi Delta church circa 1906 (reassembled inside the museum), moving on through period recording equipment and studios, floor to ceiling cases of famous records, the Express Yourself dance floor, and Isaac Hayes' custom Cadillac Eldorado with 24-carat exterior trim and white fur carpeting.
• Ballet Memphis or Opera Memphis
• Memphis Zoo: Ranked one of the best zoos in the country. One of only four US zoos with giant pandas. More than 3500 animals, including their critically endangered Conservation Six: African elephants, African penguins, Dusky Gopher frogs, Grauer's (Eastern Lowland) gorillas, Louisiana pine snakes, and Sumatran tigers.
• Memphis Botanic Garden: Over 96 acres, including 30 specialty gardens, an Arboretum, and a Sculpture Collection including pottery and metalwork.
• Memphis in May International Festival: All month long! Local music, air show, fireworks display, a marathon run, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra playing at sunset and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest! Hundreds of teams competing, over $100,000 in prizes.
• Carnival Memphis: Member krewes and private societies similar to New Orleans, but for Memphis?
• Metal Museum: Actually NOT music! Working foundry on site. That means metalwork and metal-smithing. Also classes and about 3000 items in a master metalsmith museum!
• Burke's Books: One of the oldest indies in the country, since 1875. The store has changed over the years, and is now mostly used books < $10. They specialize in "the best of the old, the latest of the new, and hard to find collectibles."
• Brussel's Bonsai Nursery: 15 minutes outside Memphis (Mississippi) is the country's largest bonsai nursery. The showroom is like a forest of miniature trees. You don't have to buy anything, but if you and your roommates would like to bonsai there's a starter kit.

Here's the city of Memphis' official .gov for new residents, including household services and utilities, city hall, local culture, neighborhoods, and city council.

Compare Memphis roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

MIAMI

Average roommate rent in Miami is $700.

Find a roommate in Miami and save more than $576 per month ($6912 per year).* Miami is 94th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 16th for quality of life.**

Your Miami roommate search may experience #138 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #82 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy young professionals in one of the best cities to retire with new Miami roommates: 31st Best City to Retire and 50th Best for Young Professionals out of 228 cities in America.****

Miami neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Coconut Grove, Brickell, Downtown, Edgewater, and Upper East Side, *****

Miami's roommates are spending 33% < $ than NYC's.******

Miami's largest hoodmap tags: yoga pants, good luck driving here, leg workout, always raised, best view of downtown, hipsters and beer, people that live in RVs, human made land sinking next to earthquake, smells like fresh bread all day, homes that cost 8 or more digits, parking lot with view, retired grunge community, golf for non-ballers, can't hear you over these dang planes*******

Average commute = longer than average (28 minutes). Most households have only one car, less than the national average of two.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Miami roommate rundown:

Miami is a singular experience. Miamians really are their own affair, and they're a lot . . . but ordeal or adventure is up to you!

Miami Beach is nearby, and it's probably the most popular spring break destination on the planet. Because topless sunbathing is, of course, allowed. The crowds are drunk and rowdy. If you love drunken people watching, you might be in heaven. But if you hate crowds, you might have to avoid your favorite beach along with anything vaguely resembling it for a good long while.

In other words, if you roommate in Miami, you'll either gleefully join in, or completely steer clear. No resident of Miami is completely indifferent to Spring Break.

Similarly, this second most visited city after NYC is also known for nightlife, in particular the boutique hotels and expensive clubs in the Art Deco District along Ocean Drive and South Beach. These "exclusive" clubs may or may not contain wealthy celebrities at any given moment, but what you can always rely upon is that everything else will be expensive. It starts with the door charge, then all treats inside cost multiple times more than everywhere else, and finally all staff frequently require large tips.

We're not sure we'd actually recommend most with large door charges but without live music for anything at all . . . except their creative and stunning architectural designs. If they don't sound like the kind of good time you can afford right now, save that experience until you can . . . after which point it probably won't sound like a great idea anymore, but whatever. In the meantime, you and your roommates can patronize one of the many businesses with great food and live music charging no to minimal cover you'll likely find more welcoming. They're definitely out there.

What else is hot or trendy could change between us typing and you reading, because Miami nightlife has been through so many iterations, most revolving around the Miami sun almost never not shining. It's sunny about 250 days a year, and almost always 75-95.

It's rarely a bad day for the beach or boating. Or your bikini pants. Miami's residents have been dramatically depicted in almost all American mass media worshipping the sun. Some depictions are realistic, some are just sensationalistic, and some are crime-fighting TV characters! It's easy to depict Miamians excitingly!

No one even has to go indoors if they'd rather not, not just because of the weather. They don't even have to wear coats.

Not even one sensible sweater!

And we hope the lack of winter along with its outerwear keeps them cheerful in traffic. Along with near constant sunshine, Miami is known for constant traffic, constant crime, constant air conditioning, and a constant Cuban influence. Most appreciate the last two.

There's heavy traffic everywhere and on-street parking is mostly impossible. That's the terrible news, but the good is that Miami has an extensive public transport system covering the city. Almost 20% are on it daily! And since everything is constantly air conditioned everywhere, so is the public transit. Many neighborhoods are walkable as well, depending on how you feel about heat and humidity.

Miami is also known for its high crime rate, yes . . . but most is related to narcotics from South America, or tourists from everywhere. Be aware of pickpockets in any touristy area. Don't leave anything valuable in a car, ever. We'd recommend NOT wearing flashy jewelry or carrying an obviously expensive purse all over town.

Along with arctic air conditioning, Miami also loves its several generations of Cuban exiles. Miami hosts the largest Latin American group outside Latin America. Almost 70% are bilingual, with capability in both English and Spanish. When you switch back and forth in the same sentence, that's often referred to as Spanglish.

And Miamians of all nationalities love their Cuban culinary traditions. "New World," "Nuevo Latino" or hyperlocal "Floribbean" cuisine combines local produce with traditions of the Caribbean and European cooking techniques: medianoche, Cuban espresso, croquetas, pastelitos, Cubanos (sandwiches), empanadas, tostones, and last but not least, killer tacos.

Miami can be a bit of a mess during a heavy storm. Hurricanes are frequently a serious problem. Even though they don't come all the way inland, they often cause heavy rain which causes power outages. You and your roommates will need a "go bag" if you're on a flood plain. The rains are probably getting more severe due to global climate change, so keep that "go bag" on a high shelf.

OR, slightly different source of concern if your house is on sand possibly instead: There are scorpions and a few poisonous spiders. Same climate plus sand that's so great for beaches is also a cozy habitat for some scary creepy crawlies. So if you and your roommates see a unidentified creeper . . . assuming poison fangs are possible is never going to be the wrong attitude to take, you know?

In other exciting environmental news, Miami is the only American city with two national parks!

Everglades National Park is the largest tropical wilderness in the US, providing an important habitat for many endangered species like the manatee and the Florida panther! But remind all new roommates from elsewhere that swimming is completely prohibited. Why?

Well, park rangers probably imagine a variety of reasons but here's just one discussion ender: The alligators and crocodiles might swallow you whole! Or just chomp your leg.

Or guess who else has been chomping legs but usually not swallowing anyone whole as far as they know? That'd be BURMESE PYTHONS. Meanwhile, there's also a few other poisonous snakes that won't swallow you at all, but still have poisonous bites. You could still totally die.

That's good enough for us to say this is not the park for swimming! 100% eager cooperation at all times! Don't even dangle outside the boat!

Of course, you could just go kayaking through the peacefully ancient mangroves of Biscayne National Park instead . . .

The rest of the Miami roommate lowdown:

• largest metro area in Florida, at over 6 million, almost 500,000 in town, near the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula, and the southernmost metro area in the country
• covered in causeways
• Miami has a tropical monsoon climate - hot wet humid summers with sudden downpours are possible June-November - cooler drier winters - but often the threat of tropic storms resulting in floods, in about 40% of Miami. That percentage may grow with global warming. Real estate prices in Miami are already reflecting this concern, with higher elevations commanding higher prices.
• The little fire ant is an invasive pest.
• mostly over 90F June-September, severely humid, day and night, in winter it's usually around 75F
• almost all homes and vehicles have air conditioning
• good news for drivers: roads in Miami are easy to navigate, as the mains are in a grid system, with most roads numbered based on their distance from the city's center
• bad news for drivers: traffic is also constant
• Their public transport system covers the city. Most buses run roughly every 20 minutes, but delays seem always possible so check your routes in advance.
• Metrorail has almost 25 miles of elevated rail connecting downtown with the airport, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Lowe Art Museum, the Miami Museum of Science, and a lot of nearby shopping. Around downtown the Metromover will take you around and connect you back to Metrorail.
• The airport is both one of the world's largest, and most congested. Allow extra time to do anything at all.
• PortMiami is the world's busiest cruise port, about 5 million cruise passengers a year.
• Miami has more sports teams than you could probably properly enjoy, including the Miami Dolphins (NFL), Miami Heat (NBA), Miami Marlins (MLB), Florida Panthers (NHL) and Inter Miami CF (MLS)
• most important city in the US for Spanish language media, including Telemundo, UniMas, Univision, and Sony Music Latin
• Miami has the country's largest community college system. Miami-Dade College has over 200,000 students, with campuses all over town.
• also home to Florida Memorial College, Johnson & Wales University, Trinity College, Saint Thomas University, Barry University, Florida International University, University of Miami, and Nova University
• There's a lot of golf - over a dozen courses
• no state income tax
• Like many other large cities, Miami hosts a number of music festivals. Miami usually takes a break in July and August due to the heat and humidity, hosting their events all the other months. This is mostly the reverse of colder cities who party the heartiest in July and August then calm down for the other ten months.
• There are many long stretches of beautiful beach, many with different safety regulations. You should ask a local for yours. No, all beach rules are not the same across Miami and at all times, they can differ according to the marine life common to that particular beach, plus today's predicted weather.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Albuquerque's:

• Boynton Beach: Sea turtles!
• The Kampong: "Discover your own relationship with tropical plants." Nine acres of exotic flora. A plant research and education center on Biscayne Bay, in colloboration with Florida International University. Take a self-guided tour or a seminar. You can even take home some plants (during one of their sales, of course).
• Pegasus and Dragon: This is the 2nd tallest statue in the US, but probably at least the largest horse? It's 110 feet tall. That's a lotta pony. Sometimes there's a laser show.
• Ocean Drive: Largest collection of art deco buildings in the world. Take a tour during the day, or try to get into the clubs at night.
• Museum of Graffiti: "The World's First Museum Dedicated to Graffiti" ... they're showcasing their group of artists who "began their careers in the streets."

Here's the city of Miami's official .gov for trolley information, including schedules & maps.

Compare Miami roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

MILWAUKEE

Average roommate rent in Milwaukee is $400.

