Your new life with roommates in … ?
Which major metro in the United States, Canada, or Australia would be best for you?
No city offers everyone the most for their roommate renting dollar, as different folks have different priorities. However, this page should help you determine your particular set.
Otherwise known as where on the range of rent vs. population perks you would rather roam?
Generally, the excitement value of a particular city rises right along with its population, then the average roommate rent rises right after. Generally, more dots = more people = more people providing diverse urban amenities = more $$$ to live there.
Fewer dots = fewer people = fewer people providing diverse urban amenities = less $$$ to live there.
But while population, amenities, and roommate rent are highly correlated, it’s not a simple linear relationship. Meaning, some cities seemingly offer more for the money no matter what?
Click each city’s name below to read the rest of each city’s scoop to know for sure, because different cities excel differently. But as a rough general guide: If you crave fresh entertainment options every weekend, you’ll need to pick a city with more dots then pay more roommate rent.
Meanwhile, if paying less rent is your number one, you’ll need to pick a city with fewer dots then remain content with a lower key range of recreational possibility.
Which city is best for you?
Adelaide
Adelaide is the smallest and still cheapest capital city of the state of South Australia. […] Don’t worry, they’re never aggressive. They’re suitably laid back. They’re Adelaidean.
Albuquerque
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.
Anchorage
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.
Athens
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!
Atlanta
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.
Austin
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.
Baltimore
Many not from the northeast fail to notice before visiting that Baltimore is only 40 miles NE of Washington D.C.? […] Baltimore might be the best bargain on the East Coast.
Bangor
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!
Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge is LSU’s college town. Some say Baton Rouge is the tailgating capitol of the entire world! […] Come for the Southern Gothic, stay for the cheap and easy lifestyle. Definitely including the rent! (But not the humidity.)
Birmingham
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.
Boise
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.
Boston
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.
Boulder
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?
Brisbane
This capital city was previously a bit of a bargain. But lately, there are fewer bargains available when it comes to rent. Because of Australia’s real estate inflation overall, rooms across Brisbane keep inflating too? […] But for now, Brisbane is lower key. It’s less cosmopolitan than Sydney or Melbourne, while still not as prime a surf destination as Perth . . .
Buffalo
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.
Burlington
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.
Calgary
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.
Charleston
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.
Charlotte
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.
Cheyenne
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.
Chicago
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?
Cincinnati
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.
Cleveland
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.
College Station
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!
Colorado Springs
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.)
Columbia
Columbia is a traditionally Southern town that’s gradually getting more modern. […] This modernization is due to overall population growth, increasing industrialization, and all those university students.
Columbus
Columbus is where many Americans meet. About a million converging right there in the center of Ohio. […] 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.”)
Dallas or Fort Worth
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
Denver
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.
Des Moines
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!
Detroit
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.
Edmonton
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.
Fargo
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.
Gainesville
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?
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.
Halifax or Dartmouth
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.)
Hartford
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.
Honolulu
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.
Houston
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.
Indianapolis
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.
Jackson
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. 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.
Jacksonville
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. […] 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?
Kansas City
But Kansas City locals still say all that lonesome highway is still upside, just not completely unqualified. […] In the 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.
Knoxville
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.
Las Vegas
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.
Little Rock
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.
Los Angeles
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.
Louisville
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.
Madison
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!
Manchester
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.
Melbourne
In addition to all the footy fervor, Melbourne is covered in outdoor cafes serving delicious local coffee, lush gardens, scenic parks, and local music venues. If it’s worth doing in Melbourne, it’s probably going on in their great outdoors. The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is Melbourne’s most famous, but there are parks and gardens extending from the inner city to the outer suburbs, many with elaborately landscaped walkways and rare plant varietals. Just gardens gardens everywhere, including one in Yarra Bend Park featuring a massive colony of megabats with 3-foot-wingspans swarming in to eat fruit!
Memphis
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.
Miami
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.
Milwaukee
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.
Minneapolis
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.
Montreal
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.)
Nashville
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.
