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1、100 American Cities Shaping Tomorrow The definitive place power rankingsWORLDSBESTCITIES.COM2024Americas Best Cities Report Resonance creates transformative strategies,brands and campaigns that help destinations,cities and communities attract talent,tourism and investment.DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT ECO

2、NOMIC DEVELOPMENT URBAN DEVELOPMENTEmpowering PlacesRESONANCECO.COM3AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024Chris FairPresident&CEO Resonance Consultancy Welcome to Americas Best Cities in 2024For many,the pandemic changed what we consider to be desirable in a place to live,work or play,and we are seeing gro

3、wing alignment in the way citizens,corporations and travelers choose cities as a place to live,visit or invest.The rise of remote work led to significant migration from so-called“Superstar Cities”like New York,Los Angeles and Chicago to cities on the rise like Dallas,Houston,Austin,Phoenix and Atlan

4、ta.In the end,this disruption and redistribution of the population has probably been a good thing for the economy as a whole.These“Superstar Cities”enjoyed an outsized share of the benefits that came with the growth of the knowledge economy,fueling inequality and division within and between cities a

5、nd regions.The massive investments in manufacturing and re-industrialization now underway should help fuel the economies of many of the new fast-rising cities and leave the country with a better distributed,just and resilient economy a decade from now.But that future is not a given.Rising cities wil

6、l need to develop new policies and make significant investments in infrastructure,amenities,housing and mobility if they want to realize that future.Otherwise they may find that the boom they are experiencing will quickly be followed by an inevitable bust.Despite their recent net population losses t

7、o these rising cities,the future remains bright for our largest urban regions as they continue to attract record numbers of international migrants who will become increasingly important to fueling the economy as the domestic population ages and retires from the workforce.This year,we are excited to

8、have partnered with Ipsos to incorporate perception-based data into our rankings for the first timethe results of which also demonstrate that Americans still very much aspire to live,visit and work in the countrys largest cities.In the rankings that follow,you will see that the results of this surve

9、y measuring public perception have been combined with a wide range of factors that have demonstrated moderate to strong correlations with attracting prime age population(age 25 44),visitor expenditure,and/or business formation.This proprietary approach to benchmarking places is called the Place Powe

10、r Score and we use it as the foundational step to help cities and communities of all sizes,all over the world.You can learn more about how we evaluate each city in our Methodology section on page 6.The kudos and validation offered up a few years back by Bloomberg still reflect the core of our rankin

11、gs:“The most comprehensive study of its kind;it identifies cities that are most desirable for locals,visitors and businesspeople alike,rather than simply looking at livability or tourism appeal.”Our goal in producing these reports is to create the most comprehensive and holistic approach to measurin

12、g and benchmarking both perception and performance of cities available.If youd like to learn more about the rankings and how we use these insights to empower cities to realize their full potential,Id love to chat.I hope you enjoy Americas Best Cities in 2024.As leading advisors in tourism developmen

13、t,urban development and economic development for countries,cities and communities,Resonance has conducted extensive research on the rise of cities,the key trends propelling their growth and the factors that shape our perception of urban areas as desirable places to live,visit,or launch and grow a bu

14、siness.4AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024Jason McGrathEVP,Head of U.S.Corporate ReputationIpsos Ipsos is the official data partner of Best CitiesBuilding upon what has been referred to by Bloomberg as“the most comprehensive study of its kind,”the incorporation of perception data creates a more thoroug

15、h evaluation of cities to explore what a city offers versus how it is perceived by the broader population.Ipsosone of the largest market research and polling companies globally,operating in 90 markets with more than 20,000 researchers and consultantsis home to best-in-class teams specializing in rep

16、utation,public polling,marketing effectiveness,creative execution and more.A new partnership with Resonance builds upon Ipsos experience conducting perception research for destinations around the globe,including countries,regions,cities and attractions,and together we will be able to help destinatio

17、ns uncover gaps in performance vs.perception.Through collaborative counsel,our teams will highlight the opportunity for destinations to address perception gaps across various stakeholder groups,positioning them to attract visitors,talent and residents more efficiently and effectively.The perception

18、data included in this years Americas Best Cities Report reflects the opinions of 2,000 U.S.adults on three distinct questions:1.Thinking about places across the United States,including small towns and large cities,what are the Top 3 towns or cities you would most like to live in some day?2.Thinking

19、about places across the United States,including small towns and large cities,what are the Top 3 towns or cities you would most like to visit in the next 12 24 months?3.Thinking about places across the United States,including small towns and large cities,what 3 towns or cities do you believe currentl

20、y offer the best job opportunities?The responses to these questions were aggregated and coded to identify the most desirable destinations to live,visit or pursue a career across the U.S.By utilizing an open-ended question methodology,we ensure that we are comprehensive in capturing the destinations

21、that are top-of-mind to survey participants and that respondents are not limited to a predetermined list of cities that we present.This resulted in a mix of large cities as well as small towns that were provided by respondents,demonstrating the diversity of preferences amongst the U.S.population.Thi

22、s methodology and large sample size also provides us with the flexibility to dive deeper into the data to understand the locations that are preferred by different demographic groups.We have the ability to explore the data by age groups,by region,by educational attainment and a variety of other facto

23、rs that will be of value for destinations seeking to understand gaps in perception vs.reality as they develop their marketing and communications strategies.Longer-term,this data will be stored in a longitudinal database allowing us to evaluate how perceptions of destinations are shifting over time w

24、ith various demographics,providing a new and valuable data source to clients seeking to improve their positioning and identify opportunities for growth.We look forward to bringing the best of Ipsos to Resonance and to destinations around the world through our Best Cities partnership,and would be hap

25、py to discuss our research on destination perceptions,societal trends,population shifts and the political climate.Please dont hesitate to reach out to connect and discuss how Ipsos can help you better understand your target stakeholder audiences and their expectations of your place.Ipsos is proud to

26、 partner with Resonance Consultancy to now include perception data as a factor in the Americas Best Cities rankings.5AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024061057 Our Methodology:How we ranked Americas best cities in 2024Americas Top 100 cities,in detailEvery citys Place Power Score,by categoryCover Image:P

27、etersen Automotive Museum,Los AngelesContents6AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024This blend of data led to the creation of Resonances proprietary Place Power Score,the foundation of all our Best Cities rankings.So how does Resonance choose the metrics to effectively measure an urban regions performance

28、relative to its competitors?While many factors shape our perception of urban regions as desirable places to live,work or visit,Resonances proprietary Place Power Score rankings are focused on the shared factors that demonstrate moderate to strong correlations with the performance of urban regions wh

29、en it comes to attracting prime age population(age 25 44),visitor expenditure and/or business formation.Based on our ongoing analysis,these factors are an eclectic mix that ranges from the number of Fortune 500 companies and ease of airport connectivity to the number of nightlife and outdoor recreat

30、ion experiences and the volume of check-ins on Facebook and mentions on Instagram.These factors can change and evolve over time,and so we have continually updated our methodology to reflect these shifts.Case in point:we have added factors like Average Rent and Cost of Living to this years index and

31、removed inputs like Weather and Safety to more accurately represent the latest verified drivers of talent,investment and tourism to a city.This year,weve regrouped our previous six categories(Place,Promotion,Product,Programming,People and Prosperity)into three larger pillars that we utilize in our w

32、ork with clientsLivability,Lovability and Prosperityto define each citys relative Place Power Score.As part of our new partnership with Ipsos(see page 4)we combined the performance data of the subcategories that comprise our overall Livability,Lovability and Prosperity indices with perception data r

33、eflecting the opinions of 2,000 U.S.adults on three distinct questions:1.Thinking about places across the United States,including small towns and large cities,what are the Top 3 towns or cities you would most like to live in some day?(Livability)2.Thinking about places across the United States,inclu

34、ding small towns and large cities,what are the Top 3 towns or cities you would most like to visit in the next 12 24 months?(Lovability)3.Thinking about places across the United States,including small towns and large cities,what 3 towns or cities do you believe currently offer the best job opportunit

35、ies?(Prosperity)By utilizing an open-ended question methodology,we ensure that we are comprehensive in capturing the destinations that are top-of-mind to survey participants and that respondents are not limited to a predetermined list of cities that we present.The responses to these questions were a

36、ggregated and coded to benchmark the perception equivalent of our performance results,creating a true balance across our three overall indices of Lovability,Livability and Prosperity.How we ranked Americas best cities in 2024In order to rank the performance and perception of Americas best cities in

37、2024,Resonance analyzed the principal cities of metropolitan statistical areas with populations of more than 500,000(according to the U.S.Census,American Community Survey 2021)to determine the Top 100 cities by using a combination of core statistics and user-generated data from online sources such a

38、s Google,Tripadvisor and Instagram to measure quality of place when it comes to experiential factors.Our Methodology7AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024Livability also looks at natural attributes of a region like outdoors and parks and lifestyle factors such as the ease of internet access.Additionally,i

39、t considers the cost of living in a placefrom average rent to the cost of living burden on residents.As the cost of urban living climbs,the cost of life in a region increasingly matters as much as the potential of earning a living there and our metrics reflect this.LIVABILITY METRICSWalk ScoreThe av

40、erage walkability of addresses in a region(W)Biking The measure of whether a location is good for biking based on four equally weighted components:bike lanes,hills,destinations and road connectivity,and bike commuting mode share(Bike Score)Sights&Landmarks Number of sights and landmarks as listed on