Find a roommate in Milwaukee and save more than $481 per month ($5772 per year).* Milwaukee is 1285th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 90th for quality of life.**

Your Milwaukee roommate search may experience #65 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #64 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy diversity in a city with a low cost of living new Milwaukee roommates: 28th Most Diverse and 82nd Lowest Cost of Living out of 228 cities in America.****

Milwaukee neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Juneau Town, Northpoint, Historic Third Ward, Riverwest, Brewer's Hill, Upper East Side, Downer Woods, Mount Mary, Yankee Hill, and Bay View*****

Milwaukee's roommates are spending 42% < $ than NYC's.******

Milwaukee's largest hoodmap tags: white folks bay, the hood, legit mexican food, bespoke beard wax, hipsters with children, poor hipsters, kite festival, ice skating, white girls take photos here, upcoming area, barrio, the bridge that separates white and black.*******

Average commute = less than average (23 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Milwaukee roommate rundown:

Cheese. Beer. Snow. Laverne & Shirley.

The first 2 are Milwaukee's most favorite things, or at least serious contenders, creating and consuming!

The third's what they have to deal with a lot. A lot of time spent dealing with a lot of snow. It's up to 50 inches a year. Opinions vary on how annoying (some love their snow sports!), but everyone agrees it's a lot.

The fourth's also a lot of how Milwaukee is popularly perceived, not just in the US, but worldwide.

Laverne & Shirley is an American sitcom which originally played for eight seasons on ABC from 1976-1983. It was about two roommates who work in a fictional but unsurprisingly familiar brewery. Yes, that range of several years back there was from the previous century, yes.

So how could a sitcom from literally last century still be relevant?

Because a lot are still watching it. In fact, "still" isn't exactly the right word, as exponentially more are watching them now in popular syndication over the internet than ever watched any of the original television network broadcasts.

But which brewery was "fictionalized?" Milwaukee was once home to four of the world's largest breweries: Blatz, Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz. Only Miller remains . . . but you can still smell the yeast. Miller and Coors have merged operations here now, and Miller maintains a huge operation on the west side. You and your roommates could go on a beer-tasting tour, including the Miller Inn and Beer Garden.

Miller along with Harley-Davidson are the two brands most associated with Milwaukee's heart and soul.

Miller still employs a few thousand Milwaukeeans, and Milwaukee is Harley-Davidson's international headquarters. They employ a lot of locals and throw a lot of parties, another way to Milwaukee's heart and soul!

Drinking beer here is cheaper than most cities, with craft or imported pints of beer only about $4, locally produced bottles less than that, and possible specials less than both. Meanwhile, cover charges are rare at any bar or club unless there's live music. There are also an unusually large number of "corner bars" and taverns, plus bowling alleys . . . probably also serving more beer!

Locals say if you visit only in winter, you'll know why there are a lot of bars.

But locals also say if you come back in summer, you'll see the party moved outside.

That's because Milwaukeeans must FEST! Milwaukee is an outdoor frenzy of festivals with fermented refreshments. Extra especially in summer, but there are cultural events occurring in downtown parks weekly. Almost always involving cheese and beer, and frequently snow.

Their most famous and most attended (over 800,000) is Summerfest, but with or without that one, you and your roommates could celebrate a favorite festival literally every weekend if you wanted.

So why not move to Milwaukee and drink beer with party people?

If we didn't already make it clear (heh), a lot of social events revolve around beer. If you would rather not be around a lot of beer and beer drinkers . . . you're probably not happy in Milwaukee. Not saying it's not survivable, many ex-drinkers are still here, but most locals would say Milwaukee's a rough ride for anyone struggling with alcohol.

And the beer-centric social scene does have drawbacks you'll want to beware, even if you're not imbibing. The rate of health problems caused by alcoholic overconsumption is higher here than most cities on this list. And whether or not you and your roommates choose to attend festivals or games or drink beer yourselves, you could still have a DUI problem downtown right around that time. Someone else's DUI might drive right into you, as the overall rate of DUI is much higher around events. You should certainly attend stuff that interests you, just beware of drunk drivers if you must drive. For traffic and DUI avoidance seriously consider walking and/or park and riding the bus up to the event. Have a blast (with or without beer) then let the professionals drive you safely away from any and all drunken hassles, easy cheesy.

Which you'll probably easily afford. If you're moving to Milwaukee from most of the cities on this list, you'll find everything from going out to your groceries is at least a little cheaper.

So can you can avoid death by summer mosquito? How about falling into a snowdrift then freezing to death, can you sidestep that too? If yes to both and you're not seriously concerned about your susceptibility to Miller-induced alcoholism . . . Milwaukee might be the High Life for you.

The rest of the Milwaukee roommate lowdown:

• about 600,000 in the city, about 1.5 million greater metro
• nicknamed "Brew City" or "The State of Cheese"
• largest city in Wisconsin, along the shores of Lake Michigan at the junction of three rivers, with smaller rivers also flowing through
• 90 miles north of Chicago, with rail service to Chicago
• stormy winters with many severe winter storms, milder summers
• Because of a bunch of complicated meteorological stuff involving Milwaukee's location in the Great Lakes region right next to Lake Michigan, the weather can be highly variable and rapidly changing. There's also an urban heat island effect, and heavy thunderstorms often delivering high wind plus hail. In particular, beware of flooding during intense rainfall, especially on the ground floor of anything down a hill.
• Milwaukee has a bus system, the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) which covers about 80% of the city. It's especially helpful to park and ride downtown for a game or a festival. It's less useful to any outerlying area or after midnight, so check your routes in advance to avoid getting stranded outside in the snow.
• Milwaukee is a nice place to ride your bike when it's not frozen, with quite a few separated bike lanes and limited access paths, with the city reportedly working to increase that number.
• Milwaukee has one of the best public park systems, with the beaches along the lake in nice weather the most popular. The Parks of Milwaukee park system, including a "Grand Necklace of Parks" of over 140, featuring several with nature centers and performance venues.
• Milwaukee loves its frozen custard, which is not regular ice cream or regular soft serve NOPE! It's frozen custard! (It's usually denser and eggier than all the other frozen "ice cream" approximations.)
• Milwaukee (along with the greater Wisconsin area) manufactures over 50% of the country's cheddar, from larger scale operations to micro and artisanal. Some is ultimately transformed into super popular and super squeaky cheese curds.
• They love their German culture, particularly with a huge German Fest in July and an Oktoberfest in October . . . as well as a lot of popular German restaurants and beer halls available year round.
• home to Milwaukee College of Art and Design, Alverno College, Cardinal Stritch College, Carroll College, Concordia University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Mount Mary College, Marquette University, Medical College of Wisconsin, and the University of Wisconsin
• represented in two of the four major professional sports leagues: Bucks (NBA) and the Brewers (MLB)
• "Polish flats" were nicknamed for the previously predominantly Polish immigrant neighborhoods in which they originally became popular: a 2-family home or duplex but one on top of the other instead of side by side. This allows separate entrances and a bit more privacy even under the same smaller roof because you're maximizing the real estate/minimizing the footprint for two separated dwellings.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Milwaukee's:

• Riverwalk: You and your roommates can explore downtown public art and restaurants while walking alongside the Milwaukee River.
• Pabst Brewery Complex: Formerly a brewery, now a collection of historic older buildings being renovated into living spaces, retail, and restaurants.
• Milwaukee Art Museum: There are wings (moving sunscreens) that open and close several times a day. And then the museum flies away! No, not really, but it is the roof of a pavilion. Over 32,000 works, from antiquity to the present. There's also an ongoing exhibit about Knowledge Beings and a Kohl's Art Studio.
• Milwaukee Public Museum: Their primary natural history museum for 125 years. The largest planetarium in the state. Also a Hebior Mammoth, Apache Playing Cards, and the streets of Old Milwaukee.
• Discovery World Museum: Interactive exhibits including local environmental science. Also a Caribbean tank with a bamboo shark and some honeycomb cowfish.
• Milwaukee County Zoo: One of the largest zoos in the country with over 2500 animals. There's also a Sky Safari and a virtual reality Gorilla Trek.
• Harley-Davidson Museum: In addition to the very large collection of motorcycles throughout the years, there's a riding academy and a parts marketplace.

Here's the city of Milwaukee's official .gov and their Department of Neighborhood Services, including their Rent for Success Program, a free program designed to "educate and empower renters to make safe, healthy choices in their housing."

Compare Milwaukee roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

MINNEAPOLIS or Saint Paul

Average roommate rent in Minneapolis is $600.

Find a roommate in Minneapolis and save more than $392 per month ($4704 per year).* Minneapolis is 1021st out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 89th for quality of life.**

Your Minneapolis roommate search may experience #35 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #144 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy one of the best cities in America for young professionals with new Minneapolis roommates: 8th Best for Young Professionals and 32nd Best Overall out of 228 cities in America.****

Minneapolis neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: King Field, Lowry Hill, South Uptown, Lynnhurst, Fulton, Page, Cooper, Linden Hills, Tangletown, and North Loop*****

Minneapolis' roommates are spending 38% < $ than NYC's.******

Minneapolis' largest hoodmap tags: eat street of the north, beer and beards, rich hipsters, major gentrification, manic pixie dream girl, high-end burb center, dopest forest in the cities, white gen x dreamworld, constant airplane noise, hispanic hood ara, consciousness raising yard signs, walk everywhere, cool frozen waterfall, more craft beers.*******

Average commute = less than average (23 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Minneapolis roommate rundown:

There's a giant blue cockadoodledoo statue standing over 20 feet tall, on a 25 foot platform, and together they tower over the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Folks look and say . . . that's one chilly blue rooster. And also a symbol of pride in courageous prowess . . . despite being frozen?

So with an intentional double meaning (via the tongue-in-cheek title) but also a thoughtful practical warning: Your chickens could freeze here if their coop isn't winterized. And while it's true that most seeking roommates don't have chickens themselves, any day chickens could accidentally freeze, SO COULD YOU!

But for real, warn roommates from less snowy places, freezing to death is terribly awfully possible here. Some deaths are associated with alcohol overconsumption, but certainly far from all, so everyone needs to beware of falling asleep and/or falling down outside!

And is all of that a metaphor for Minneapolis?

Some say so, but maybe also all the blue lakes?

Also that Minneapolis would apparently prefer you walk and bike a lot. Enjoy those healthy outdoor opportunities, get some fresh air! You can also take Metro Transit and there's a Skyway to keep you from freezing to death!

Then you might want to consider comfort food. Possibly later, volunteer work and/or some quality reading.

It's all a bit Dad-like, but in the best possible if aggressive way. Because with these excellent universities combined with still lower cost of living . . . you just know Dad'll insist you go to college too.

Minneapolis means City of Lakes, a combination of the Dakota word "minne" and Ancient Greek word "polis," which is great because they have 22 natural ones within city limits! All with well-maintained walking and biking paths around each!

In fact, Minneapolis has one of the most extensive park systems in the US, many connected by the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, allowing walking and biking over most. Minneapolis is approximately 15% park.