New Brunswick
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!
New Haven
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.
New Orleans
So other than the sadistic weather and associated travel troubles, NOLA’s yet another mixed bag of pros and cons around alcohol, and your relationship with it. You’ll never escape how huge drinking is to local culture. Locals say no impatient person could possibly survive New Orleans, and that’s largely because that’d mean expecting drunks to work faster. That’s a losing proposition at best, sanity-destroying after that. You’ll have to make peace with cocktail culture, everywhere in New Orleans, even when you’re sober. You could live life in NOLA while avoiding parties, cocktails, nightlife, and all the festivals revolving around them. But why would you want to?
Newark
Newark has had a dangerous reputation ever since a lot rioting took place back in the 1960s . . . which more or less led to most of their middle class leaving for New Jersey’s farther flung suburbs. But since the 90s, this demographic has been gradually drifting back. These days, especially compared to the rest of NYC, Newark’s reputation as mostly dangerous is now mostly undeserved.
Norfolk
With the world’s largest naval base, it’s also obviously a Navy town. With over 60,000 on active duty on 75 ships and 100 aircraft, it’d have to be. In addition to our nation’s defense, there’s also a lot of private shipyards with ship building and ship repairing. Again, there’d pretty much have to be. Water continues to be the biggest deal here, with Norfolk’s long history as a hub for military transport. In addition to the waterways, the intersection of a few railway lines with the network of interstate highways makes this especially clever.
NYC – Brooklyn
And while everything Brooklyn is also lively, multicultural, often educational, and frequently cool . . . you might not ultimately enjoy yourself as much as you’re currently imagining if you’d have to struggle too much to pay for it. At the overcrowded corner of Hip & Trendy, your rent will cost more than almost everywhere else in the country, even with roommates. This to live in real estate that will NOT be nicer. Definitely not more spacious.
NYC – Manhattan
At the overcrowded corner of Wealth & Prosperity, your rent will cost more than almost everywhere else in the country, even with roommates. This to live in real estate that will NOT be nicer. Definitely not more spacious. In addition, be warned that even after paying the “I live in Manhattan” surcharge . . . no one in their right mind ever moves to Manhattan just to stay home in a tiny room. So you have to pay not just your own inflated rent, but all the other unreasonably high charges for everything else all over the rest of your overpriced neighborhood, so you can be out and about too in all that’s exciting in Manhattan . . .
NYC – Queens
Others say Queens was invented as a collection of neighborhoods by and for those who want to live near the rest of NYC for some important reason, but without the “attitude” more common to those who never leave Manhattan or Brooklyn? Yet even others argue Queens still has plenty of NYC attitude all the same, but Queens tunes differently, in the key of diversity and an almost aggressive authenticity over “snobby” plus “trendy?”
NYC – Staten Island
SO: How many times could YOU happily ride the Staten Island Ferry over the course of a week? It is a subjective and personal question. Staten Island roommates are in the process of exploring their personal answers right now. But many say if you had to ride every single day . . . meh. But once or twice a week wouldn’t be bad at all, especially if you could work at home or elsewhere on Staten Island the rest of the time! Because for real, you would want to ride that ferry more often than not when leaving Staten Island.
NYC – The Bronx
The South Bronx is also known for hip hop and hip hop culture, kicked off here in 1973. At a birthday party, on Sedgwick Avenue. Probably! (It’s controversial, but we’re going with definitely probably.) So are we stereotyping The Bronx as geographically mostly graffiti? Nope! What The Bronx mostly really is, still geographically speaking? PARKS!
Oklahoma City
So OKC is full of friendly reasonable people living with some of the least friendly, least reasonable weather? Is that insane? But then when you get to know some locals, inevitably you’ll find long-term residents. On one level, maybe it’s insane. But then so many succeed in spite of the weather . . . so? It’s also hard to find gridlock, hardly anywhere in OKC, hardly ever. Downside of massive urban sprawl = it’s tough to live here without a car. Upside = you’re more likely to accidentally drive into a muddy pothole than a traffic jam.