41、 Tripadvisor(T)OutdoorsNumber of outdoor experiences as listed on Tripadvisor(T)Cost of LivingThe relative amount needed to live in a given region,including the price of food,taxes,housing,etc.(Lightcast)Average RentThe average market rate for rent in a region(Zillow)Internet AccessThe share of hous

42、eholds with access to broadband internet in a region(U.S.Census,American Community Survey 2022 5-Year)PerceptionRanking in survey of top cities and towns Americans would most like to live in some day(Ipsos)This category quantifies a citys quality of place.To score a city within our Livability catego

43、ry,we evaluate the perceived quality of its natural and built environments.This includes how much of an urban area is dedicated to green space,how bike-friendly its streets are and how many quality parks,sights,neighborhoods and landmarks are recommended online by locals and visitors.We also look at

44、 key socioeconomic factors such as the affordability of monthly rents and the cost of livingfactors that not only retain talent,but also attract it(and,by extension,attract skill-seeking companies as well).Livability8AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024LOVABILITY METRICS Professional Sports TeamsThe numb

45、er of professional sports teams in a city(multiple sources)Nightlife Number of local nightlife experiences as listed on Tripadvisor,including bars,pubs and clubs(T)Restaurants Number of restaurants and culinary experiences as listed on Tripadvisor(T)Shopping Number of local shopping experiences list

46、ed on Tripadvisor,including shopping malls,farmers markets,department stores,airport shops and factory outlets(T)Culture Number of local concerts,shows and events listed on Tripadvisor(T)AttractionsNumber of family-friendly activities listed on Tripadvisor(T)Facebook Check-ins Total number of Facebo

47、ok check-ins posted by residents and visitors in a city(F)Tripadvisor Reviews Total number of reviews a city has on Tripadvisor(T)Instagram Hashtags Total number of posts with Instagram hashtags that include the name of a city(I)Google Trends Popularity on Google Trends in the past 12 months,relativ

48、e to the other cities analyzed,choosing the larger total of the city(for example,“Miami”)or the city and state(“Miami,Florida”)(Trends.G)Museums Number of museums listed on Tripadvisor(T)Perception Ranking in survey of top cities and towns Americans would most like to visit in the next 12-24 months(

49、Ipsos)Lovability speaks to the relative vibrancy of a region as compared to its competitive set.For almost a decade,Resonance research has shown that the more vibrant a city or region is in terms of its culture,sports,dining and nightlife,the more visitors,young professionals and large corporations

50、it attracts.A regions lovability also inspires residents,businesses and visitors to promote that region to the world more effectively and cost-efficiently than destination marketers can ever hope to.Resonance ranks a regions performance in each of these areas based on the number of stories,reference

51、s and recommendations shared online about that region in key user-generated digital channels like Tripadvisor,Instagram and Facebook,and how often it is sought out on Google.Lovability9AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024PROSPERITY METRICS Educational Attainment Percentage of the population with higher e

52、ducation,BA or higher(U.S.Census,American Community Survey 2022 5-Year)Labor Force Participation A regions active workforce defined as a percentage of all people of working age who are employed or are actively seeking work(Lightcast)Fortune 500 Number of companies headquartered in a city that are ra

53、nked on the Fortune 500 list (F score of the highest ranking university in a city as measured by US News Best National Universities Rankings(US News Best National Universities Rankings)Airport Connectivity Number of direct destinations served by all commercial airports in a metro region(F)Convention

54、 CenterSize of the largest convention center in a city( and convention center websites)Foreign-Born ResidentsThe level of diversity in a region as calculated by the share of the population who are not citizens(U.S.Census,American Community Survey 2022 5-Year)Professional ServicesThe number of busine

55、sses that are classified as professional,scientific and technical services(Lightcast)PatentsThe number of patents granted in a region by the Government of the United States of America to an inventor“to exclude others from making,using,offering for sale,or selling the invention throughout the United

56、States or importing the invention into the United States”(PatentsView)Job PostingsThe number of unique job postings on job boards in a specific region annually(Lightcast)PerceptionRanking in survey of top cities and towns Americans believe offer the best job opportunities(Ipsos)Human capital is beco

57、ming a regions most valuable resource when it comes to generating wealth and prosperity,and,for many regions,it is increasingly in short supply.To evaluate the relative strength of human capital from one region to the next,Resonance not only measures both the educational attainment level of the regi

58、ons population and the percentage of people participating in the labor force but also the patents created and establishments in professional,scientific,and technical services locally to measure the degree to which the innovation ecosystem is distributed across each city.Wealth and prosperity are als

59、o evaluated by core statistics like business infrastructure,such as the regions airports connectivity to other destinations,and the number of regional universities and technical colleges and their rankings that fill the local talent pipeline.Prosperity10AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024Yes,theyve been

60、 hobbled this decade,exposing the long-ignored foundational and institutional problems that manifested on their streets and in their hospitals.But theyre also leadinglike they always havethe recovery and future-defining next stages of innovation,livability and sustainability.Given the new rules of p

61、ost-pandemic migration,the rise of remote work and the never-ending search for housing affordability,more American cities of all sizes are catching the imagination of global talent more frequently,with urban wealth and vibrancy created in more places than ever before.This means new centers of econom

62、ic potentialnot just in reinvigorated secondary and tertiary cities(think Jacksonville and Spokane)but also suburbs that offer better affordability and space while still allowing vital physical connections to large principal cities that are foundational to regional prosperity.And with government ini

63、tiatives that prioritize reshoring and energy and food security multiplying with every passing quarter,American citiesfrom Hartford to Honoluluare forging the resilient,future-focused economies the country needs.After far too long in isolation,citizens of the continents cities are gathering again,on

64、ce more colliding and creating the culture,wealth and energy that define the zeitgeist and path forward for their region and country,as well as the planet.The 100 cities that we profile over the next 50 pages are,in each of their distinct ways,at the heart of this renewal for the balance of this dec

65、ade and beyond.Americas Top 100 cities,in detailAmericas urban centers are the engines of their regional and national economies and,increasingly,the global economy.For centuries,theyve been badges of human ingenuity.11AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT20241New YorkNew YorkLivabilityLovabilityProsperityPLAC

66、E POWER HIGHLIGHTSPOPULATIONSights&Landmarks ShoppingMetro 19,909,00011PLACE POWER SCORE111Looking at NYC today,its difficult to imagine that just four years ago there were prominent declarations that its global,vibrant,cheek-by-jowl urban experiment was finally over.The mid-pandemic exodus and subs

67、equent cratering of real estate sales and rentals has since shot up to the highest-ever median rents in Manhattan(currently registering at a new all-time high in the mid-$5,000s per month).Tourism,the accelerant for so many of the citys amenities,was a priority for a sustainable recovery,and city le

68、aders are doing everything in their power to bring back not only those apprehensive New Yorkers whose hunger for regular bites of the Big Apple is finally being sated,but also the nearly 70 million people who visited in 2019 and spent$46 billion across the expansive quilt of its#1-ranked Sights&Land

69、marks.The city has no other choice:office occupancy remains about 50%of pre-pandemic levels,according to local numbers.For example,Bloomberg examined data from eight major Manhattan office buildings and discovered that“foot traffic is down about 52%on Fridays and 45%on Mondays compared with pre-COVI

70、D.”The domino effect is perilous:an estimated 40%drop in office market value as office towers sit partially empty could cost$5 billion in lost tax revenue(an astonishing 5%of the citys annual budget).Subway ridership is equally concerning,resulting in service cuts.Fortunately,tourism numbers have ha

71、d a breathtaking return,from 33 million visitors in 2021(less than half of 2019s total)to 62.2 million in 2023(11.6 million international and 50.6 domestic)and onward to a projected 64.5 million in 2024 according to New York City Tourism+Conventions,the citys official tourism marketing arm.“We are s

72、o appreciative of New York Citys recognition as#1 on Resonances 2024 Americas Best Cities Rankingfor the ninth year in a row,”says Nancy Mammana,the organizations CMO and interim CEO.“We believe its a testament to our steady tourism recovery and growth.Our destination continues to shinewith only-in-

73、NYC experiences,including Broadway,world-class dining and sporting events,diverse arts and culture offerings,rich history and more across the five boroughs.”NYC has topped Americas Best Cities since our inaugural ranking.In 2024,it is U.S.urban recovery writ large,with a dizzying roster of new shows

74、,hotels and parksand record real estate prices.But the Big Apple is always worth the price of admission,especially in these glory days.Central Park12AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024“Last year we saw robust growth in visitor volume,up almost 10%from 2022,generating$74 billion in economic impact.By the

75、 end of 2024,we are expecting a 97%recovery of pre-pandemic record visitation levels.”First order of business:getting those not already here to town.The suspension of travel for more than a year expedited the long-planned transformations of New Yorks international gateways.LaGuardia Airport,Newark L

76、iberty International Airport and John F.Kennedy International Airport all have new terminals,with the new Terminal B at LaGuardia alone boasting 35 gates(to say nothing of the FAO Schwarz on site).After the new Terminal C came online last year,LaGuardia is suddenly getting international kudos like i

77、ts the 1950s.After an$8-billion multi-year reno,theyre well deserved.Newark Liberty Internationals updated Terminal A has opened with 33 new gates and construction has started on a congestion-easing 2.5-mile elevated guideway train system.Up next is JFK.The airport just unveiled 130,000 square feet

78、of new and renovated space,and it will open a brand-new,$9.5-billion international terminal in 2026,part of a larger$19-billion airport transformation plan.The New Terminal One will become the largest terminal in the airport,featuring 23 gates and more than 300,000 square feet of dining,NYC-inspired