They've also invested heavily in bike trails and bicycle boulevards, and off-road routes to cover most of the city. Major bike trails are plowed along with city streets, not left to melt until spring. Currently they have about 16 miles of protected bikeway, plus hundreds of miles of bike lanes and off-street bikeway or trail.

And then there's . . . the Skyway. Almost 10 miles of enclosed pedestrian bridges, including most of downtown. The 2nd floors of many downtown buildings are connected by bridges between them, allowing you to experience all without going outside or stopping for lights. The Skyway includes many stores and restaurants. If you're visiting Minneapolis, you'd probably be happier staying near the Skyway, it's universally adored.

Metro Transit is also huge and well-organized with the Transit Trip Planner, organizing Metro Light Rail. There's about 90 routes, stopping overall thousands of places. There are also lines connecting the Mall of America, the airport, the University of Minnesota main campus, and downtown Saint Paul.

You can get nearly everywhere within city limits, as bus stops are nearly everywhere connected with higher speed light rail BUT some are served much less frequently than others. To get where you're going more efficiently while never getting stranded out in the cold, check the Metro Transit Trip Planner in advance.

Minneapolis has been hosting an unusually large number of AmeriCorps volunteers every year for the last several.

It's also home to an unusually large number of nonprofit literary presses, including the University of Minnesota Press.

So Minneapolitans get a lot of art and culture for their city's size . . . but also a lot of weather.

If you're from anywhere much warmer considering roommates in Minneapolis, you'd be getting a lot for the money in the first category, arts, culture, museums, a Dad-like attitude toward quality parks and cozy downtown skyways, etc.

But you'll also need to seriously consider if you can deal with the latter. More than most (cities and roommates) if you're moving from warmer you may want to visit during winter first. You already know it gets cold and you've accepted it intellectually if you're even able to read this, we already know!

However, all locals have multiple stories about a shocked newcomer's first truly cold winter day in the Twin Cities.

It's viscerally cold in a physically surprising way the first time you experience it. And Minneapolis is just out there kinda unprotected, not guarded by mountains or huge other cities nearby when the wind comes whipping down the plain. You think you know about cold even before your first time just by reading about it, and you really might mostly . . .

. . . but the remaining rest might be OMG WHAT?! Not enough warnings for me!

So if you're concerned you may not cheerfully embrace your new snowbunny lifestyle, great to visit first, then commit to anything more major only after walking around outside (not just the Skyway!) in winter.

With a coat and a hat and gloves and boots, yes! No freezing, bundle up! But still, walk around outside, then decide.

Meanwhile, Minneapolis also invented the Milky Way candy bar! They freeze really well.

The rest of the Minneapolis roommate lowdown:

• largest city in Minnesota, about 420,000, with the greater metro Twin Cities about 3.5 million
• capital city, along the upper Mississippi River
• along with Saint Paul forms the Twin Cities region
• winters are very long and very cold, temperatures are often below zero, severe storms are common, with at least a few blizzards every season
• summers can be humid, but still relatively mild
• Thunderstorms with heavy rain can occur other 3 seasons, along with fog, ice, and sleet. Basically, they're not prone to hurricanes or tornadoes, but all the other weather events are possible here (and why Minneapolitans LOVE their Skyway!)
• The city streets are on a grid divided into quadrants: North, South, Northeast, and Southeast. Blue signs indicate "Snow Emergency Route" roads, which are supposedly plowed first. Rust signs are east-west, light green signs are north-south, and dark green signs indicate scenic parkways, usually around actual parks.
• With 185 neighborhood parks and lakes networked together via bicycle and walking paths, variously as the weather permits, they offer: cross-country skiing, ice fishing, ice skating, sledding, and snowshoeing. Also ice-skating, hockey, snowmobiling popular in winter on the numerous lakes that freeze over in winter as the weather permits!
• Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing, to attract tourists. This tax is a bit controversial as many say this financial strategy is regressive, negatively affecting folks with less money more than those with more. That might be a fair criticism, but it has also been massively successful. There are contenders, but literally no more successful mall than Mall of America. Nope.
• home to Macalester College, Northwestern College, Augsburg College, Bethel College, College of Saint Catherine, Concordia College, Crown College, Hamline University, Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, University of Wisconsin, William Mitchell College of Law, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, and the University of Minnesota
• Home to the Minnesota Twins (MLB), the Minnesota Vikings (NFL), the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA), and the Minnesota Lynx (WNBA). They also have the Minnesota Wild, an NHL hockey team, and the Minnesota United FC, a professional soccer team.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Minneapolis':

• Mall of America: Maybe not quite as exciting as when it opened, as there are a few more monuments to shopping around the country and up in Canada now . . . but this one still stands out as the largest mall around, by far. Some say it's still the most popular local tourist destination as well, but that's controversial! In addition to a staggeringly large number of retail stores, there's an indoor amusement park, movies (obviously), and the Nickelodeon Universe.
• Minneapolis Institute of Art: More than 90,000 pieces spanning 5,000 years, particularly Native-American and Asian histories. You and your roommates can go on a guided mobile tour.
• Walker Art Center: Galleries, shops, cinema, and the Walker Reader, their experimental digital public platform. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, one of the largest urban sculpture gardens in the country, is right across the street.
• Minnesota Hot Dish: Arguably any casserole served warm, but traditionally features some combination of ground meat, veggies, cheese and cream soup underneath, a solid layer of tatertots on top, then baked until bubbly. It's not the most popular at restaurants lately, but you'll definitely find at cookouts, potlucks, bake sales, neighborhood events of that nature. If you want to try and can't find you need to meet more native Minneapolitans!
• Lutefisk: Cod dried on outdoor racks, then soaked in water, then lye. The lye reconstitutes and re-expands the fish, thus rendering that gelatinous jelly quality, then the lye is soaked out as well. It's like a protein-packed fish jello that takes on the flavor of the sauce served with it.
• Juicy Lucy: Served at many local bars, many claim it as uniquely Minneapolitan. It's a cheeseburger, but the cheese isn't on top of the patties of meat, it's between two molded together patties that keep the cheese inside sufficiently piping hot to completely annihilate the entire roof of your mouth on first bite! Or you could let it cool off before consuming. Either way.
• Boom Island Park: Do you enjoy fishing? What about fishing with a side of skyline and century-old remains of a Pillsbury mill? Have I got a park for you!
• Tower Hill Park: Home of an historical water tower with supposedly the best view of the city
• Prince's Star at First Avenue: On the right side of the club's entrance
• Dining clubs, pubs, and bars (various, but usually locally owned): Many compete with each other for the best Happy Hour and other daily specials on hearty British, Irish or German plates. Get familiar with whichever are in your neighborhood and you could rotate around for the best deals, ultimately consuming a lot of comfort food, extra comforting because you'll be getting their best price.

Here's the city of Minneapolis official .gov for renters, including local renter rights. Compare Minneapolis roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

MONTREAL

Average roommate rent in Montreal is $650.

Find a roommate in Montreal, where the average proportion of income spent in rent plus utilities is 19%. 11% of renters live overcrowded.*********

Montreal is 52nd out of 153 Canadian cities for cost of living, and 2nd best city to live in Canada!**

Montreal's roommates are spending 52% < $ than NYC's.******

Montreal's largest hoodmap tags: nice place to take pictures, rich boomers, attempted deer murder, all french people, engineering school aka sausage party, construction from hell, micro ecosystem of mcmansions, UdeM students, indians and greeks, secret hood, the bridge that lights up, hip but still poor, aliens, more italians.*******

SO, roomiematch.com's Montreal roommate rundown:

Montreal has been nicknamed "the city of a hundred steeples," for their number of churches. There are about 650 churches, with most dating back to the 1800s or earlier. And Old Montreal (Le Vieux-Montreal) is richly textured with a lot of historical landmarks from the 17th and 18th centuries. Take a walk along their waterfront (Le Vieux-Port), and feel very Old Europe.

Ice hockey is an overwhelming favorite, with the Montreal Canadiens the most important. If you'd like to get along with most Montrealers, they should be important to you too, at least insofar as avoiding insulting them. They've won the Stanley Cup more than any other team!

When it's not winter and the waterways thaw, Montrealers love river surfing and kayaking.

There are also four major universities and several smaller schools. Montreal is lousy with college students that could be potential roommates . . . some of whom consider themselves more Quebecois than Canadian. They may be offended if you assume otherwise.

It's a surprisingly eclectic range, the merging of multiple cultures and the very old with the new.

And they adore festing together. A lot of festivals, all through summer and fall, at least 100. They're trying to bring them to winter too, but that's still in progress.

One of the most popular is the Montreal International Fireworks Competition, with teams competing from all over the world. You could buy tickets to get closer to the orchestral music, or sit on any rooftop or balcony with a view of the center of the city and watch the whole thing for free. The Montreal International Jazz Festival is the world's largest jazz festival! It excitingly attracts internationally-ranked artists, while less excitingly closing off a number of downtown streets. The jazz festival also offers quite a few free outdoor shows, but Montrealers are probably happiest NOT driving to them.

You also might get confused if a local shows you their map or compass, and yours is from outside Montreal. They like to assume north = Mount Royal, even though that's not exactly true. "Montreal north" might not be the same as compass or pole north. Just keep this in mind in event of confusion.

Biking is extremely popular, particularly in the most densely populated neighborhoods. The city has become one of the best for urban cycling, rapidly increasing its number of separated bike lanes in the last several years. Bike lanes are also located in key locations and traverse the city, connecting to popular sites, not just around. For the most efficient routes you should consult the Montreal City Council interactive map. The only serious drawback to biking is winter, or that while Montreal clears snow from its most popular bike lanes, that won't be all of them, and the remaining ones could get icy.

Also unfortunately, in those very same delightfully bike-friendly neighborhoods, bike theft has become popular too. Never forget to secure your bike to a bike rack, then loop in anything else detachable as well (seat, basket, wheels). Then secure the entire situation with a u-lock or some other cable that definitely can't be cut quickly by a thief.

And if you really want to maximize your cheaper transportation options? Bikes are also allowed inside metro trains, as long as it's not too crowded (people take priority). But don't ride around inside the stations, and keep in mind your bike could be temporarily denied at a station near a major event during a huge rush. But likely you could just take a later train.

Walking is also extremely popular in most neighborhoods, but beware of ice on any uncleared sidewalk. Winter boots with soles that grip are highly recommended after a snow storm.

Driving is too popular, most Montrealers would say, because it's chock full of both literal and metaphorical hazards. Right turns on red are not permitted. Popular roadways tend to pothole, because the weather plus the snow-melting salt destroys them. Some potholes are deep enough to cause real damage if driven over quickly, and repair is difficult until spring. The stop lights are less obvious than many in America, which could cause a collision if you're not very careful. Street parking is hard to find, and tickets are expensive. The symbols on road signs are the same as in English-speaking Canada and the US, but the words are usually in French.

Last but not least . . . sort of? Never leave your car parked on a street that might soon be experience snow removal! There's actually a siren! But if you don't move your car almost immediately after it goes off, you'll be very expensively and inconveniently towed.