Omaha
Omaha is a bit Wild West, but only in a politely Midwestern kinda way. Stable, successful . . . but low-key about the whole thing? Maybe it’s more challenging to get overheated (literally or emotionally) here, much of the year. Plus heavy snow slows down the horses.
Orange County
Orange County is a bit unusual for this list, because it’s not one city, but about 34 smaller ones clustered together? Also, their cluster is still a part of the extended Los Angeles area. But Orange County and L.A. are both sufficiently populated, including many roommates with a preference for one or the other, that it makes sense to match them separately. (But many moving roommates consider both, normal too if it works for you!)
Orlando
Orlando is mostly wetlands, low elevation, with many swamps from forever ago. This means dozens of lakes near you, anywhere in Orlando. Plus why their tens of thousands of alligators regard humans as newcomers. Possibly delicious newcomers. Alligators with all their scary teeth can suddenly appear in front of you anywhere in Orlando . . . anywhere at all with water in which they can slosh which is ALL OVER ORLANDO.
Ottawa
You and your roommates should avoid recently snow-plowed and snow-crusty unsafe edges, and warm up at one of the heated stations whenever you feel the chill through your bottom layer. Hats, gloves, hockey or ski helmets, plus wrist guards are recommended for everyone. If you visit at night, take care any maintenance crews operating equipment can definitely see you too. Unlike most of the rest of outdoor Ottawa, you can’t hit the Rideau Canal Skateway with non-service dogs, bicycles, skis, or snowshoes.
Pensacola
You won’t need your sunglasses anywhere more than Pensacola. (Literally and figuratively.) Sugar white sand beaches and low country seafood. A focus on education, tourism, and tradition. All with an air of Southern charm and hospitality.
Perth
You and your roommates also shouldn’t miss the native black swans, local truffles and Western Rock Lobsters. Immediately outside Perth are many vineyards with tasting tours that would love to meet you and your roommates as well. But please enjoy while completely loaded down with water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. And from behind your large-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
Philadelphia
But a whole lot is happening in Philly, and for a lower cost of living than several other cities in the Northeast? So step up for your history lesson. The University of Pennsylvania and several university-associated hospitals are Philly’s largest employers, after all. There are over 50 (!) colleges and universities in Philly. It’s properly a very large college(S) town . . . so it’s also chock full of comfort food. Or dishes that work in cozy pubs and small bars, like all over Philly. They’re often locally-owned, and not always labeled.
Phoenix
Phoenix is extremely popular with college students, tourists, and retirees, and their economy revolves around all three. They undulate in waves just like the heat. But unlike many similarly popular cities, summer is no one’s favorite? Because it’s too hot. Even for natives who love living here. They love staying inside all summer long, “hibernating” in air conditioning well into fall . . . at least as much as possible.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburghers tend to talk louder and faster . . . but they’re more neighborly too. At the same time. Like a rapid fire friendliness? They’re also into bridges, trains, transit, trails, pizza, regional comfort foods, and a wide variety of indoor and rustic outdoor sports. And it’s all better with beer. Beer is bigger than usual here.
Portland (Maine)
How do you feel about a rugged coastline? Surrounded by seafood and forests? Also snow. And longshoremen. How do you feel about snowflake-sprinkled longshoremen? Portland possesses all of Maine’s beauty and its brutal winter, slathered in snowy longshoremen.
Portland (Oregon)
So can everyone live the “dream of the nineties” in Portland? For a while it seemed the dream of Portlandia really was for everyone. And it still is for many . . . but the dream is facing an upper limit on how many more without income already in the bag it can onboard. Locals frequently voice concern about Portland’s large unhoused population, which has grown substantially since the pandemic. The increase is mostly younger who moved here recently. In addition, PDX’s native twenty-somethings are still at home with their parents now a lot more often, for lack of employment lucrative enough to pay rent locally, coupled with refusal to move anywhere else.