79、 retail and lounges.Its also going to be an ode to the citys five boroughs with green spaces and city festival activations.Back in Manhattan,Moynihan Train Hall is a new 17-track expansion of Penn Station that,if you squint,could pass for a Northern European transit hub from the future.With so many

80、expected arrivals,NYC is trying to make sure everyone has a place to stayno easy feat given last years introduction of Local Law 18,a government measure to crack down on short-term rentals.It requires landlords to register their short-term rental properties with the city,prohibits the likes of Airbn

81、b from taking payment for unregistered rentals and requires that the permanent resident of a short-term rental is present during a guests stay.The number of short-term listings fell by more than 80%between August and October 2023,sending already pricey hotel rates soaring.Which explains the continue

82、d new openings.While almost 10,000 new or renovated hotel rooms opened in 2022 alone,including the headline-grabbing Aman New York,an“urban sanctuary”on Fifth Avenue,dozens followed in 2023 and 2024.The Ritz-Carlton New York,NoMadnamed for its hoodfeatures Jos Andrs Nubeluz lounge on the 50th floor

83、and plenty of massive windows from which to watch the street action.Better yet,soak in the 360-degree city panorama on the rooftop patio.The buildout stretches across the city,with a newly opened Thompson in Midtown and new Renaissance Hotels properties in Harlem and Flushing.Moxy Hotels is also ope

84、ning multiple locations in the Lower East Side and Williamsburg.The just-opened Fifth Avenue Hotel is an ornate,whimsical microcosm of its citys attention to detail,from silk space dividers to bejeweled bar carts,with the Caf Carmellini among the citys hottest dining spots this summer.Even more bout

85、ique is London-based The Twenty Two hotel and private club in Union Square.At street level,the citys firehose turns cultural,with massive museums(ranking#1 in the country)going all-in on expansions and new 13AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024openings.The Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona,Queens,is

86、 a new cultural center that includes an interactive exhibit,archival collections,a 68-seat jazz club and a store.The Bronx Childrens Museum also reopened last year after moving to a new home in Mill Pond Park.Dia Chelsea is a new contemporary installation space,and the iconic Frick prepares to reope

87、n its museum and library in December after a multi-year reno of its historic home at 1 East 70th Street.Speaking of the Met,New Yorks 153-year-old cultural institution(housing 1.5 million objects and hosting seven million visitors in a non-pandemic year)announced a$500-million reno of its modern and

88、 contemporary wing.Not as storied but equally New York is the new Museum of Broadway,the first permanent museum dedicated to the famed heartland of the stage,which opened in Times Square with a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of major theater productions.Its also the 100-year anniversary of t

89、he underrated Museum of the City of New York,which celebrates and documents 750,000 objects,including photographs,prints,costumes,paintings and more,to allow NYC-philes to obsess over this place like nowhere else.Well,except maybe the new Perelman Performing Arts Center,one of the last parts of the

90、World Trade Center complex redevelopment.Its an elegantly simple cube-shaped jewel box being lauded for its groundbreaking theatrical design and elegy to the horror of its location.For those who prefer their immersion outdoors,classics like the High Line and Central Park are joined by the citys newe

91、st green space,Little Island2.4 acres floating on the Hudson near the Meatpacking District on the site of an old pier.Like most things here,you have to see it to believe it.When its your turn to return to Americas best city,do yourself a favor and make time to see the phoenix rise from above:there a

92、re the classics,like the Empire State Building and the Top of the Rock,but there are also spectacular new perches,like SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and its all-glass exterior elevators,called Ascent.Go up,look down and breathe out.This city is back.Little IslandPrevious Page:The New LaGuardia Airport Termi

93、nal B“Our destination continues to shinewith only-in-NYC experiences,including Broadway,world-class dining and sporting events,diverse arts and culture offerings,rich history and more across the five boroughs.Last year we saw robust growth in visitor volume,up almost 10%from 2022,generating$74 billi

94、on in economic impact.By the end of 2024,we are expecting a 97%recovery of pre-pandemic record visitation levels.”Nancy Mammana,CMO AND INTERIM CEO,NEW YORK CITY TOURISM+CONVENTIONS14AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT20242ChicagoIllinoisLivabilityLovabilityProsperityPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPOPULATIONConventi

95、on Center NightlifeMetro 9,567,00012PLACE POWER SCORE423Few American cities fell harder both in visitor numbers and economically since 2020 than Chicago,even after the city deftly rode its gilded pre-pandemic decade.But the hardship of the pandemic,combined with spiking inflation,only meant that the

96、 Windy City was spring-loaded for a breakout 2024 powered by a fully operational OHare International,ranked#3 in the country as measured by the number of direct destinations served.Meetings and conventions of all sizes are back,pouring into McCormick Place and its stunning Lake Michigan perch,ranked

97、#1 in our Convention Center subcategory.The citys quiet productivity is humming again,too,and is leaner and more efficient than ever,with the second-most Fortune 500 headquarters in the country,behind only New York.It also ranks in the Top 5 in the country in our Prosperity subcategories ranging fro

98、m Job Postings and Patents to Professional Services.Even amid the post-pandemic headlines of emptying city cores and urban flight,Chicago was named the top metro area for corporate investment for an astonishing 11th consecutive year by Site Selection magazine,a business publication that tracks real

99、estate and corporate development in cities with more than a million people.The reason?“The sense of regionalism exemplified by the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership will only reinforce the areas attractiveness to tech,logistics,innovation,and vibrant young talent in an economy as diverse as i

100、ts population,”noted the outlet.According to World Business Chicago,the citys economic development arm,a torrent of investment poured into the city over the past year,ranging from the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago,a$275-million biomedical research hub in Fulton Market,to a$20-million tech workforce

101、 and training center in Grand Crossing.Just outside of the city,S&C Electrics 275,000-square-foot facility in Palatine will create hundreds of new jobs.“Access to diverse talent,global connectivity and the citys strong infrastructure are among the reasons why Chicago has been ranked a top metropolit

102、an area for selection and corporate relocation for 11 years,”noted Mayor Brandon Johnson in a statement.Americas great Midwest metropolis pulses with infrastructure and affordability that eludes many other iconic global cities.Lakefront Trail15AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024The city is also playing

103、as hard as its working and its dance card hasnt been this full in years.Dozens of summer festivals are on offer,ranging from Lollapalooza to the free shows at the Millennium Park Summer Music Series rocking the Jay Pritzker Pavilion,with everything from salsa orchestras to gospel.Speaking of which,M

104、illennium Park turns 20 this summer and is throwing a free birthday bash in late July,featuring headliners like South Side native Common performing alongside the Grant Park Orchestra and Latin music group Fruko y sus Tesos.The festivals are equally boisterous outside of The Loop,from Lincoln Parks C

105、hicago Tacos&Tequila Festival to North Avenue Beachs Air&Water Show.The local purveyors of the nations second-best nightlife(trailing only NYC)are always happy to keep the party going indoors,especially the Diageo Beer Company people,who opened the second worldwide location of the Guinness Open Gate

106、 Brewery in the West Loop neighborhood last summer.This is only further proof of the understated beer culture in a town with 160 breweries,the most of any U.S.city(sorry,Seattle).The city is also reclaiming its post-pandemic live-music crown with new venues like The Salt Shed,which opened in 2022 in

107、 the former Morton Salt factory warehouse,a nearly 100-year-old landmark.The indoors accommodate 3,300,and more than 5,000 can party in the outdoor section to hip-hop and indie rock and pop acts.All that revelry means working up an appetite and Chicagos#3-ranked restaurants deliver again,only partia

108、lly because of the recent immortalization by FX series The Bear.From Chef Jos Andrs three-year-old Bazaar Meat and Bar Mar inside Bank of Americas new Chicago headquarters to the citys youngest Michelin-starred chef,Donald Young,debuting Venteux,a French brasserie in the new Pendry Chicago hotel,thi

109、s town is fed well.And this being Chicago,the home of so many Slavic immigrants over the centuries,its fitting that one of the buzziest places in town is Anelya,a new Ukrainian restaurant by James Beard Award-winning Chef Johnny Clark and his wife,Chef Beverly Kim(and named for Clarks grandmother).S

110、taffed by Ukrainians,many recently arrived fleeing Russias brutal invasion,it feels like a Chicago staple in its quality,community and empathy.Speaking of community,Chicago is finally tapping into its 77 neighborhoods within city limits,powered by Choose Chicago,the citys destination marketing organ

111、ization,spotlighting the bounty with“The 77:A City of Neighborhoods,”a YouTube series that tells the stories of residents and small business owners in five neighborhoods(with plans to spotlight many more).Last years$5.5-million American Rescue Plan Act funding grant also allowed the organization to

112、greatly increase efforts to deliver more of the economic benefits of tourism to the vibrant neighborhoods that are off Chicagos beaten track.One neighborhood that wont need much help attracting visitors starting next year?South Chicagos Jackson Park and its$500-million Obama Presidential Center.The

113、campus is intended to function as a world-class museum and public gathering space that showcases the South Side to the world,welcoming 700,000 annual visitors and projected to generate a long-term economic impact of more than$3 billion.Another South Side project opened this year is phase 1 of an amb

114、itious plan to build a bike 16AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024“Access to diverse talent,global connectivity and the citys strong infrastructure are among the reasons why Chicago has been ranked a top metropolitan area for selection and corporate relocation for 11 years.”trail from Chicago to Michigan