Some Montrealers feel they're both Quebecois and Canadian, while others would prefer to separate from Canada. No one other than a Montrealer should assume they're adequately informed on this issue to contest any Montrealer's opinion. Locals advise the most respectful and considerate thing would be to avoid the subject yourself, but feel free to listen and learn if others discuss around you.

Locals also say many Montrealers consider it more respectful to at least attempt a few words in French even if you're primarily Anglophone. They'll probably hear your accent and reply in English, but will appreciate the effort anyway.

And lots of adult language-immersion programs are available if you do want to learn French, some from non profits, some from the government, and many are free. Locals report the ability to speak at least beginner-level French is preferred for many jobs. If you're not from Canada, do not already speak French, would like to immigrate to Montreal, and you're not already sponsored as a skilled worker, learning French in advance would likely help.

Montreal has its own free public extensive wireless network (MTLWiFi). It's one of the world's largest, with 825 access points, including many public buildings, libraries, and parks! Even many major intersections have free WiFi. However, they need you to keep in mind that it's meant for you to use while out and about, not longer-term from your house. Also, while you may be using passwords various ways for various things on your own device, MTLWiFi itself is not encrypted.

Montreal shares the rest of Canada's lower violent crime rate, with some spikes in property crime. So like any large city, keep an eye on your valuables, don't leave anything in your car, and beware of pickpockets, especially in touristy areas.

Specifically Montreal safety tips are that the streets are most dangerous, particularly for driving, at 3 a.m. That's the magic moment when all the clubs close and their drinkers empty out. A few might be unruly. Also, metro cars are usually safe, but just to make sure, ride the first car with the driver late at night or anytime your station seems substantially less crowded.

Montreal has some of the best budget dining in North America. Lots of cheaper but still great Indian food, a lot of kosher restaurants with less expensive dishes, as much smoked meat as you could possibly consume, and a lot of vegetarian-friendly (probably without the corned beef on top) plus economical poutine!

(Poutine is squeaky. And it definitely squeaks in French, with or without smoked meat.)

The rest of the Montreal roommate lowdown:

• largest city in Quebec, with 1.7 million in the city, about 4 million in the greater metro
• Basically an island in the middle of Saint Laurence River, accessible by bridge only, with the Laurentian Mountains to the north, and the Appalachians to the south and southeast
• Montreal is the largest "Francophone" city, meaning most Montrealers speak French. However, about 10% speak English as their first language, and over 60% consider themselves fully bilingual. Which language is predominantly spoken depends on the neighborhood.
• Montreal features severe temperature differentials between summer and winter, very hot and very cold weather annually, wet throughout the year, with 4 distinct seasons - snow is moderate, more days are sunny than not, but summer tends to be stormy.
• Montreal's cost of living is low for a city this size with this many cultural amenities.
• The Port of Montreal is one of the largest inland ports in the world.
• NYC is an approximately six-hour drive south.
• NYC is about 12 hours away by train. It's quicker by bus, but a nicer journey by train, as you can get up and walk around, and there's a cafe car.
• home to Ecole de Technologie Superieure, Concordia University, Ecole des Haves Etudes Commerciales, Ecole Polytechnique, McGill University, Universite de Montreal, and Universite du Quebec

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Montreal's:

• Smoked meat sandwiches: Heaping, usually beef brisket or corned beef. Probably not pastrami, maybe mustard.
• Poutine: French fries with gravy and squeaky curds of white cheddar on top. Smoked meat, chicken, sausage, vegetables or tomato sauce may or may not be added as well.
• Spaghetti: Montrealers really love spaghetti too, and it's not that different here, except you can often order it with corned beef on top.
• Notre-Dame Basilica (Basilique de Notre-Dame): Lavishly decorated in the Gothic Revival style, it's the most famous and most toured church in Montreal. We could say don't miss the stained glass windows, but if you do go that's probably impossible.
• Parc du Mont-Royal: While it's technically a hill, this massive park designed by the same architect as Central Park in NYC is on top of a "mountain" that's 232m/761ft tall. It overlooks Montreal and shares the name. Many trails and lovely views.
• Mount Royal (Mont-Royal): Great view of the downtown core. Multiple routes to the top, including steeper staircases for those wanting a workout, more sloping paths for the lower key, and a cross-country ski path. You and your roommates should select according to your athletic interests.
• Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musee be beaux-arts de Montreal): Over 44,000 works plus many traveling exhibits, it's the oldest and most visited museum in Canada.
• Montreal Symphony Orchestra: It's the only orchestra in the world with an octobass.
• Insectarium of Montreal: Largest museum dedicated to insects in North America. Over 160,000 bugs, some alive! There's an anthill and multiple bee hives. You can also sample some protein-rich creepers at an "Insect Tasting." Or they could teach you how to make a Monarch Oasis.
• The Underground: 30 kilometers of underground shopping, eating, and gaming. If you're anywhere nearby, you can avoid the weather when it menaces but still go out. And when you want to leave, you can also pop back up and out at the McGill University campus or a few different museums.

Here's the city of Montreal's interactive bike map, featuring all the routes plus helpful tips and suggestions.

Compare Montreal roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

NASHVILLE

Average roommate rent in Nashville is $700.

Find a roommate in Nashville and save more than $556 per month ($6672 per year).* Nashville is 33rd out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 86th for quality of life.**

Your Nashville roommate search may experience #61 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #74 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy one of the best cities for young professionals that's also diverse with new Nashville roommates: 60th Best for Young Professionals and 93rd Most Diverse out of 228 cities in America.****

Nashville neighborhoods where roommates get > for = $: Sulphur Dell, Scarritt Peabody, Downtown, Watkins Park, Demonbreun Hill, Music Row, Salemtown, Boscobel Heights, East End, and Douglas Park*****

Nashville's roommates are spending 24% < $ than NYC's.******

Nashville's largest hoodmap tags: lock your car doors, murder kroger, gentrification run amok, MBA school, slaveowners probably, middle eastern food, hipsters, Vandy kids, hipsters in historic homes, taco trucks, smoked chicken, another high crime area, tourists and country music*******

Average commute = longer than average (28 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's Nashville roommate rundown:

"Music City, USA" is Nashville's official nickname, and probably most popular.

As the home of multiple record labels, Music Row, and the Bluebird Cafe? And the second metro in country music creation after NYC?

While it's an untrue stereotype that the local music scene is limited to country, what's true is how enthusiastically friendly to country and music and singing in general Nashville truly is.

Other nicknames bring up controversy, at least among some native Nashvillians. There's occasional tension between "Honky Tonk Central" and "Buckle of the Bible Belt."

Nashville is simultaneously regarded as the country music capital of the world and the heart of the contemporary Christian music and faith-based publishing industries, as well as headquarters for several Protestant denominations.

Some would prefer Nashville with less twang, less booze, less focus on late night partying. And then more Bible. However, the honky tonkers and contemporary Christians have co-existed for so long, they seem to mostly get along anyway.

Usually at live music venues! But possibly with different beverages.

But along with Christians making peace with the honky tonk . . . so must everyone else, actually. It's a cocktail-consuming, bar-hopping, party hearty city, and not just for those who recently turned legal. If you moved here, it wouldn't be everyone you know. But it'd likely be all demographics.

If you're social, you'll have friends who'll invite you to honky tonk. Or at least drink alcohol at their favorite bar, which could rotate all over town as there are so many solid options.

Bars and twangy country music are at their most potent in Nashville. Obviously you don't have to go . . . but just to know . . . you could be out there, honky tonking the night away?

We must warn you! Be aware of the honky tonk power!

Another good thing to know with regard to how Nashville is stereotypically friendly is that unfortunately, the stereotype failed on public transit. Decidedly unfriendly.

There is a bus service operating through downtown, mostly during business hours. But late night service is limited, and routes are subject to change, so check with the Nashville MTA to make sure your route is still happening before you plan your day around it.

You can also ride the Music City Star, mostly to and from downtown and a few other geographical landmarks and main arteries. Walking downtown is nice, weather permitting.

However, most of the rest of Nashville lacks sidewalks?

So basically unless you're a student living within walking distance of campus and don't plan to see most of the rest of Honky Tonk . . . you'll be singing a sad song without a car.

But most have a good shot at affording one. Along with the rest of Tennessee, Nashville has an overall low cost of living, and no income tax. There's also no tax on food.

Nashville, even more than other Southern cities, also has a reputation for being interpersonally friendly too?

Maybe it's all those extroverted performers, but we did mean both with and without the alcohol. (The twang was already on the bill.)

I mean, just once in a blue moon, especially if you're having a hard day, you might be startled by someone suddenly belting a song in your nearby vicinity?

But that's still not an UN-friendly feeling . . . is it?

The rest of the Nashville roommate lowdown:

• Tennessee's capital and largest city
• about 680,000 within the city, larger metro a little over 2 million
• on the Cumberland River in the northwest corner of the Nashville Basin
• warm, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms, weather changes frequently in winter, generally featuring light snow on and off for a few months, with larger storms every few years
• at the convergence of three major interstate highways - with that and its relatively central location, and traffic and weather in your favor, Nashville is less than a day's drive from Chattanooga, Knoxville, Louisville, and Memphis
• home to Aquinas Junior College, Belmont University, Cumberland University, David Lipscomb University, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, Murfreesboro's Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, and Vanderbilt University
• Professional sports: Tennessee Titans (NFL), Nashville Predators (NHL), Nashville SC (MLS), and the Nashville Sounds (MLB)
• lots of Civil War tourism, including battle sites and preserved antebellum plantation houses
• There are many pollen-producing trees, and the climate can trap the allergens. If you or your roommates have hay fever, you should stock up on allergy meds.
• Nashville was hit particularly hard by the opioid epidemic. This combined with a decrease in affordable housing has led to a homelessness crisis in Nashville. Hence, violent and property crime rate are both above what you'd expect for a city this size.
• Nashville's Grand Ole Opry is both a radio program broadcasting since 1925, and a concert hall located in the Grand Ole Opry House, since 1974. Before that it was part of a theme park called Opryland USA, but they eventually tore that down and replaced it with a megamall called Opry Mills.
  
  Some say the whole thing has always been haunted by the ghosts of country stars that died of death by misadventure.
  