Providence
Along with access to Rhode Island’s scenic coastline, Providence offers nearby culture for not a lot of money for the East Coast. You could check out the Providence Athenaeum and ponder the woman that broke up with Edgar Allen Poe right over there . . . then check out a book too – digital or old school paper. You could also check out the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. Your local Providence Roller Derby are founding members and internationally-ranked all stars!
Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill
Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill are a triad city complex clustered together, often nicknamed The Research Triangle or just The Triangle, for the large research universities in each. They also share an airport and a lot of lab and office space, including the enormous Research Triangle Park. All three host multiple museums, botanical gardens, and athletic clubs. All three sport multiple suburbs and satellite towns, all spread out with a mostly suburban feel. Everyone drives.
Reno
Reno certainly does a lot XXXXL . . . especially for a city of about 250,000 (barely M). Their well-deserved cowboy reputation as mostly miners mostly in the past has morphed into outdoor sports and gambling. Casinos are their most popular attraction you and your roommates might not want to overlook, as long as you have no problem with gambling: spiritually, personally, financially, etc.
Richmond
More on Richmond worth warning you about: The crime rate is still higher than average, and this has been true for decades. In recent years though, it’s mostly localized. The violent crime rate is above average, but some of Richmond’s public housing complexes feature both higher concentrations of poverty and violent crime. They’re the chief contributors to the statistics. Don’t go exploring neighborhoods that seem like they might be struggling late at night, particularly by yourself. Richmonders also enjoy a lot of live music around Virginia Commonwealth U, the Fan District, and Shockoe Bottom. Your roommates who love music probably will too.
Sacramento
But Sacramento appeals to many roommates lately for its lower cost of living, the lowest for any major metro in California. And while government is still the largest employer, education, healthcare and medical research have now proliferated locally as well. Tech is increasingly popping up too. Some companies are enjoying proximity to the Bay Area for less rent. You can drive to San Francisco in decent traffic conditions in about two hours. Some do this regularly, called “super-commuters.” They’re super tolerant of such a long commute, or they super love driving? Both?
Salem or Eugene
10,000 runners in well-designed sneakers are stampeding Salem and Eugene! All the time! OK, maybe not all the time. (They mostly sleep at night. Mostly.)
Salt Lake City
National parks, ski resorts, the Wasatch Mountains, and the Great Salt Lake, all within driving distance means outdoor recreation in an ideal climate for almost all sports at least a few months every year. Camping, hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, and sailing are usually available on the Great Salt Lake, because the high salinity keeps it from freezing solid. Skiing, rafting, and hiking are available in the nearby Wasatch Mountains, including several large ski resorts. But even if you don’t get sporty in the mountains, SLC is getting more cold and more dry, especially during winter, especially at higher altitudes. Especially in the winter, you and your roommates would definitely prefer to rely on a snow-worthy car.
San Antonio
Some folks imagine San Antonio merely some sort of suburb of Austin. And you could make the drive one-way in about 90 minutes in the middle of the night. That’s good enough for some (who really love driving), so it’s not NOT true. But while Austin’s larger tech boom has received more press in recent years, San Antonio is a whole scene on its own, growing steadily too.
San Diego
San Diego is ground zero for SoCal surf culture. Surfing’s a lot of the local vibe, even for folks that don’t. Because they still love life on the beach. There’s about 70 miles of it, from white sand to serious surfer spots to nude – or clothing optional. Some fishing, some boardwalk, some for dogs. If you include the Bays, some snorkeling and scuba, some kayaking, some windsurfing and jet skiing, and some with some combo. But you might need a permit, check with your beach. Or bay. Or with your roommates who’ve already been.
San Francisco
SF is so affectionately depicted in so many movies and books that’ve stuck around, folks get charmingly brainwashed into thinking stuff that’s no longer tenable. Thus, we’ve read a lot of roommate profiles that want to live in San Francisco 25 years ago . . . starting two months from now. […] Even after the dot-com boom busted a bit, well-educated and well-paid professionals in tech and finance continued moving here, continuing to raise real estate prices . . . while San Francisco did a terrible job providing housing for anyone else. Affordable housing is definitely not keeping up with demand, causing lower-income residents to struggle.