115、.The Marquette Greenway trail starts in the Calumet Park neighborhood and the entire Illinois portion is now completed.The$40-million trail will stretch all the way to New Buffalo,Michigan,by 2027.Fortunately,hotel capacity is increasing with the citys placemaking,with three new properties opening l

116、ast year,including the highly anticipated St.Regis Chicago.The 101-story tower,designed by award-winning architect Jeanne Gang,has changed Chicagos iconic skyline.It is now the third-tallest building in the city,the 10th tallest in the United States and the tallest building in the world designed by

117、a woman.Hot on its gilded heels is Korean luxury property L7 Hotels by Lotte,designed by award-winning firm AvroKO.Located just steps from the Chicago Riverwalk and the Magnificent Mile,the property boasts 191 rooms and a signature ground-floor restaurant,Perilla,a Korean American steakhouse.Riverwa

118、lkPrevious Page:Concert in Millennium Park Brandon Johnson,CHICAGO MAYOR17AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT20243Los AngelesCaliforniaLivabilityLovabilityProsperityPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPOPULATIONRestaurants MuseumsMetro 13,112,00012PLACE POWER SCORE362After celebrating a dizzying number of centennials las

119、t year,ranging from the Hollywood Sign(L.A.s most iconic landmark according to a recent survey)to Warner Bros.Studios and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum,the city is now focused on the rest of the decade.With so much going on,lets start with the aforementioned Memorial Coliseum,as hallowed America

120、n ground as youll find and home to both the first Super Bowl in 1967 and multiple Olympic Games.The historic venue(along with the citys newest venues like SoFi Stadium)will be central to L.A.s next four years of massive sporting events,starting with the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the NBA All-Star Game

121、in 2026.The Super Bowl follows in 2027,and the Olympic and Paralympic Games arrive in Summer 2028,when the city will become the first place in the U.S.to host the event three times.Adam Burke,president&CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism&Convention Board,pointed out another global first when announcing t

122、he host venue of the 2027 Super Bowl.“Remarkably,SoFi Stadium will become the first venue in history to host the FIFA World Cup(2026),Super Bowl(2027)and Olympic&Paralympic Games(2028).”But the city is far from sated with the global spotlight on its“Decade of Sport,”and L.A.will only build on its To

123、p 3 finish in our overall Lovability index with equally massive investment into its cultural chops.The home of Americas most ambitious museums(trailing only NYC in our ranking)is demanding the world come and visit,with vital exhibitions already launched and massive openings and expansions planned in

124、 the months ahead.In Westwood,the Hammer Museum at UCLA reopened last year after its two-decade-long project transforming the campus,anchored by the new Lynda and Stewart Resnick Cultural Center at the gateway to Westwood Village.The museum today extends across a full city block,increasing gallery s

125、pace by 60%to display the Hammers large collection of nearly 50,000 pieces.The three-year-old Academy Museum of Motion Pictures wowed visitors with its Hollywoodland exhibit last year,tracing the history of filmmaking in Los Angeles.This year,the museum goes deep on zoetropes,from the 19th century t

126、o Pixar.The planets city of stories is telling a few of its own this year.Over drinks,over dinner and on the train ride home.Los Angeles County Museum of Art18AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024The next year is equally frenzied for the citys arts and culture scene.The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is

127、 scheduled to reopen its east campus in 2024,with 110,000 square feet of gallery space,a new theater,education spaces,three restaurants and multipurpose event spaces,and will span Wilshire Boulevard in order to accommodate 3.5 acres of new park and outdoor space.This fall,the Natural History Museum

128、also opens its NHM Commonsa new wing and community hub on the southwest side of the museum campus in Exposition Park.At the Getty this September,the anticipated PST ART:Art&Science Collide will create urgent civic dialogue by exploring past and present connections between art and science in a series

129、 of exhibitions ranging from climate change and environmental justice to the future of artificial intelligence and alternative medicine.Next up is the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art,scheduled to open next year,founded by philanthropist and filmmaker George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson,co-CEO and

130、 president of Ariel Investments.The museum will focus on the universal art of visual storytelling and will feature expansive galleries,state-of-the-art cinematic theaters,dedicated spaces for learning and engagement and a new public green space.The citys long-smoldering arts bounty isnt just confine

131、d to paid access,of course,and theres no better place for walkable immersion than the recently reopened historic Sixth Street Viaduct,a transformative infrastructure project that replaced the original 1932 bridge and today unites the Boyle Heights community to the east and the Arts District and Down

132、town to the west.The project has reinvigorated the Arts District and today its galleries,murals and dozens of independent shops and outdoor markets host daily events that draw locals from across the county.The Arts District is the perfect place to validate L.A.s#1 ranking in our Restaurants subcateg

133、ory.From Michelin-starred places like French-meets-Southeast Asian restaurant Camphor to the Japanese perfection of Hayato and the Taiwanese fare of Kato,few places in America offer the fine dining density found in the citys hottest hood.For more budget-friendly but no less indulgent options,make re

134、servations for the Italian cuisine at Bestia and mind-blowing Middle Eastern food at Bavel.For something more local and casual,dont miss nearby Yangban and its Korean-SoCal magic,or Ditroits street tacos.The next emerging neighborhood to watch is the 1.3 miles along Crenshaw Boulevard,just east of L

135、AX.Positioned by organizers as“the spine of Los Angeles Black community,”the area is in the midst of transformative infrastructure projects focused on“economic development,job creation and environmental healing,”with a focus on stewarding Black art and culture that,when completed,will be“the place t

136、o experience the most dynamic expression of Black American culture in the United States.”Visit it now,then again in a few years to see the dizzying amount of strategic urban planning,commercial and residential development and ambitious architecture,placemaking and more than 100 commissioned works of

137、 art in full bloom.Speaking of LAX,the citys gateway to the world is in the midst of a$30-billion capital investment program,now in its final phase.Launched way back in 2009,it has been the largest public works project in the citys history.The final 19AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024The next emerging

138、 neighborhood to watch is the 1.3 miles along Crenshaw Boulevard,just east of LAX.Positioned by organizers as“the spine of Los Angeles Black community,”the area is in the midst of transformative infrastructure projects focused on“economic development,job creation and environmental healing,”with a fo

139、cus on stewarding Black art and culture.push will renovate terminals 4 and 5 and open the much anticipated(but delayed)automated people mover(APM)train scheduled to launch next year and finally connect LAXs rejuvenated terminals and the growing amenities around the airport.But lest you think L.A.is

140、turning its back on the car,LAX will open the planets largest car rental facility with capacity for 18,000 vehicles later this year.Good thing the new$1.7-billion Regional Connector Transit Project opened last year.Featuring a 1.9-mile underground light-rail system,you can now take a one-seat ride a

141、cross Los Angeles County,making travel on the Metro Gold Line to Long Beach and from East Los Angeles to Santa Monica possible without transferring lines.And,more importantly,not sitting in traffic.L.A.is also the crucial site of what is being called Americas first high-speed,all-electric rail proje

142、ct.Headed by rail construction firm Brightline(of Florida intercity fame),the train is designed to connect Los Angeles and Las Vegas with 218 miles of track(most of it across the Mojave Desert)with an estimated completion date of 2028.The project was facilitated by$3 billion in federal funding suppl

143、ied by the Biden Administration,with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noting that the project would“remove an estimated 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year,bolster tourism and create 35,000 good-paying jobs.”With almost two decades worth of planning,planting and stewarding,its time to opt

144、imize the return on all that investment.Appropriately,the Los Angeles Tourism&Convention Board launched its largest-ever global promotional campaign titled“Now Playing,”with an eight-figure budget.CamphorPrevious Page:Ocean Front Walk,Venice Beach20AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024Miamis natural attri

145、butes have always captured the worlds imagination and embodied its hedonistic brand.The city ranks#3 globally in our Outdoors subcategory,and,even better,at#2 for Instagram Hashtags that show off the natural(and,ahem,constructed)sights.But its Miamis openness to immigrants(and,more recently,the LGBT

146、QIA+community and Silicon Valley migrants)that has people buzzing.The city has the highest percentage of foreign-born residents in America(which is saying something)and,increasingly,a new distributed workforce continues to arrive to work(and play)from home here.Jeff Bezos moved from Seattle for fami

147、ly and taxes.Speaking of which,Amazon is currently seeking 50,000 square feet of office space to expand its 400-person workforce in the city.Hundreds of firms are doing the same now that VC funding is starting to flow again,which will improve the current#4 ranking for Professional Services and,as th

148、e fight for talent intensifies,its#9 spot in our Job Postings subcategory.But its not like Miami is some sudden tech belle.For decades its been the U.S.home for Latin American enterprise and,today,more than 1,100 multinationals are based in the city.All that talent and down payment money is looking

149、to buy in and housing costs are defying gravity(and interest rates).Residential buildout is everywhere and two luxury projects in particular will change the skyline.The 1,049-foot Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Residences is predicted to be the tallest residential tower south of New York when completed i

150、n 2027.The Okan Tower,a 70-story luxury building housing condominiums,hotels and epic office space,should be open by then,too.Given the state of the city these days,would you really be surprised to hear that both Bentley and Mercedes-Benz are building residential towers with apartments costing$4 mil

151、lion or more?Still,accessible redevelopment is going strong,too,led by the just-approved 8.5-acre mixed-use community hub named Westcourt that will give the city a dedicated sports and entertainment district.The Underline,a planned 10-mile linear park and urban trail under elevated rail lines,just o