  Quite a few misadventures.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience Nashville's:

• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: "The house that holds the music." There's a self-guided experience that takes about 90 minutes. Locals say this is THE country music museum. They stay open late Tuesday evenings for special events.
• Johnny Cash Museum & Cafe: Are you and your roommates hungry for more Cash? For the max Cash, go on the self-guided tour, then Johnny Cash's Bar & BBQ next door.
• Tennessee State Capitol: Guided tours are free, provided by staff of the Tennessee State Museum. But don't forget your photo identification.
• Frist Art Museum: 12-15 exhibits at a time, from local to international
• Nashville Zoo at Grassmere: Go on a "backstage pass" tour of behind-the-scenes animal stuff not visible to all the visitors! You could pat a rhino or feed a giraffe.
• Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art: 55 acres of art museum plus botanical garden. It's like they know you like both, so it's an all-in-one also featuring gardening workshops and outdoor wellness classes.
• Prince's Hot Chicken Shack: Home of the "original hot chicken." That means good fried chicken, now with cayenne pepper. Since 1945.
• Goo Goo Clusters: Invented here in 1912. It's like a little hockey puck made out of marshmallow, caramel, and peanuts, covered in chocolate. The name is supposedly the sound a baby makes, because this candy puck is good enough to be loved by babies in addition to adults?
• Meat and three: Not one location or business, there are many, but the customer picks one meat and three side dishes. It's now associated with soul food in general, but the term originated in Nashville. Wherever or whoever, the term promises soulfully solid comfort food served informally at a fixed-price . . . but it'll be a good value.
• First Saturday Art Crawl: First Saturday of every month from 5-8 p.m., free art openings and artist receptions all over downtown art galleries. Free and open to everyone, there may even be refreshments.
• Nashville Roller Derby: Nashville's only women's flat track roller derby team. They play home games at the Nashville Fairgrounds Sports Arena.
• Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: Nashville's oldest honky-tonk. It's painted purple and behind the Ryman Auditorium. So many famous performers coming through, you can visit the memorabilia all over the venue.

Here's the city of Nashville's official .gov for the most popular services for residents, including trash, recycling, car registration and affordable housing.

Compare Nashville roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

NEW BRUNSWICK

Average roommate rent in New Brunswick is $600.

Find a roommate in New Brunswick: 159th out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 72nd for quality of life.**

Enjoy diverse suburbs in a diverse place to live with new New Brunswick roommates: 43rd Most Diverse Suburbs in New Jersey and 58th Best for Most Diverse Places to Live in New Jersey.****

Average commute = slighter longer than average (28 minutes). Most households have 2 cars.********

SO, roomiematch.com's New Brunswick roommate rundown:

Honestly, the only reason a "metro" or college town the wee size of New Brunswick with only around 55,000 residents gets its own mention on this list is because of the easy accessibility to larger metros.

(Also, the college in question is Rutgers, but Princeton's pretty close too.)

New Brunswick is along the New Jersey Transit line, meaning trains go from New Brunswick to NYC's Penn Station or Newark and it takes about an hour, or Philadelphia and it takes about an hour and a half.

Whether or not you and your roommates need a car depends on how often you leave Rutgers . . . to do anything other than depart to NYC or Philly or someplace else off the New Jersey Transit Line. If you do decide to drive in New Brunswick, you should know that downtown parking is expensive, and traffic gets jammed up around any football game.

Route 18 also features a rush hour that might be a few hours long. Avoid!

So what's the "culture" of New Brunswick . . . specifically? Either ONE or TWO, below, take your pick.

ONE: You can't go far without spotting a bar. The Rutgers campus area and surrounding is generally safe and features its own Rutgers University Police (RUPD), but locals advise against wandering around alone in the rest of the town after dark. Pickpocketing along with occasional muggings has happened at bus stops, so keep your obvious valuables safely stashed. Always best to travel in a group, especially after dark, especially if you've been drinking.

TWO: It doesn't exist, because everyone is constantly leaving on transit?

(But still excellent metro to roommate from, because proximity!)

The rest of the New Brunswick roommate lowdown:

• 28 miles southwest of NYC, on the banks of the Raritan river, located approximately 30 miles southwest of Manhattan
• an enthusiastic Hungarian and Hungarian-celebrating community, with up to 10% Hungarians of several generations, and several landmarks and memorials relating to all their revolutions plus a Hungarian Festival every June
• up to 50% of New Brunswick's residents report an Hispanic background, and it's amazingly various
• also known as "Healthcare City," after its abundance of medical facilities, including Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Saint Peter's University Hospital, and Rutgers University's Robert Wood Johnson Medical Schools . . . plus New Brunswick is the international headquarters of Johnson & Johnson

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience New Brunswick's:

• George Street: Home to George Street Playhouse and a number of other performing arts organizations and art galleries. Also a lot of casual dining and the college students partaking.
• Zimmerli Art Museum: More than 60,000 works, with strengths in Art of the Americas, Soviet Nonconformist Art, and Original Illustrations for Children's Literature. Part of Rutgers, but open to the public and free to all.
• Rutgers Gardens and Helyar Woods: "One of the few botanical gardens that does not charge an admission fee and is open year round." Hours change seasonally so be sure to doublecheck your info before going.

Here's the city of New Brunswick's official .org for new residents (including roommates).

Compare New Brunswick roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

NEW HAVEN or Bridgeport

Average roommate rent in New Haven and Bridgeport is $800.

Find a roommate in New Haven: 972nd out of 2202 US cities for cost of living, and 70th for quality of life.**

Your New Haven roommate search may experience #95 (out of 150) in Best Places to Live vibes. Also #43 in Best Places to Retire vibes.***

Enjoy diverse young professionals with new New Haven roommates: 11th Most Diverse and 41th Best for Young Professionals out of 228 cities in America.****

New Haven's largest hoodmap tags: drunk driving rednecks with money, asbestos avenue, pharma company ruins, halal mode, trenches, tax yale!!!, exotic truck food line.*******

Average commute = shorter than average (21 minutes). Most households have only 1 car, in part because so many walk to work.********

SO, roomiematch.com's New Haven roommate rundown:

Since 1701, New Haven has been home to Yale University. If you live here, you will never struggle to remember that.

New Haven is also frequently referred to as the cultural capital of Connecticut. But that's what Yale told them to say.

A whole whack of US presidents went to Yale, along with even more in Congress. If you're not also attending Yale, this probably won't affect you much, other than forever hearing about it.

New Haven is covered in historical sites, many officially registered. Lighthouse Point Park, a public beach and historic place in and of itself, is also home to two lighthouses plus a carousel, all three also historical!

Officially!

Most of the rest of their economy is human service too - home to a lot of other schools, health care, religion, and pharmaceuticals.

New Haven's downtown is more walkable than most, with many working and living downtown so they can walk easily between. Pedestrian commuting, yay! Lots of walkable retail and casual dining, with over 100 food trucks and carts clustering at a few popular points for lunch.

Which is typical of . . . a much larger city? Topographically, New Haven is a lot more bucolic than most where you can walk to so much that's functionally different within so few blocks.

You can also bicycle along the shorelines of several local beaches nearby, weather permitting.

New Haven Green offers free music concerts, especially in summer. Also, free wifi!

Along with other recent downtown vitalization efforts, 360 State Street apartments is now the largest residential building in Connecticut. It's a 300-foot skyscraper of apartment homes.

If you're not into Yale and/or the pedestrian-friendly and mega-historical spaces surrounding it . . . you may be treating New Haven as your commuter town? But it's encouraged.

Because there are too many commuter trains to mention?

As often as you could reasonably require you can board trains to NYC, Boston, D.C., Providence, Newark, Philadelphia, and Baltimore . . . and farther on to Norfolk . . . and even farther to Vermont.

New Haven could be your somewhat less expensive NE residential roommate hub . . . but from which you could spoke outward to several more expensive cities and several similarly-priced ones.

All without really needing a car for much, at least in New Haven, if you live near enough to catch a ride or walk to the various stations.

Hope you're a history buff!

The rest of the New Haven roommate lowdown:

• New Haven is a port on New Haven Harbor, on the northern shore of Long Island Sound, about 60 miles northeast of New York City.
• population of about 130,000 New Haveners in the actual city, about 860,000 in Greater New Haven
• New Haven is known as the first planned city in the American Colonies, founded in 1638.
• home to Albertus Magnus College, Gateway Community College, Quinnipiac College, Southern Connecticut State University, University of New Haven, Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University, University of Bridgeport, and Yale University
• summers are warm and humid, but winters are milder than surrounding areas due to the Long Island Sound - snow happens, but usually more like snow showers than heavy snow drifts
• New Haven and Bridgeport are known for property crime, but in recent years it's usually car-related . . . always lock your car doors and never leave anything of value visible inside.
• There is some bus transit . . . but most in New Haven use transit to go elsewhere. If you don't like walking in cold weather, they do have bus routes around downtown.
• East Rock Park, Sleeping Giant State Park, West Rock State Park are all nearby with many miles of hiking and biking, along with scenic views galore.
• Invented New Haven-style apizza (say uh-BEETZ) which might be a cousin to regular pizza or in a different family entirely, depending on who you ask. It's thin crust scorched to bitterness in a brick oven, then topped with higher quality ingredients than typical on most American pizzas. The New England clam variety is extra popular.

After you're settled down, you and your roommates should experience New Haven's:

• Farmington Canal Trail: "Rail trail" or former canal and railroad, now a scenic recreational trail for residents, proposed to expand many miles and well into the future
• Morris Steinert Collection of Musical Instruments: Possibly still closed for renovation, but you can always view the online gallery of amazing musical expression through time.
• Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library: Yale's rare books and manuscripts, from ancient papyri to born-digital material. There's an original copy of a Gutenberg Bible. The marble walls inside are extra glowing. No registration required for individual tours, but if you and your roommates want to tour as a group, you might have to let them know then let them lead you. (Don't be drunk or otherwise unruly. Snacking is not allowed during tours.) You can also register for their reading room, even if you do not and never have attended Yale. Their hours open to the public can vary as they host many private events, so confirm before going.
• Yale University Art Gallery: 186,088 objects! Special focus on Ancient Art, American Decorative Arts, Photography, and Numismatics (coins, paper currency, and medals). Free and open to the public from Tuesday through Sunday. There's a free app with the floor plan and other informational stuff, or you and your roommates could also register in advance for a guided tour.
• Louis' Lunch: They claim to have invented the "classic hamburger sandwich" that's made with five cuts of meat, then served between white toast with only cheese, onion, and tomato allowed as toppings. They don't think you can properly experience their hand-rolled burgers grilled to perfection with ketchup and mustard all over them! The Lassen family "holds firm on their desire not to offer any condiments." So if you want a special sauce or fries find the nearest McD? But probably try this first, if you and your roommates are already nearby.
• The Devil's Gear Bike & Board: Community bike shop where you can buy gear and accessories and/or have yours repaired or tuned-up as expected. This one supports their community by sponsoring various local organizations trying to move everyone forward, including promoting free community (you and your roommates are invited!) bike rides.

Here's the city of New Haven's official .gov for all their city services.

Compare New Haven's roommate rent to everywhere else, plus how to find a good roommate - better roommates for all!

Don't miss roommate scams = NOPE!

And here's the roommate matching metro list.