San Jose
Meanwhile, at 180 or so? San Jose’s square mileage allowed more growth, so enterprise did. As a result, there are now thousands of high tech, engineering, computer and microprocessor companies within San Jose’s city limits, even more in surrounding areas. Exact numbers remain volatile, and there’s ebb and flow, but a lot of tech has been in San Jose for decades. Tech companies are definitely San Jose’s largest employer of extremely well-educated roommates.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe’s the least populated city on our list. We’d usually consider < 100K too small or a suburb instead, without the density required for realistic roommate matching all by itself. But Santa Fe is a lot more expensive than most cities of a similar size. It remains New Mexico’s state capital. It’s also at the foot of the spectacular Sangre de Cristo Mountains, so it’s mostly 7300 feet. That’s officially high altitude!
Seattle
Coffeehouses here tend to beget even more coffeehouses in a cascading chain of caffeination. Starbucks will be right on the same street as multiple independent coffeehouses too. There are multiple Starbucks across the street from each other. Also three Starbucks in the same strip mall. If too many Starbucks is upsetting to you, you can’t move anywhere near Puget Sound, as it is Starbucks saturated. While coffee remains the drink for most, bubble and boba milk tea are increasingly popular. But Seattle didn’t slow down their coffee consumption in favor of adding some tea, nope. They just added these tea drinks too, like on top. So Seattleites are SUPER FOCUSED!
Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls is synonymous with the Black Hills. The Badlands. And national parks, monuments, grasslands, and forests! It’s absolutely stunning outdoors! As far as the eye can see! Along with no state income tax, low property taxes, and a stunningly low cost of living. The Great Outdoors isn’t hard to find here.
Spokane
Spokane is now an economic hub of health care facilities, including several public hospitals, and the Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center. So local focus has shifted slightly away from miners, farmers, and lumberjacks to . . . education and medicine? But you’ll be happy to have a man who’s handy with an ax around, when the trees start burning down! Don’t forget to show your love for your native lumberjacks!
St. Louis
St. Louis is a larger city with a small town feel, but more than your average number of beers. And beer opinions. Opinions about brews flow just like the blues pulsing through this heartland. Probably on a train. Just beware of sinkholes and unexpected caves.
Sydney
If any movie needs a location shot that’s instantly iconographically cosmopolitan Australia, that camera always swoops over Sydney Harbour, with its majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge and architecturally stunning Sydney Opera House. Sydney Harbour is the most stunning real estate in all of Australia. Possibly the world. That urban harbour goes to eleven. But renting anywhere near this cosmo gorgeousness is stunningly expensive as well.
Syracuse
You could find wool and roses. Llamas and ice cream. Your rabbits and your poetry could find love too. Just don’t forget your headlamp, long underwear, and lip balm. Do beware of avalanche! But never sit on snow, you’ll get too cold. Finally, an ice ax might be optional. But why be unprepared?
Tacoma
Neko Case still sings that “life goes by slow” in the “dusty old jewel in the South Puget Sound” that’s Taaaacoooooooomaa. That song’s lovely but not new. So is this still true? Tacoma has grown. It has more stuff. But it still moves slower than Seattle, and that’s the most common comparison.
Tallahassee
Tallahassee is in the middle of the Florida Panhandle where it’s the main thing for hundreds of miles . . . other than forests and lakes and rivers and streams and National Wildlife Refuges and State Parks. That’s about 300 miles away from Disney, and 500 from Miami. It’s closer to Georgia than anything most non-Floridians have probably heard about in Florida. And it’s the capital. And this state capital is surrounded by . . . protected wildlife refuge?