152、pened its second phase.Miamis creativity is powered by its arms-wide-open acceptance of newcomers.LivabilityLovabilityProsperity4MiamiFloridaPLACE POWER SCORE5311PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPOPULATIONMetro 6,124,000Foreign-Born Residents Instagram Hashtags12South Beach,Ocean Drive21AMERICAS BEST CITIES RE

153、PORT2024Few American cities have been as supercharged by the return of the visitor economy as Las Vegas,which lives and dies by its#1 industry.After all,this is Vegas,baby,the second-most lovable city in America,according to our rankings,and trailing only New York.Almost 41 million people visited La

154、s Vegas in 2023,a 5.2%increase over 2022 and not far back from the record 42.9 million who visited in 2016.Welcoming them are a bounty of new properties,ranging from the two-year-old,$4.3-billion Resorts World Las Vegaswhich includes three hotels,the 27,000-square-foot Awana Spa and a 5,000-seat the

155、aterto the just-opened Durango Casino&Resort,an off-strip Vegas take on a midcentury modern ode to the Nevada landscape.But the biggest property news in two decades is the Fontainebleau,a$3.7-billion,67-story complex that,at 729 feet,is the largest residential/hotel structure on the strip.It boasts

156、a mind-melting 36 restaurants,including Cantina Contramar,run by Mexico City chef Gabriela Cmara.Speaking of Chef,actor and director Jon Favreau and Korean taco expert Roy Choi unveiled the Chef Truck at the Park MGM,yet another step of many that Sin Citys culinary scene will take to ascend from its

157、 already impressive#9 ranking.Of course,the$2-billion,18,000-seat,516-foot-in-diameter MSG Sphere,the largest spherical structure in the world,is a visitor magnet that will further entrench Vegas as the top city in the country in our Attractions subcategory,as well as its Top 3 Culture ranking.Incre

158、dibly,even after this torrent of new openings,the gilded Vegas construction pipeline still has at least$15 billion of new investment on tap.All that city building is catching Americans interest.Vegas topped Redfins web property searches for the first time ever last year,indicating that smitten touri

159、sts want in on the fun full-time,especially coastal Californians who can get twice the house for their money.And with construction started on the Vegas-to-L.A.high-speed rail(Americas first,)estimated to be built by 2028,they can always go back and visit.The revenge city will see you now.LovabilityL

160、ivabilityProsperity5Las VegasNevadaPLACE POWER SCORE2716PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPOPULATIONMetro 2,266,000Attractions Tripadvisor Reviews12The Sphere22AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024San Franciscos myriad challenges over the past half decade have been meticulously documented.So much so,in fact,that a Ga

161、llup survey in August 2023 found that nearly half of Americans regard San Francisco as unsafe.An office vacancy rate that CBRE recorded at 34.7%in the third quarter of 2023 was among the highest in the world.Despite the bad news,“Everyones Favorite City”is still coveted.Maybe now more than ever as r

162、ents drop,advocacy and local pride stir,and failed ideas are jettisoned by Americas second-most educated citizenry raised on disruption and with the means to impact change.This is home to the sixth-most Fortune 500 companies in the country,after all,and trails only New York and Tokyo for the most mi

163、llionaires residing in any city(285,000 in 2022,according to the 2023 Worlds Wealthiest Cities Report).These millionaires are launching political movements to implement more moderate policies and investing in local journalism to ensure theyre heard.Levi Strauss heir and activist Daniel Lurie is runn

164、ing against Mayor London Breed in the next local election,while Ripple Labs Inc.founder Chris Larsen donated millions to revive emptying retail areas and funds the“It All Starts Here”marketing campaign to increase local pride and continued business investment.San Francisco has also become the center

165、 of global artificial intelligence,with AI companies pouring into empty office space.Earlier this year,OpenAI,the maker of ChatGPT,closed on the citys biggest office lease in five years when it subleased almost 500,000 square feet in Ubers Third St.campus.More recently,AI company Anthropic leased 25

166、0,000 square feet in the former Slack headquarters at 500 Howard Street.Other massive local investment has resumed,from Y Combinators arrival to Visas new global headquarters opening soon.The city,meanwhile,is rolling out the most daring bike and pedestrian infrastructure in America and unlocking th

167、e public space potential of places like the Presidio(featuring the new Presidio Tunnel Tops,a 14-acre park built over the Presidio Parkway highway tunnels).LivabilityLovabilityProsperity6San FranciscoCaliforniaPLACE POWER SCORE646PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPOPULATIONMetro 4,692,000Walk Score Sights&Landm

168、arks12The golden citydeeply wounded by the addiction crisis,a lack of affordable housing and violence unimaginable a few years agois getting up off the mat.Painted Ladies23AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024A hub of higher education and home to the fourth-most educated workforce in the country,Boston pr

169、oduces a steady stream of new talent to help attract startups and established companies alike.Future talent gravitates to Harvard,of coursethe top-ranked university in the nationas well as to Bostons density of other world-class universities and colleges.The region bursts with lecture halls,labs and

170、 classrooms for the more than 75 institutions of higher learning,energized by the estimated 200,000 postsecondary students creating stories,ideas,solutions and technologies with global influence.Graduating talent is scooped up fast in a city that ranks in the Top 10 in both our Fortune 500 and Profe

171、ssional Services subcategories,and boasts industry clusters like its 1,000-plus biotech companies.The buildout of Americas newest(oldest)urban destination,buoyed by billions in federal stimulus funds,is also afoot.Hotel inventory is projected to grow by 5,000 new rooms by 2030,fueled by the 1,055-ro

172、om Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport on the South Boston Waterfront near the Boston Convention&Exhibition Center.The encompassing Seaport District has bloomed around the Institute of Contemporary Art and is drawing design and dining crowds to new spots that sate both.Another new hotel elevating Bosto

173、ns#11 Restaurants ranking is the first Raffles property in North America,which,aside from 147 luxurious rooms and Guerlain Spa,features Amar,a new seafood-forward fine-dining spot run by Portuguese-American chef George Mendes.The citys cultural clout is also ascendant courtesy of the Fenway Sports G

174、roup and Live Nations new MGM Music Hall at Fenway,a 5,000-seat concert hall that extends the iconic ballpark.Happily,the city is making it easy to come and go,namely with the expansion of South Station,Bostons busiest transit hub,and its 51-story condo and office tower opening next year.The new$640

175、-million terminal at Boston Logan International Airport will handle the citys increasing passenger numbers.LivabilityLovabilityProsperity7BostonMassachusettsPLACE POWER SCORE9127PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPOPULATIONMetro 4,912,000University Walk Score13Americas oldest big city has never been more a part

176、of the national future.Boston Seaport24AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024The ubiquity of D.C.in dramas on screens small and large,combined with the shocking events of recent years,means were all thinking about the U.S.capital.Its why it ranks in the Top 10 in our overall Lovability index,highlighted by

177、 Top 10 rankings in our Museums,Restaurants,Pro Sports and Tripadvisor Reviews subcategories.The citys museum investment is on full display these days,with the iconic National Gallery of Art making up for lost time this past year with high-profile exhibits like the mind-blowing Mark Rothko show.New

178、and reopening museums include the 32,000-square-foot Rubell Museum in a historically Black public school in the Southwest neighborhood,and the National Museum of Women in the Arts,the worlds only major art museum solely dedicated to championing women artists.“There is currently$9.6 billion in develo

179、pment underway and the city has added new hotels,museums,rooftops,Michelin-rated dining and more for travelers to explore,”noted Elliott Ferguson,president and CEO of Destination DC.Last year alone included the launch of the 274-room Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill,joining new properties like the AC Hote

180、l Washington DC Capitol Hill Navy Yard and Pendry Washington DC The Wharf.And speaking of The Wharf,phase two of the massive Southwest Waterfront development opened last year,creating yet another destination neighborhood in a city packed with them.D.C.is keeping a good thing going,with city council

181、recently raising the hotel tax to fill the gap in spending by federal employees working from home.The move is estimated to add$18 million to Destination DCs budget,just in time for an upcoming$20-million global marketing campaign to kick-start international visits to the city.New arrivals wont go hu

182、ngry in one of Americas most buzzy food cities,especially with the rise of Black chefs and purveyors in places like Market 7,a sprawling food hall touting Black-owned businesses.Also creating a buzz is Chef Jos Andrs The Bazaar in the Waldorf Astoria(rescued from its previous life as a Trump Tower),

183、sure to sate your Chesapeake Bay locavorism.LivabilityLovabilityProsperity8WashingtonD.C.PLACE POWER SCORE1099PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPOPULATIONMetro 6,346,000Educational Attainment Professional Services33Americas intriguing capital city has the worlds attentionand is working to keep it.Union Station2

184、5AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024You wont find Seattle among the panicky headlines chronicling the decline of U.S.West Coast metropolises.Sure,the Emerald City was battling a housing price dip(since reversed,with prices up almost 12%year-over-year,according to Point2),a homelessness crisis and 20%com

185、mercial vacancy rates.But it also boasts a growing population fueled by talent seeking(literally)greener pastures and pulled by the influential titans of industry in town,from Amazon to Starbucks to Zillow.Seattle ranks#11 in our Fortune 500 subcategory.Heat waves(and,for some,politics)in the Americ

186、an South will only accelerate immigration.An existing talent pipeline is stocked by the omnipresent UDubthe University of Washingtonone of the worlds top public research universities(ranking#22 in our University subcategory),endowing the city with the 11th-most educated citizenry in the nation.And t