New Orleans

(find a roommate in New Orleans)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $550

- large city in southeast Louisiana, on the Mississippi Delta
- almost entirely surrounded by water (swampland, bayous, lakes, and rivers)
- most of the city is below sea level
- summers are long, hot, and humid, with heavy downpours occurring quite suddenly
- winters are generally pleasant, but foggy
- medium-sized local airport
- Amtrak
- major cultural influences from both France and Spain, who originally colonized it
- popular tourist destination, with many carnivals to entertain them
- the arts, culture, entertainment, music, food, history and architecture are like nowhere else, and have influenced the rest of the country and the world like few other cities
- it's said you can't survive in New Orleans as an impatient person
- home to Dillard University, Loyola University, Our Lady of Holy Cross College, Southern University, Xavier University, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Tulane University, and the University of New Orleans

Newark

(find a roommate in Newark)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $800

- northern New Jersey near the lower Hudson River, immediately west of NYC
- natural terrain is flat and marshy
- summers are hot and muggy, winters are cool and wet
- Newark Airport is a major hub for the New York area
- Amtrak
- both a large city in its own right and a commuter community to NYC
- proximity to NYC, lower rents compared to NYC, and the many available transportation options to NYC make it attractive for many
- has a past as a less attractive heavy industrial center with more recent urban decay, but revitalization is underway
- home to Bloomfield College, Caldwell College, Centenary College, College of Saint Elizabeth, College of New Jersey, Montclair State College, Drew University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, Seton Hall University, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry

Norfolk

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average roommate rent is $600

- largest metro area in the state by population
- almost entirely surrounded by water, between the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the waterway known as Hampton Roads
- numerous rivers
- mild winter, long humid warm summers, few severe storms due to surrounding waterways
- small local airport
- 2 ferries
- Amtrak
- Virginia Beach is popular
- one of the best natural ports on the East Coast
- performing arts community active, especially for an area this size
- cost of living is moderate, and less than most East Coast areas this size
- shipbuilding, fishing, and other seaport-related businesses are dominant
- several large naval bases in the area
- home to Virginia Wesleyan College, Christopher Newport University, College of William and Mary, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, and Regent University

NYC - The Bronx

(find a roommate in The Bronx)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $900

- northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City
- only borough located on the mainland
- high temperatures in summer with frequent freezes in winter
- economically diverse
- one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the country
- one of the most complex places to live in the U.S., presenting both unique challenges and opportunities
- extensive public transit system. including subways, buses, a ferry network, and a suburban rail system
- most residents do not own cars, most that do don't drive them daily
- many celebrated professional sports teams
- home to Concourse Village and the new Yankee Stadium
- many parks and gardens, including Van Cortlandt Park, Pelham Bay Park, the New York Botanical Garden and the The Bronx Zoo
- Edgar Allan Poe spent the last years of his life in the The Bronx, at Poe Cottage
- considered one of the birthplaces of modern hip hop
- home to the Bronx Museum of the Arts and several off broadway theaters
 -home to several colleges and universities, including Fordham University, Manhattan College, three campuses of the City University of New York, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy

NYC - Brooklyn

(find a roommate in Brooklyn)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $1400

- most populous of the five boroughs of New York City
- high temperatures in summer with frequent freezes in winter
- historic home of many immigrant communities
- except for parks, totally urban
- one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the country
- one of the most complex places to live in the U.S., presenting both unique challenges and opportunities
- city is very crowded, cost of living is very high, these factors are stressful for many
- extensive public transit system. including subways, buses, a ferry network, and a suburban rail system
- most residents do not own cars, most that do don't drive them daily
- commuter rail hub
- world-class dining, shopping, theater, symphony, opera, live music
- museums and architectural attractions draw global audiences
- hosts the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Brooklyn Philharmonic
- many parks, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park, Coney Island, and the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
- many colleges and universities, including Brooklyn Law School, Pratt Institute, New York Polytechnic School of Engineering, Brooklyn College, Medgar Evers College, New York City College of Technology, and the SUNY Downstate Medical Center

NYC - Manhattan

(find a roommate in Manhattan)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $1500

- most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City, but the smallest in land area
- at the mouth of the Hudson River, the southernmost tip of New York state
- high temperatures in summer with frequent freezes in winter
- several major bridges connect the boroughs, boroughs have unique characteristics and are considered part of the whole
- national center, both economically and culturally
- except for parks, totally urban
- one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the country
- one of the most complex places to live in the U.S., presenting both unique challenges and opportunities
- city is very crowded, cost of living is very high, these factors are stressful for many
- extensive public transit system. including subways, buses, a ferry network, and a suburban rail system
- most residents do not own cars, most that do don't drive them daily
- commuter rail hub
- Amtrak hub
- large airline hub with 3 major airports
- many ferries
- world-class dining, shopping, theater, symphony, opera, live music
- museums and architectural attractions draw global audiences
- many celebrated professional sports teams
- the New York Public Library has the largest collection of any public library system in the country
- Wall Street in lower Manhattan hosts both the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ
- home to the United Nations Headquarters
- home to many colleges and universities, including Columbia University, Barnard College, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, Cooper Union, Marymount Manhattan College, New York Institute of Technology, New York University, The Juilliard School, Pace University, Berkeley College, The New School, Bank Street College of Education, Boricua College, Manhattan School of Music, and the Metropolitan College of New York, School of Visual Arts

NYC - Queens

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average roommate rent is $1150

- easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City, second most populous, includes a few small islands
- high temperatures in summer with frequent freezes in winter
- one of the most complex places to live in the U.S., presenting both unique challenges and opportunities
- city is very crowded, cost of living is very high, these factors are stressful for many
- two of New York metro's airports are located here, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airport
- the Long Island Rail Road operates 22 stations here with service to other boroughs and Long Island
- possibly the most ethnically diverse urban area in the country, over 120 languages spoken
- neighborhoods differ greatly, especially with regard to housing options
- home to Flushing Meadows Park (New York Mets and the US Open), Silvercup Studios, Aqueduct Racetrack, and Kaufman Astoria Studios
- Queens Borough Public Library is one of the larges public library systems in the US
- home to a number of museums and cultural institutions, including New York Hall of Science, Queens Museum of Art, Bowne House, 5 Pointz, Noguchi Museum, Queens Botanical Garden, and Kupferberg Center for the Arts
- home to a number of colleges including LaGuardia Community College, Queens College, Queensborough Community College, York College, and the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

NYC - Staten Island

(find a roommate in Staten Island)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $850

- least populated of the five boroughs of New York City
- used to claim the largest landfill in the world, now being made into a public park
- only borough that is not connected to the New York City subway system
- high temperatures in summer with frequent freezes in winter
- home to a diverse population of wildlife
- hundreds of acres of wooded areas
- free Staten Island ferry is a popular tourist attraction, providing views of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty
- home to the Staten Island Zoo
- home to many artists and musicians who wanted proximity to Manhattan but with larger, cheaper residential space
- home to several museums and cultural centers, including the Staten Island Museum, the Staten Island Botanical Garden, and the New York Chinese Scholar's Garden
- home to a few colleges and universities, including The College of Staten Island and Wagner College

Oklahoma City

(find a roommate in Oklahoma City)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $460

- capital city located near the center of Oklahoma
- mostly flat
- summers are long and hot, winters are short and mild, extreme cold very infrequent
- spring and summer storms can be severe, spawning tornadoes and large hail
- Amtrak
- medium-sized local airport
- major center for the oil industry and related manufacturing
- cost of living is low, especially for a capital city
- friendly, small-town atmosphere
- fewer cultural amenities and lesser interest in the arts than might be expected for a city this size
- home to Langston University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City University, Southern Nazarene University, University of Central Oklahoma, University of Oklahoma, and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Omaha

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average roommate rent is $350

- in eastern Nebraska along the Missouri River near the Iowa border
- largest city in Nebraska
- warm summers and cold, harsh, dry winters
- diverse economy
- well kept and clean
- where the TV dinner was invented
- historically important jazz scene in North Omaha
- sizable military presence including the Offut Air Force Base
- many sports teams
- home of several colleges and universities, including the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska College of Medicine, and Creighton University

Orange County

(find a roommate in Orange County)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $860

- along the southern California coast, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles
- more of a sprawling network of very tiny cities and bedroom communities than a typically-structured city
- very mild climate, some smog
- Amtrak
- large airline hub
- commuting to Los Angeles to work is common
- several professional sports teams
- home to Disneyland
- home to California State University, Chapman University, Christ College Irvine, Pacific Christian College, Southern California College, and the University of California

Orlando

(find a roommate in Orlando)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $650

- east central Florida, about 25 miles from the Atlantic Coast
- surrounded by many lakes
- high year-round humidity, summers are extremely warm, winters are mild with light rainfall
- large airline hub
- Amtrak
- traffic can be very bad around tourist destinations
- much of the nation's citrus fruit is grown here
- diverse resort city, major tourist destination, which all started with Disneyworld
- newer major tourist destinations include Universal Studios Florida and Sea World
- several professional sports teams
- top-rated golf courses
- cost of living is reasonable for a city with so many entertainment options
- home to Rollins College and the University of Central Florida

Ottawa

(find a roommate in Ottawa)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $500

- capital of Canada
- along the Ottawa River at the Ontario-Quebec border
- cold and snowy in winter, warm in summer
- winter climate is more severe than most of eastern Canada due to the distance from water
- very clean city, with many parks surrounding it
- medium airline hub
- city has avoided skyscrapers in favor of a more stately, historic appearance including Gothic architecture
- home to Carleton University, College Dominicain de Philosophie, Saint Paul University, Universite du Quebec, and the University of Ottawa

Pensacola

(find a roommate in Pensacola)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $450

- western tip of the Florida Panhandle on Pensacola Bay, along the Gulf Coast
- Gulf of Mexico moderates the climate year-round
- white sand beaches are popular
- cost of living among the lowest in Florida
- considered both a beach city and a military town
- strong military presence with the Pensacola Naval Air Station, home of the Blue Angels
- home of the main campus of the University of West Florida

Philadelphia

(find a roommate in Philadelphia)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $700

- 5th largest metro area in the United States
- located in southeastern Pennsylvania along the Susquehanna River, near the New Jersey border
- Appalachian Mountains to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east moderate extreme temperatures
- Schyukill River runs through the city
- some high humidity in summer, heavy snowfall every few years
- Amtrak
- large airline hub
- trolley system
- multiple commuter rail hubs
- historically a very important port and manufacturing center
- more modern downtown is adjacent to a large historic district, including Independence Hall and the waterfront
- world-famous Philly cheesesteak sandwich originated here
- many major-league sports teams
- home to Delaware Valley College, Haverford College, Moore College of Art and Design, Penn State University Delaware, Penn State University Ogontz, Ursinus University, Valley Forge Christian College, American College, Beaver College, Cabrini College, Chestnut Hill College, Cheyney University, Eastern College, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Holy Family College, La Salle University, Lincoln University, Neumann College, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia College of Textiles, Rosemont College, Rutgers University, St. Joseph's University, Swarthmore College, The University of the ARts, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr College, Drexel University, Hahnemann University, Pennsylvania State University, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, Rowan College of New Jersey, Temple University, Thomas Jefferson University, University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, and Widener University

Phoenix or Tempe

(find a roommate in Phoenix or Tempe)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $600