Tampa
Tampa’s massive four-lane Sunshine Skyway Bridge spans southern Tampa Bay – at over 4 miles long, serving 65,000 people per day. Port Tampa Bay is the seventh largest in the nation, the largest in Florida, and the second behind Miami for cruise travelers. With multiple cruise ship terminals, including year round and seasonal ports, many cruise itineraries include Tampa. In fact, unlike a lot of the country, summer is the most stressful time in Tampa. That’s when Tampa’s “snowbirds” (retired folks coming from the north for winter) tend to bail. Snowbird schedules vary, but summer’s almost always their OFF season.
Toronto
Haters say Toronto is just a wannabe NYC. And “wannabe” could be ironic. Many Torontonians do pretend to be New Yorkers, this is true. But it’s generally for movies and TV? American cinematographers love to shoot in Toronto while pretending to be somewhere in America, because Toronto’s generally cheaper and usually cleaner. So Torontonians do pretend to be New Yorkers! Just mostly when Americans pay them.
Tucson
Such a low cost of living to live near the best spicy snacks. Along with the expected fine tacos and Southwest-Mex cuisine, including mole, chile rellenos, and albondigas (Mexican meatballs), Tucson invented the Sonoran hot dog and the “Eegee.” A Sonoran hot dog is a regular one wrapped with bacon, grilled, then served on a Mexican baguette with pinto beans, tomatoes, onions, and jalapenos. Mayo is optional but probably fiery too. Eegees is the name of the place and their drinks, which are frozen slushies with real fruit added. Adding tea = Teagee.
Tulsa
Tulsa also loves its local Taco Bueno, Braum’s Ice Cream (Oklahoma’s own fresh from local farms), BBQ smoked meat, and any decent steakhouse. Tulsa features almost all the cuisine categories you’d expect to find in larger cities. But don’t forget you’re in beef country. Then take a walk in a public park, or stop by one of several popular live music venues . . . possibly to hear some TULSA SOUND: Fusing country, blues, rockabilly, rock & roll, and swamp rock!
Vancouver
If you can be happier high density, you can also enjoy Vancouver’s low crime . . . in about 21 of its 22 official neighborhoods. Vancouver has structurally corralled a disproportionate percentage into only 1 of its 22, with ongoing political controversy. But need-to-know practical FYI? In the last few decades, Vancouver’s increasing rental prices steadily increased gentrification while decreasing the stock of lower cost housing all over the city. Homelessness predictably increased as well, and many displaced ended up in Downtown Eastside, mostly due to lower cost housing and several shelters.
Washington D.C.
Locals say D.C. or “the District.” They say “Washington” too, but that tends to mean “our national government and the entire political circus surrounding it,” more often than the literal geographic radius around the capital. The city’s entire sprawling skyline is low to the ground, due to the Height of Buildings Act, limiting building height to the width of the street plus 20 feet. This means urban canyons are non-existent, and many balconies have great views, especially of the National Mall. Critics say height restrictions have also limited affordable housing while increasing traffic.
Wichita
That “everybody all together” with “small town feeling” is characteristic of Wichita. It’s extra noticeable in a city that’s actually more substantial than small. The cost of living is still well below the national average. Wichitans invented “small town” favorites like White Castle (1921) and Pizza Hut (1958). It’s also the headquarters of Dean & Deluca. There are special stipulations for survival where it’s always this windy. Wichita’s sunsets are gorgeous but again, WINDY. Enjoy them while wearing multiple layers.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is midway on the Trans-Canada Highway, in the middle of the Canadian prairie. That’s the floodplain at the bottom of the Red River Valley, where the wind is severely chill. And there’s a whole herd of prairie bison. Roaming.
Worcester
So Worcester often feels like a hub, especially for commuters . . . a hub that’s hospitably full of delicious snacks you can get quick without reservations! Famous Coney Island-style hot dogs and roast beef sandwiches and Italian subs. Or maybe you’d rather catch breakfast at a local diner, or delicious neighborhood bakery. Worcester hasn’t made much effort on behalf of pedestrians. Sidewalks are poor to nonexistent. However, since the city covers a large area and receives heavy snow, substantially better sidewalks would be very expensive. In this regard, getting Worcester out of their cars would be difficult.