187、hat talent benefits from all manner of livability here,from startup incubation to festivals to urban waterfront restoration.Speaking of which,the Seattle waterfront,long blighted by the Alaskan Way elevated highway that was finally demolished,buried and tolled in favor of a walkable and bike-friendl

188、y promenade along Elliott Bay,will be fully opened next year.And its going to blow the minds of those who havent visited in a while.The citys dozen or so long-neglected piers are being seismically upgraded and reimagined as micro-neighborhoods and performance venues surrounded by Puget Sound and the

189、 snow-capped Olympic Mountains beyond.Opening this summer,the Seattle Aquariums new Ocean Pavilion showcases tropical species from the Coral Triangle in the Indo-Pacific,with an oculus window that allows passersby to observe sea life from below.It links to the citys iconic Pike Place Market that was

190、 recently expanded as well,with observation platforms and retail spaces.Expect the citys Top 10 Walk Score and Biking rankings to increase as a result of this bold,human-level placemaking.LivabilityLovabilityProsperity9SeattleWashingtonPLACE POWER SCORE11513PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPOPULATIONMetro 4,00

191、2,000Internet Access Shopping36Americas growing tech hub is playing the long game,focusing on inclusive prosperity and bold urban vibrancy to win the war for talent.Amazon Spheres26AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT2024Austin may get the attention,but the promise of the Lone Star State drawing Californians

192、 and New Yorkers is quietly being fulfilled in Houston.In the past year the metro population swelled above seven million for the first time ever and the city today is one of Americas most ethnically diverse,with more than 145 languages spoken at home,according to the latest censusabout even with New

193、 York.Its#21 Culture ranking is a testament to its prism of festivals,from international film to massive Juneteenth celebrations.Next year,the city welcomes Americas first Ismaili Center,commissioned by His Highness the Aga Khan.Houstons underappreciated dining scene,a mix of Southern Soul and barbe

194、cue with Mexican thats then seasoned with global cuisine,ranks#4 in our Restaurants subcategory(ahead of culinary stars like San Francisco,Vegas and Miami).There are too many places to list,but the newly opened Late August,in Midtown,is a must,mixing southern Mexican cuisine with West African magic

195、in a way that only Houston chefs can.But where Americas fourth-largest city truly takes off is in its economic heft and wealth,ranking Top 3 in the country for both Fortune 500 companies in town and our Patents subcategory,and Top 5 in our overall Prosperity index.While hometown companies like Conoc

196、oPhillips,ExxonMobil and Phillips 66 have ensured that 40%of Houstons economy is tied directly or indirectly to oil and gas,the energy talent in the city has made it an unlikely green power destination.According to a recent McKinsey report,investment of up to$250 billion may be headed Houstons way b

197、y 2040 to leverage the skilled workforce and existing infrastructure.Beyond our green planet,Houston is also building on its NASA legacy to position itself as the center of the global space industry(and not just Space City,USA).Its Houston Spaceport is an FAA-licensed urban commercial spaceport offe

198、ring unprecedented access to a thriving aerospace community.The city has a staggering head start in building a cluster of local aerospace manufacturing companies,especially considering that the spaceport can eventually serve as the countrys takeoff point for passenger jets capable of flying at super

199、sonic and hypersonic speeds.LivabilityLovabilityProsperity10HoustonTexasPLACE POWER SCORE14155PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPOPULATIONMetro 7,143,000Fortune 500 Patents33H-Town is an increasingly coveted hometown for some of the best and brightest on earth.And beyond.Buffalo Bayou Park27AMERICAS BEST CITIES

200、 REPORT202411San DiegoCalifornia12OrlandoFlorida13AtlantaGeorgiaSouthern Californias urban ideal offers free sunshine and the epic outdoors.Steps from home and officeacross two borders.One of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.pulls in smitten new residents with its 263 full and partly sunny days

201、 annually,the natural endowment of the second-best finish in our Outdoors subcategory(behind only Honolulu)and the 23 beaches70 miles of themwithin city limits that make San Diego synonymous with the lore of SoCal surf culture.But these days,new talent is just as likely to arrive for the innovation

202、cluster that spans the San Diego-Tijuana border across the increasingly buzzing 20-mile stretch between the two cities.The region is already ranked#4 in the country in our Patents subcategory and is fueled by a second-best Internet Access ranking.Both cities are sharing the biennial designation as t

203、he World Design Capital of 2024,with events ranging from museum openings to this falls week-long World Design Experience,an interactive showcase of design that will appear across various venues.The citys Top 10 Museums ranking will improve when the San Diego Museum of Art in iconic Balboa Park unvei

204、ls its 2026 west wing,courtesy of Foster+Partners,a firm that has built iconic structures at museums around the world.The Mouses house brings in visiting talent,but a growing hometown dynamism gets them thinking of moving here for good.Being the largest city in a region that generated more than$80 b

205、illion in tourism-related economic impact in 2022 delivers plenty of international word of mouth.And Orlando knows how to get people talking.Its#2 Attractions ranking represents a firehose of expansions and new openings post pandemic,with the latest buzz focused on next years Universal Studios Epic

206、Universe theme park,packed with spots like Wizarding World of Harry Potter Ministry of Magic,and How to Train Your Dragon.Downtown culture booms with the recent opening of live music venue Judsons,the fourth indoor performance space at the Dr.Phillips Center for the Performing Arts,joining Steinmetz

207、 Hall(opened in 2022),the Walt Disney Theater and the Alexis&Jim Pugh Theater.The recently approved$500-million mixed-use Westcourt sports and entertainment district will take up nearly nine downtown blocks when it opens in 2027,adjacent to the Kia Center(home of the NBAs Orlando Magic).Getting here

208、 has never been easier,thanks to the newly opened,$4.2-billion South Terminal Complex at Orlando International Airport,featuring the northern terminus of Brightline,the states first high-speed rail that connects Orlando with West Palm Beach,Fort Lauderdale and Miami.Ambitious and dripping with histo

209、ry,ATL is creating its future mid-flight.Long a progressive beacon in Georgia,Atlanta and its rich legacy of American civil rightsthe city is the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr.is pulling in talent,with almost a quarter of a million relocating here over the past two years.Even more are mulling

210、their optionsas indicated by ATLs Top 5 ranking for Instagram Hashtags in the country and its Top 10 reach for both Google Trends and Facebook Check-ins.Good thing the cityranking#8 in the country not only for Fortune 500,but in our Patents and Professional Services subcategories as wellis planning

211、for the influx.Bold new projects pepper downtown,like the 50-acre Gulch redevelopment called Centennial Yards,featuring 12 million square feet of residential,retail and office space and 1,500 hotel rooms.Just east,along Peachtree,Mitchell and Broad streets,as well as Martin Luther King Jr.Drive,doze

212、ns of historic buildings are being revived with a focus on public spaces and walkability.Even Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport(from which 80%of the U.S.population resides within a two-hour flight)is renovating,despite already ranking#4 for Airport Connectivity.Its ATL Next project is

213、 pumping$6 billion into modernization.POPULATIONPOPULATIONPOPULATIONMetro 3,290,000Metro 2,679,000Metro 6,095,000Outdoors Internet AccessAttractions Tripadvisor ReviewsAirport Connectivity Instagram Hashtags224235PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTS28AMERICAS BEST CITIE

214、S REPORT202414DenverColorado15AustinTexas16DallasTexasLight rail,legal pot and ascendant art shine bright.Denvers secret has been out for a while:its once attainable second-city affordability and coveted lifestyle brand at the foot of the Rocky Mountains has driven the median price of a home from$44

215、2,000 to$581,000 over the past five years,according to Redfin.Today,Denver is an increasingly wealthy,healthy talent magnet that ranks#9 in the country for educated citizenry.They ply their trades at large Fortune 500 firms(ranking#15)ranging from Western Union to Molson Coors Beverage,and at the hu

216、ndreds of startups in the emergent cannabis and burgeoning wellness industries.Denver ranks an impressive#7 in our Professional Services subcategory.Its#16-ranked convention center,crowned by a massive rooftop terrace,was completed in December 2023.Denver International Airport(already Top 5 in the U

217、.S.and boasting a direct LRT link to downtowns Union Station)is finishing its$770-million Great Hall upgrades and wrapped a massive$2-billion gate expansion project last year.But Denver plays as hard as it works.Amid 300 days of annual sunshine,the citys obsession with the outdoors is matched by a c

218、ommitment to the arts,with the Denver Art Museum slowly emerging from an extensive,multi-year renovation.The American dream has a new hometown.The rebellious Texas cityforged by can-do persistence cut with a university towns progressive livabilityis now a well-oiled talent-attraction machine.Entrepr

219、eneurs and investors come for the citys Top 10 most-educated citizenry,who are creating Americas future with a#10 national ranking for Patents.Its no surprise,then,that since the pandemic Austin has secured headquarters for giants like Oracle,Tesla,BAE Systems and dozens more,joining incumbents like

220、 Samsung USA,which in April announced a$40-billion investment in nearby Taylor,Texas,to build massive semiconductor chip plants,expedited by a$6.4-billion investment by the Biden Administration.Dozens of ambitious tech firms(especially EV and superconductor manufacturers)are moving in monthly.New hi

221、gh-rises like the Waterline(which will be the tallest building in Texas when it opens in 2026)and Wilson Tower(the largest planned U.S.residential high-rise outside of NYC)will be pinnacle trophies on the citys expanding skyline.The#20-ranked University of Texas at Austin is also a talent magnet,foc