- capital city, located in Arizona's Salt River Valley
- natural vegetation is sparse, as the terrain is mostly desert, but some tree and citrus growth
- typical desert climate, including low annual rainfall, low humidity, very long intensely hot summers, and mild winters
- highest average July temperature of any U.S. metro area, around 107 degrees, temps exceeding 120 degrees not uncommon
- Amtrak
- large airline hub
- wealthy 'snowbirds' from colder parts of the country often spend winters in Phoenix, attracted to the mild winters and low - cost of living
- not as many arts and other cultural amenities as one might expect in a city this size
- many major-league sports teams
- home to American School of International Management, Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, Ottawa University, and Western International University

Pittsburgh

(find a roommate in Pittsburgh)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $550

- large city in west central Pennsylvania
- in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains
 -summers are warm and humid, winters are cool and variable, with intermittent freezing and thawing
 -50% chance of precipitation any given day, many days cloudy
- good public transportation, including a newer light-rail system

- tram from the central city
- Amtrak
- large airline hub
- lower cost of living than one would expect given the excellent educational and entertainment possibilities
-  once a center for steel and coal, now more economically diversified
- historic and revitalized neighborhoods
- number of neighborhoods with unique personalities
- population is ethnically diverse
- a number of professional sports teams with legendary fan support and attractive, accessible venues
- numerous cultural assets, including world-class museums, the Pittsburgh Symphony, and the large zoo
home to Penn State University Beaver, Penn State University Fayette, Penn State University McKeesport, Penn State University Kensington, Saint Vincent College, University of Pittsburgh Greensburg, California University, Carlow College, Chatham College, Geneva College, La Roche College, Point Park College, Robert Morris College, Seton Hill College, Washington and Jefferson College, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Slippery Rock University, and the University of Pittsburgh

Portland, Maine

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average roommate rent is $550

- small coastal city in southern Maine, on the Atlantic Coast at Casco Bay
- rugged coastline
- summers are pleasant, winters are severe with heavy snowfall
- ferries
- Amtrak
- small local airport
- Maine's largest city and cultural center
- shipping and commercial fishing dominate
- slow paced, small-town atmosphere
- home to Maine College of Art, Saint Joseph's College, and the University of Southern Maine

Portland, Oregon

(find a roommate in Portland OR)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $750

- large city in northwest Oregon, along the Columbia River and near the Washington border
- summers are mild and pleasant, winters are cloudy and rainy, sometimes sleeting
- good public transit with one of the nation's best light-rail systems and intercity rail service
- Amtrak
- medium-sized local airport
- skiing available nearby in the Oregon Cascades and Mount Hood
- mountain ranges visible from the city
- watersports popular on the Columbia River
- once linked primarily with wood products, now features a number of high-tech industries
- cost of living is moderate for a West Coast city
- no sales tax
- home to Western States Chiropractic College, Concordia College, Lewis and Clark College, Linfield College, Reed College, University of Portland, Warner Pacific College, George Fox College, Oregon Institute of Science & Technology, Oregon Health Science University, Pacific University, and Portland State University

Providence

(find a roommate in Providence)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $600

- capital city, on the eastern edge of Rhode Island, at the head of Narragansett Bay
- large seaport, Providence river flows through the city
- summers are warm and foggy, winter storms are moderated by proximity to water, thunderstorms are common
- Amtrak
- small local airport
- atmosphere is generally easygoing, despite being the capital
- primary commercial, industrial, and residential area for the state
- considered a center of intellectualism and liberal thought
- more theater, classical music, and museums than most cities its size
- many cultural amenities, including proximity to Boston
- home to New England Institute of Technology, Roger Williams University, Bryant College, Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, Johnson & Wales University, Providence College, Rhode Island College, and the University of Rhode Island

Raleigh or Durham or Chapel Hill

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average roommate rent is $650

- located in northeast North Carolina, 40 miles south of Virginia
- mild climate, very humid in summer, rainfall through most of the year
- medium-sized triad city complex, sometimes referred to as the Research Triangle
- Amtrak
- medium-sized local airport
- has historic roots in tobacco farming
- now an educational, intellectual, and high-tech center for the state
- significant cultural amenities, mostly related to nearby schools
- home to Peace College, Saint Augustine's College, Shaw University, Meredith College, North Carolina Central University, Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina

Reno

(find a roommate in Reno)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $550

- small city in western Nevada, 15 miles east of the California border
- near the northern shore of Lake Tahoe
- climate is hot, low humidity, lots of sunshine, winters are mild
- formerly known mostly for mining and gambling, has now expanded economically
- Amtrak
- medium-sized local airport
- national forest and world-class ski areas nearby
- lively downtown with casinos, but gambling not as dominant as in nearby Las Vegas
- home to Sierra Nevada College, and the University of Nevada

Richmond

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average roommate rent is $625

- capital city in east-central Virginia, along the James River and near the Blue Ridge Mountains
- very warm, humid summers, mild winters
- Amtrak
- small airline hub
- some residents commute to D.C. for work
- historic interest as the former capital of the Confederacy, museums and historic sites abound
- home to Randolph-Macon College, University of Richmond, Virginia State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Union University

Sacramento

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average roommate rent is $760

- capital city, in Northern California at the base of the Sierra Nevada
- summers are very hot, winters are mild but foggy
- very flat
- Amtrak
- medium-sized local airport
- appealing to many for its lower cost of living relative to other cities in California
- professional sports teams are popular
- home to California State University

Salem or Eugene

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average roommate rent is $450

- Salem is the state capital, both areas have a college town atmosphere
- westernmost metro area in the coterminous U.S. (not counting Alaska)
- 50 miles south of Portland
- extremely mild climate due to the Cascade Mountains in the east, the coastal ranges to the west, and the proximity of the Pacific Ocean
- Amtrak
- small airline hub
- historically an important lumber area
- low cost of living compared to rest of Oregon
- home to Western Baptist College, Western Oregon State College, Williamette University, and the University of Oregon

Salt Lake City

(find a roommate in Salt Lake City)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $475

- capital city in north-central Utah
- in the desert, surrounded by mountains
- features both long winters and very hot summers
- Amtrak
- large airline hub
- skiing, rafting, and hiking are available in the nearby Wasatch Mountains
- Great Salt Lake is nearby
- Mormon culture is dominant, this is their headquarters
- conservative local policies on alcohol have inhibited nightlife
- home to Weber State University, Westminster College, and the University of Utah

San Antonio

(find a roommate in San Antonio)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $600

- located in south-central Texas
- summer heat is intense, but the winters are very pleasant
- thunderstorms common year round
- medium-sized local airport
- Amtrak
- 3rd largest city in Texas, decided Mexican influence
- home of the Alamo
- Paseo del Rio (River Walk) is popular for dancing, live music, and dining
- city has a laid-back character
- 4 Air Force facilities are nearby
- home to Texas Lutheran College, Incarnate Word College, Trinity University, Our Lady of the Lake University, St. Mary's University, and the University of Texas Health Sciences

San Diego

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average roommate rent is $1100

- large city located along the southern Californian coast, about 20 miles north of Mexico
- climate is warm but generally pleasant year-round, with low humidity, some fog
- large local airport
- Amtrak
- economically diverse, with very expensive and inexpensive areas to live
- downtown features a waterfront area
- excellent boating and water recreation
- Sea World and the San Diego Zoo are famous worldwide
- home to California State University, Coleman University, National University, Point Loma Nazarene College, California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego State University, U.S. International University, University of California, and the University of San Diego

San Francisco

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average roommate rent is $1500

- along a narrow peninsula of 43 hills
- extreme hilliness featuring elevations of nearly 1000 feet cause much local variability in fog, sunshine, and temperature
- can be extremely foggy
- really only 2 seasons, spring and fall - summers and winters are practically nonexistent
- very densely populated, producing a high cost of living, the highest in California
- excellent public transit system, including BART
- Amtrak
- trolley system
- commuter rail hub
- large airline hub
- features the continent's only cable car system
- arts and culture community here is large and exceptional
- one of the most ethnically diverse metros in the country
- many tourist attractions, including Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, and the wine country in the north
- popular professional sports teams
- many botanical gardens and arboretums
- home to Menlo College, California College of Podiatric Medicine, College of Notre Dame, Dominican College of San Rafael, Lincoln University, New College of California, San Francisco Art Institute, California Institute of Integral Studies, Golden Gate University, San Francisco State University, Savbrook Institute, University of California, and the University of San Francisco

San Jose

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average roommate rent is $1300

- large city on the south end of San Francisco Bay
- summers are clear, dry, and sunny, with some smog - winters are typically mild if rainy
- has been referred to as 'Silicon Valley' due to large amount of local high-tech manufacturing
- influx of educated workers from around the world, particularly Asia, have created a diverse culture
- multiple commuter rails, some commute to San Francisco
- home to Cogswell College, National Hispanic University, San Jose State University, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Santa Clara University, and Stanford University

Santa Fe

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average roommate rent is $500

- capital city, in north-central New Mexico
- at approximately 7360 feet, the highest metro area in the US
- cool, dry, pleasant summers and crisp, clear, sunny winters
- medium-sized local airport
- near ski slopes
- crossroads of American Indian, Spanish, and European cultures
- major tourist destination
- architecture, lifestyle, and food are unique among American cities
- historic central city area, quite crowded in summer
- over 250 art galleries and museums
- many performing and visual artists move here
- many affluent retirees move here
- not a lot of industrial or commercial employment, many residents obtained money elsewhere, then moved to Santa Fe
home to College of Santa Fe and St. John's College

Seattle

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average roommate rent is $1200

- regional center, cosmopolitan city
- dramatic geographical setting, surrounded by mountain ranges and water
- on the east coast of Puget Sound, in west-central Washington
- climate is mild but cloudy most of the year, severe weather is rare
- Amtrak
- large airline hub
- ferries
- contrary to public perception, Seattle features less precipitation than most cities in the East and Midwest
- bustling seaport, gateway to Alaska and the Yukon
- significant cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities
- has been named the most literate city in the country
- outstanding public library system
 -many more zoos/aquariums, botanical gardens/arboretums, classical music, professional theaters, and museums than the - national average
 -has an almost absurd number of coffeehouses
- skiing and snowboarding are popular in nearby mountains
 -multiple popular professional sports teams
 -no state income tax
- home to Cornish College of the Arts, Antioch University, Bastyr College, Seattle City University, University of Washington, Seattle Pacific University, and Seattle University

Sioux Falls

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average roommate rent is $360

- in eastern South Dakota near the Iowa-Minnesota border
- state's largest city
- frequent weather changes, warm but not hot summers, winters often bring heavy snowfall
- center for banking and credit card industries, in part due to a lack of a state corporate income tax
- very clean city
- low crime rate
- ethnic diversity is low
- hosts the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival
- many large sporting events
- home of the University of Sioux Falls, University of South Dakota's Sanford School of Medicine, Stewart School, South Dakota Public Universities and Research Center, and the South Dakota School for the Deaf

Spokane

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average roommate rent is $400