222、using on research and a growing skills pipeline to the symbiotic private sector.The local music scene is pretty good,too.(Nightlife ranks#8.)“Big Things Happen Here”can refer to any one of investment,population growth or cultural ascent in the Big D.From 2021 to 2022,Dallas experienced the largest n

223、umerical population increase of any U.S.metro area,with a net increase of more than 170,000 people,according to the Census Bureau.Home to more than 10,000 corporate headquartersthe largest concentration in the U.S.and ranking#4 in the nation for Fortune 500 companies in town,the city is easy to get

224、to.Dallas Fort Worth International Airport tops our Airport Connectivity subcategory,with a planned$3-billion Terminal F project possibly back on the table,given DFWs rebound of almost 82 million passengers in 2023making it the third-busiest airport on earth.The citys#12 Convention Center ranking wi

225、ll improve when a new$2-billion,2.5-million-square-foot facility is built next to the current one in 2028.The same year should see the trenching of the citys car-worshiping Interstate 345 that cut off Black neighborhoods in the early 1970s.But Dallas is big on fun and culture,too.This is the home of

226、 Americas sixth-largest LGBTQIA+community.On 20 square blocks of mixed-use space,institutions like the Dallas Museum of Art,the Crow Museum of Asian Art,theaters and symphony and opera venues all power a#26 Culture ranking.POPULATIONPOPULATIONPOPULATIONMetro 2,959,000Metro 2,296,000Metro 7,673,000Bi

227、king Airport ConnectivityOutdoors NightlifeAirport Connectivity Fortune 500481584PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTS29AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT202417PhiladelphiaPennsylvania18MinneapolisMinnesota19New OrleansLouisianaThe City of Brotherly Love gives locals and visito

228、rs plenty of Americana.Philadelphia is a dense,cataloged embodiment of Americana,easily accessible and eagerly shared.Its experiences have always done the talking,whether its walking the cobblestones of Old City or breathing in the urban green of Fairmount Park.The understated urban tapestry deliver

229、s a#7 Sights&Landmarks ranking,perfect for exploring by foot and sure to improve with the extensive development of the multiuse Delaware River Trail that links the citys waterfront destinations.Those in need of a more regimented type of history will love the seventh-best museums in the U.S.,especial

230、ly with recent investments like the 90,000 square feet of new public and exhibition space at the Philadelphia Museum of Art as part of the Frank Gehry-led expansion.Important exhibits open this summer and fall,none bigger than Disney100 and SPACE at the Franklin Institute,and Black Founders:The Fort

231、en Family of Philadelphia at the Museum of the American Revolution.Philly is also finally getting culinary recognition,ranking#6 for Restaurants and boasting more restaurant and chef awards than any other at the 2023 James Beard Foundation competition.The citys coveted University of Pennsylvania is

232、an Ivy League icon,ranked#4 nationally and keeping the local talent pipeline stocked.Bold city-building and post-pandemic prosperity beckon.Minneapolis made pandemic headlines(and inspired global movements against systemic racism)when George Floyd was murdered by local police.Corporate media coverag

233、e then bleated about the citys crime,despite never having visited.Proud local leaders shot back with cheeky reality-check ad campaigns that highlighted urban dynamism and visionary city-building like the Minneapolis Big Build.Today the city is in the thick of an unprecedented renaissance,with more t

234、han$1-billion worth of annual construction permits issued in each of the past four years.The investment has yielded(so far)the redesign of Nicollet Avenue,the opening of U.S.Bank Stadium and the Commons Park,a major reno of Target Center(home of the NBAs Timberwolves)and improvements to the Minneapo

235、lis Sculpture Garden and Walker Art Center.There are a dozen more projects that have opened or will soon,including the new Water Works Park on the Mississippi riverfront.This,on top of a somewhat surprising Top 10 ranking for Fortune 500 companies in townthe most per capita of any U.S.metro areaand

236、an ambitious citizenry that ranks#13 nationally for Educational Attainment,makes it no surprise that this Midwest magnet lands#21 in our overall Prosperity index.Few cities work as hard as the Big Easy to get back up.In the face of poverty and injusticeand“natural”disasters compounded by bothNOLA ha

237、s,over its three centuries,created a culture of presence,music and festivals.It is why the city ranks#12 in our overall Lovability index,which includes its epic Shopping(#2),Culture(#2)and Museums(#3).That Museums ranking will improve with the Warehouse Districts new Museum of the Southern Jewish Ex

238、perience,along with last years massive new Audubon Insectarium and Aquarium of Americas right on the Mississippi adjacent to the French Quarter.In a city ranked#35 for Labor Force Participation(even more impressive when you consider the post-Katrina exodus),urban investment is everywhere.The French

239、Quarter boasts the One11,the areas first new hotel in 50 years.A new Four Seasons Hotel and Residences opened in the former World Trade Center,followed by local icon and mens clothing store Rubensteins eponymous 40-room boutique property.Harrahs$435-million investment will expand,renovate and rebran

240、d the citys casino with a 340-room hotel tower.And theres still more:the Riverfront for All project is breaking ground this year on one of the countrys longest contiguous riverfront parks,and Lincoln Beach,a historically important Black beach,will be the citys first public beach to open in decades n

241、ext year.POPULATIONPOPULATIONPOPULATIONMetro 6,233,000Metro 3,678,000Metro 1,264,000University RestaurantsBiking Professional Sports TeamsShopping Culture412662PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTS30AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT202420PortlandOregon21PhoenixArizona22Nashvil

242、leTennesseeAmericas Left Coast utopia is figuring it out.Portlands blissful isolation and self-sustainability have long made it one of the most earnest cities in the U.S.Portlanders are among the most engaged urbanites on the planet,and have always built it themselves when they cant find what fits t

243、heir likingfrom performance outdoor apparel like Columbia and Nike to hospitality brands like Ace and McMenamins.Their#16 overall Livability ranking(powered by some of the best bike infrastructure in the country),therefore,is no surprise.But the urban utopia of recent decades was ravaged by the pand

244、emic,with homelessness spiking by almost 70%,vehicle theft almost doubling and shootings tripling,all since 2019.The population shrank for the first time in decades in 2021.Portlanders are fighting for the citys inclusive livability and identity,one that boasts almost 100 breweries(among the most pe

245、r capita in the U.S.)and boundary-pushing nightlife(#11)and shopping(#9).New public projects prioritizing bikes and pedestrians are everywhere(yes,the Ned Flanders Crossing pedestrian bridge is real).Big projects are also coming online.The new 35-story Ritz-Carlton is the citys first five-star hotel

246、,and next year,a$1.5-billion locally focused investment into the citys airport will be unveiled.Rapid growth,ambitious architecture and a reverence for the outdoors create a heady mix in the desert.A thriving desert metropolis thats now just outside of the Top 10 nationally by population,Phoenix has

247、 seen some of the fastest growth of any major U.S.city since 2015.According to the latest census data,it added 163,000 residents,bringing the core citys population to 1.6 million,with its metro on the cusp of five million.Phoenix has also defied persistently high interest rates,with an almost 14%hom

248、e price increase in 2023 according to Point2.And whats not to love?A growing roster of fine museums,a vibrant artist community and 300 days of sunshine make the city buzz like never before(failed NHL hockey team be damned).The downtown arts district boasts the new Pemberton PHXpart art exhibit and p

249、art foodie magnet,where locally loved restos like Babas Falafel and Saint Pasta host pop-up dinners year-round.The citys#15 Restaurants ranking will soar with such daring concepts,none buzzier than the Global Ambassador,the first hotel by restaurateur and 12-time James Beard nominee Sam Fox.The 141-

250、room property has five distinct restaurants and is just one of several recent openings,joining a$70-million reno of the iconic Arizona Biltmore,as well as expansions of The Wigwam and JW Marriott Phoenix.The hospitality and revelry that defined Nashville for decades has finally returned.The home bas

251、e for artists like Jack White,Kings of Leon and the Black Keys(and a Top 10 city in our Nightlife subcategory)is firing on all cylinders with events like the CMA Fest and Bonnaroo,as well as new shows and attractions.The buzziest is the duet between the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the historic Ry

252、man Auditorium that created the Rock Hall at the Ryman exhibit celebrating one of Americas most revered stages,including stories about Elvis Presley,James Brown,Dolly Parton,the Foo Fighters and dozens more.The three-year-old National Museum of African American Musica vital center to educate the wor

253、ld,preserve a legacy and celebrate African Americans in creating the American soundtrackis yet another reason why Nashville ranks#13 for Culture.Massive developments like the new home of the Nashville SC Major League Soccer team in Wedgewood-Houstona 30,500-seat soccer-only facilityjoin the city-bui

254、lding ambition behind the opening of more than a dozen hotels over the next two years and a major expansion of the citys airport.The city is also a healthcare innovation hub,home to more than 500 companies,including 17 publicly listed ones.POPULATIONPOPULATIONPOPULATIONMetro 2,505,000Metro 4,864,000

255、Metro 1,991,000Biking CultureJob Postings Professional ServicesNightlife Shopping1121091313PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTS31AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT202423TampaFlorida24Salt Lake CityUtah25St.LouisMissouriFloridas outdoor wonderland has a taste for the finer thin

256、gs.Few American cities balance the natural and built environments quite like Tampa.A low crime rate and 361 days of annual sunshine make the citys#13-ranked parks and outdoor activities,including nearby beaches,a joy to explore.Dont miss the Tampa Riverwalk,a 2.6-mile continuous waterfront corridor