- in far eastern Washington, near the Idaho border, on the Spokane River
- summers are mild, winters are harsh
- close to many rivers and lakes for water recreation
- ethnic diversity is low
- lots of outdoor and mountain recreation
- 100-acre Riverfront Park
- home to Gonzaga University, Whitworth University, and Washington State University Spokane
- thriving arts scene featuring many art walks
- hub of health care facilities in the Inland Northwest, including several public hospitals and the Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center

St. Louis

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average roommate rent is $550

- large city, along the Missouri-Illinois border and the Mississippi River
- summers are very hot and humid, extreme temperatures in winter are rare
- large airline hub
- Amtrak
- cost of living is low for a large city
- many popular professional sports teams
- home to Deaconess College of Nursing, Harris-Stowe State University, McKendree College, Missouri Baptist College, Principia College, Fortbonne College, Lindenwood College, Maryville University, Parks College - Saint Louis University, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Saint Louis University, Southern Illinois University, University of Missouri, Washington University, and Webster University

Syracuse

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average roommate rent is $500

- located along the Old Erie Canal
- both Oneida Lake and Lake Ontario are nearby
- severe winters, one of the greatest annual snowfalls in the country
- very low cost of living for New York state
- ethnically diverse, home of many immigrant communities
 -hosts several jazz festivals
- home to dozens of museums, including the Everson Museum of Art, featuring one of the the largest pottery collections in the United States
- home to several colleges and universities, including Syracuse University, SUNY Upstate Medical University and Hospital, Empire State College, and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Tacoma

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average roommate rent is $650

- medium-sized port city
- in west-central Washington at the south end of Puget Sound and the Seattle area
- climate is mild but cloudy most of the year, severe weather is rare
- many residents enjoy the proximity to Seattle, some commute there for work
- large airline hub (shared with Seattle)
- Amtrak
- home of shipping, paper, and lumber mill industries
- previously mostly industrial setting, now the site of recent downtown renewal
- no state income tax
- home to Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, and the University of Washington (Tacoma branch)

Tallahassee

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average roommate rent is $400

- capital city
- located in the middle of the Florida Panhandle, about 30 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico and 20 miles from the Georgia border
- coldest place in Florida (but not cold by national standards)
- climate is very moist, summer is very hot and humid and frequently stormy, winter is very cloudy and rainy
- numerous lakes surround the area
- Amtrak
- home to Florida A&M University, and Florida State University

Tampa or Saint Petersburg

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average roommate rent is $400

- large city on the central Florida Gulf Coast at Tampa Bay
- summers are long, warm, and very humid with frequent thunderstorms - winters are mild
- Amtrak
- large airline hub
- economy features less emphasis on tourism than other coastal Florida cities
- amusement parks
- major-league professional sports are popular
- home to Eckerd College, Florida College, Saint Leo College, University of Tampa, and the University of South Florida

Toronto

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average roommate rent is $875

- world-class city and cosmopolitan center, capital of the province of Ontario
- on the northwest short of Lake Ontario
- largest city in Canada, with approximately 15% of the entire country's citizens
- summers are warm and humid, winters are cold, but extreme storms are rare, very little snow most winters
- commuter rail hub
- large airline hub
- Canada's industrial hub
- strong, diverse economy
- cost of living is the highest in the country
- modern, attractive, clean downtown with a unique waterfront
- many distinct neighborhoods with different histories and characters
- very low crime rate, especially for a city this large
- consistently rated an extremely livable city
- home to many public hospitals, including Mount Sinai Hospital, North York General Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, The Scarborough Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine
- home of the Toronto Stock Exchange
- home to Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, Ontario Institute, University of Toronto, and York University

Tucson

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average roommate rent is $450

- medium-sized city and college town
- located in south-central Arizona, on the Santa Cruz river, about 60 miles north of Mexico
- hot summers and mild winters typical of the desert, but with the high elevation moderating the desert heat in most of Arizona
- due to the desert climate and high elevation, the danger of sunburn here is greater than almost anywhere else in the country
- Amtrak
- medium-sized local airport
- attracts many retirees
- arts and culture community large for a city this size
- home to the University of Arizona

Tulsa

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average roommate rent is $400

- located in northeastern Oklahoma along the Arkansas River, at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains
- summers are hot, but humidity is low, winters are mild
- historical Native American presence
- second largest city in Oklahoma
- large oil industry presence
- modern downtown area with many parks and gardens and the 'Art Deco District'
- several dance, theater, and concert groups, including the Tulsa Opera, the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Light Opera Oklahoma, the Tulsa Ballet, the Heller Theatre, and Theatre Tulsa
- home of the Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum
- hosts the Tulsa State Fair
- home of over 100 parks
- home of the University of Tulsa, Rogers State University, Tulsa Community College, and a few campuses of Oklahoma State University

Vancouver

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average roommate rent is $800

- commercial, financial, industrial and shipping center for western Canada
- on a narrow peninsula between the Fraser River, the Straight of Georgia, and Burrard Inlet
- downtown is set on a pretty natural harbor, with forest and mountains to the north
- some seasonal variation, but typically neither summers or winters are severe
- weather is generally regarded as the most pleasant in Canada
- trolleys
- commuter rail hub
- large airline hub
- number of historic districts, waterfront areas, and beaches
- considered one of the world's most attractive cities
- arts and entertainment options are many and varied
- cost of living is high
- home to Regent College, Trinity Western University, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia

Washington D.C. and surrounding beltway towns

(find a roommate in D.C.)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $900

- nation's capital and political center
- along the Potomac River, inland from Chesapeake Bay, between southern Maryland and northern Virginia
- summers warm, humid and stormy, winters are relatively cold but not severe
- good public transport, commuter rail hub
- Amtrak
- socioeconomically quite mixed, with extremely expensive and lower-income neighborhoods not too far from one another
- severely large number of sites of historical interest
- home to Columbia Union College, Corcoran School of Art, Shepherd College, Bowie State University, Capitol College, Defense Intelligence College, Hood College, Mary Washington College, Marymount University, Mount Saint Mary's College, Mount Vernon College, Southeastern University, Trinity College, University of Maryland, University of the District of Columbia, American University, Catholic University of America, Gallaudet University, George Mason University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Howard University, and the University of Maryland - College Park

Wichita

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average roommate rent is $360

- in south central Kansas along the Arkansas River
- largest city in Kansas
- wide range of weather year round
- diverse agricultural and industrial economy
- hosts the Wichita River Festival and the Tallgrass Film Festival
- cultural center for Kansas, featuring the Music Theatre of Wichita, the Wichita Grand Opera, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, and the Wichita Art Museum
- home of several sports teams
- home of Wichita State University, Newman University, and Wichita Area Technical College

Winnipeg

(find a roommate in Winnipeg)   (roommate matching metro list)

average roommate rent is $410

- medium-sized capital city
- in southeastern Manitoba at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers
- summers are pleasant, warm, and mostly dry
- winters are very severe - safety precautions must be taken - snow is possible every month except July
- serves as a transportation gateway and commercial center for a vast agricultural region
- medium airline hub
- clean city with modern parks, laid out to avoid urban congestion
- arts and cultural amenities among the best in Canada, including many museums and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
home to University of Winnipeg, and the University of Manitoba

Worcester

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average roommate rent is $650

- small city, located near the center of Massachusetts, near the Rhode Island border
- rapid weather changes occur
- summers are fairly moderate, winters are moderate but with frequent cold snaps
- commuter rail to Boston
 -Amtrak
- recently revitalized downtown area
- many that need to live near Boston consider Worcester a lower-cost living solution
- home to Becker College, College of the Holy Cross, Anna Maria College, Assumption College, Nichols College, Worcester State College, Clark University, University of Massachusetts Medical School, and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute

References

(* From smartasset.com, ranks cities according to where roommates will save you the most money, based on the average cost of a 1BR as opposed to splitting a 2BR. Unsurprisingly, the more expensive the city, the more you can save, but the savings are significant in all larger metros. This is really the MINIMUM you could save, as you could live with more than one roommate, split utilities, share food or other supplies, etc. More sharing tends to lead to more savings too, as per our roommate roadmap.)

(** From livingcost.org, 13 indicators of urban quality versus cost of living leads to a ranking of Best Cities in the United States out of 2202 cities ranked. Cost of living is based on prices for rent, food, transport and other living expenses, assuming average consumption, where quality includes 13 additional factors. Quality versus cost of living is more or less how much urban awesomeness you get for about how much money. Even if you're on a tight budget and even if you eat where you work and ride a bike everywhere, etc., your unavoidable expenses will still reproduce the same relative differences. This index is most meaningful when considering two or more cities; if you're locked into your metro it's more like an FYI.)

(*** From U.S. News & World Report, Best Places to Live rankings evaluate data from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. News' own internal resources. The data is then categorized into five indexes: Job Market, Housing Affordability, Quality of Life, Desirability, and Net Migration. They analyzed 150 metro areas in the US to find the best places to live.)

(**** From niche.com, for the city's overall rankings: their own ratings based on federal and local databases along with community reviews.)

(***** From niche.com, for the city's urban neighborhoods ranked by their lowest cost of living methodology: not just rent, but median rent is included. It's a ranking of affordability also incorporating a neighborhood's property values and rent to income ratios along with food, fuel, and local tax rates.

So "affordable" has a relative meaning here. Roommate rents can be > in neighborhoods with > median home prices, though not as much as many initially imagine, and sometimes not at all. Roommate rents tend to democratize neighborhoods, as the most expensive tend to rent single rooms more than whole units.

For example:

• If you split a 2-bedroom rental in the trendiest central neighborhood, you pay > per square foot, but you and your roommates are mostly in charge. You also need < time + $ for transportation.
• If you split 2 => bedroom rental in a less trendy less central neighborhood, you pay < per square foot and get some extras for = $. You're still mostly in charge, but central anything requires > time + $ for transportation.
• If you rent a room in an owner-occupied house in an expensive neighborhood, it's a nicer building with even better extras. Your room + a couple communal rooms are nicer too. But you're not in charge. You're following someone else's rules to help them pay down their mortgage.

Meanwhile, since roommate rents tend to democratize neighborhoods, all 3 scenarios above could go for = $, while returning different benefits. (And then extrapolate for scenarios that are similar but not exactly above.)

But for imagining hypothetical scenarios where all things are = (though in reality they usually aren't), these are the neighborhoods offering roommates > for = $.)

(****** From Numbeo's Cost of Living Index by City 2023: Their indices are relative to New York City, the most expensive metro area we serve. Their Cost of Living Plus Rent Index is an estimation of consumer goods prices (including groceries, restaurants, transportation and utilities) plus rent relative to NYC.)

(******* From hoodmaps.com: a collaborative map where residents use tags describing social situations you're likely to find. Other users can thumb up or down, so the largest tags have been thumbed up the most.)

(******** From DATA USA: visualization engine of public US Government data with a special focus on geographic opportunity for relocating recent college graduates)

(********* From Canadian Rental Housing Index: Their Community Profile Snapshots provide information about rental housing pertaining to households and affordability relative to crowding in that municipality.)