257、along the banks of the Hillsborough River and Garrison Channel.From the newly renovated Florida Aquarium you can stroll to the Tampa Bay History Center,the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts,the convention center and other spots contributing to Tampas#15 ranking in our Attractions subcategory.The c

258、ity is also flexing its downtown investment these days,with the year-old,multi-billion-dollar Water Street Tampa in the heart of the city,spearheading the way with The Tampa EDITION,a truly five-star luxury property with Michelin-starred Chef John Fraser feeding guests.The project also boasts a new

259、promenade and a dozen high-end condos and hotels,as well as bars and restaurants that are making the city a culinary destination soon to improve on its#26 Restaurants ranking.In a city already home to three Michelin-starred restaurants(Rocca,Koya and Lilac),ambitious rooms seem to open weekly these

260、days.The great outdoorsand high salariesare calling,and Salt Lake is doing its best to get you(and keep you)here.Combining spectacular natural and built environments,Salt Lake City is no longer just a gateway to the great outdoorsits also a welcoming destination with Top 3 biking infrastructure,new

261、museums,and.local breweries,which,over the past three years,have multiplied thanks to relaxed local potency limits(and public health measures).The transformation began with the arrival of the XIX Olympic Winter Games just over 20 years ago,as the city thawed its reputation as an ber-conservative cow

262、boy town with Mormon family values to become the lifestyle magnet of quaint cafs and stylish restaurants that it is today.SLC continues to pour millions into development projects and the beautification of its downtown,which pulled in their new NHL hockey team(sorry,Phoenix)that will play out of the

263、soon-to-be renovated Delta Center along with the NBA Jazz.Then theres SLC International(ranked#21),the countrys first major hub airport replacement of the 21st century.Its second phase,with new concourses and gates,is set for completion by the end of this year.The estimated cost of Utahs new global

264、aviation hub?An astonishing$4.1 billion.Equally astonishing:it was apparently built with no local taxpayer dollars.One of Americas music capitals is an energetic crossroads of the nation.Americas gateway to the West has always been an understated city of neighborhoods and cultural elegance.It perfor

265、ms well for Nightlife(#19)in fact,Miles Davis is a native sonand reaches a Top 25 finish in our Restaurants subcategory.Check out Lacledes Landing,a converted warehouse district overlooking the Mississippi,for fun and food.Recent culinary openings range from Mediterranean-forward Casa Don Alfonsothe

266、 first in the U.S.for Michelin-starred Italian restaurateur Mario Iaccarinoin the Ritz-Carlton St.Louis to the City Foundry STL food hall,serving an atlas-worth of goodies.The city is also investing in its infrastructure,especially as it pursues meetings and events once more.The AC Next Gen project

267、that will update and expand the Americas Center Convention Complex downtown should be open early next year,improving the#17 Convention Center ranking.The new CityPark soccer stadium adds to the reinvigorated downtown,as does the non-motorized Brickline Greenway that connects city parks and pays trib

268、ute to some 20,000 residents of the largely Black community of Mill Creek Valley who were forced from their homes in 1959 for a freeway.The citys#19-ranked walkability will improve as a result.POPULATIONPOPULATIONPOPULATIONMetro 3,194,000Metro 1,255,000Metro 2,814,000Outdoors AttractionsBiking Inter

269、net AccessFacebook Check-ins Convention Center133915917PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTS32AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT202426San JoseCalifornia27DetroitMichigan28CharlestonSouth CarolinaTalent,smarts and money empower its citizens to be bold with recovery.As the global

270、 heart of innovation and the urban center of Silicon Valley,San Jose easily makes it into the Top 10 in our overall Prosperity index.Topping economically vital subcategories like University(Stanford),Educational Attainment and Patents(second only to NYC)will have that effect.Its all possible because

271、 of San Joses moat:2,500 high-tech companies in and around town.Its institutional prosperity is perhaps most obvious in the bounty of universities that are performance drivers all on their own,creating symbiotic integrations with local tech companies and providing funding and training unlike anywher

272、e else.Given the optimal conditions of a lauded,coveted school and the on-ramp it provides to jobs in the city,San Jose will need to develop its talent pipeline more than ever.According to recent Brookings Institution research,Silicon Valley lost nearly 1,400 senior tech workers in the two years lea

273、ding up to 2023,and the ongoing layoffs and hiring freezes that followed,along with employee expectation to work from home(aka:not in pricey San Jose),further threaten the talent pool.Just consider that the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex gained 30,000 during those same two years.The prospect of high-sp

274、eed rail to San Francisco and throughout California has never mattered more to access new talent.Americas comeback story is writing its next chapter.Detroit has been on top of the worldfrom its role as“the arsenal of democracy”to the 1950s when Motor City revvedand in its depths during the 90s and e

275、arly 2000s.But the rebirth buzz of recent years is blooming all over the city,with approximately$7 billion in investment driving 200+projects that are ongoing or recently completed,seen in places like the redevelopment of the historic Eastern Market,with its massive food halls and office space.More

276、recently,Michigan Central,a gorgeous former Beaux-Arts train station,just reopened as a transportation research lab thats also a destination with community spaces,culinary concepts and locally focused shops.Motor City is also thinking beyond the car,with vital infrastructure like the 6.6-mile QLINE

277、streetcar loop connecting the Woodward Corridor.This year,the citys vital Motown Museum shows off a$65-million reno with expanded performance spaces,enhanced interactivity and a school.Watch for Detroits#44 ranking in our Culture subcategory to rise.Work on the$240-million,27.5-mile Joe Louis Greenw

278、ay is in full swing and will improve Detroits#58 Outdoors ranking.So will the newly completed 2.5-mile riverfront promenade that gives seamless access to the 982-acre Belle Isle parkland.Also opening in 2024 is 685-foot The Tower at Hudsons Detroit,the citys second-tallest building,featuring residen

279、ces,hotel,retail,and offices.Few U.S.cities are as revered as the Holy City.A beguiling fusion of early U.S.colonial-built environment and coastal transition landscapesgolden islands,channels and marshesCharleston is one of North Americas most architecturally significant destinations,drawing design

280、pilgrims and sharing its own,too(artist Shepard Fairey is a local).The city continues to cement its place on elevated travel itineraries and in the hearts of investors.Theres the new Moxy Charleston Downtown,joining devoutly local The Palmetto in the French Quarter,and the boutique,family-friendly T

281、he Pinch(with a kitchen in each room).The citys smitten locals and tourists drive up its overall Lovability index ranking to#22 in the country,led by its#11 ranking in our Museums subcategory.The newest and most important is the$100-million International African American Museum on the former site of

282、 Gadsdens Wharf,the horrific disembarkation point into American slavery for an estimated 30,000 African people over centuriesthe largest such port in the country.It illuminates the influential,underreported histories of Africans and their descendants in South Carolina,highlighting their diasporic co

283、nnections throughout the nation and the world.A new genealogy center helps visitors research their own history.POPULATIONPOPULATIONPOPULATIONMetro 1,982,000Metro 4,376,000Metro 803,000University Educational AttainmentConvention Center PatentsOutdoors Museums18711111PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER

284、HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTS33AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT202429HonoluluHawaii30CharlotteNorth Carolina31PittsburghPennsylvaniaAn urban paradise blooms quickly.Few U.S.cities cratered economically more than Honolulu during COVID,and the citys tourism economy fights on,grappling with a 50%drop in

285、Japanese visitors as a result of their weaker currency,the lingering pall of the tragic Maui wildfires and persistently high interest rates that are keeping vacation home investment subdued.However,its not all gloomy.Six new hotels opened over the past year,following earlier high-profile openings li

286、ke the iconic Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resorts new cultural center as part of its$80-million refresh,as well as the Wayfinder Waikiki in the quieter Ala Wai Canal area.The buzziest this year is the Renaissance Honolulu Hotel&Spa,a stunning 39-story luxe sanctuary outside of the Waikiki tourist d

287、istrict,just steps to the Ala Moana Center.The citys top spot in our Outdoors subcategory seems secure,with built attractions continuing to roll on,like the LineUp at Wai Kai,just west of downtown:its the states first man-made deepwater standing wave,with bars,restaurants and family attractions.Gran

288、der still is the 98-acre New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District,to be built on the University of Hawaiis old stadium grounds in Hlawa.A new,25,000-seat multi-use stadium is part of the plan.Affluent,easy to love and bursting with southern charm.Americas Old South is up to new tricks in Charlotte,a

289、 global banking powerhouse(the second-most important in the U.S.after New York)and ranked#18 in our Fortune 500 subcategory.All that productivity comes with relative housing affordability,and combined with the seventh-most connected airport in the U.S.,its no wonder the city finished in the Top 20 i

290、n our overall Prosperity index.Charlotte is building on the good thing it has going:the already walkable downtown recently extended its east-to-west hybrid streetcar system that runs an impressive four miles over 17 stops.The city is continuing to invest in massive projects like the medical school c

291、ampus and an innovation district called The Pearl,funded by Atrium Health and Wake Forest Baptist26 acres in Midtown that will help position Charlotte as a destination for research and innovation and create thousands of jobs this decade alone.But with 1,000 apartments,a hotel,restaurants and bars,th

292、e project will be a destination,too.As will a former Sears department store that reopened in 2022 as the Visual and Performing Arts Center,a new home to dozens of galleries,studios,theaters and classrooms.Good things brewing.You want a balanced hometown?Welcome to Steel City,finishing#30 for Lovabil

293、ity,#31 for Livability and#32 for Prosperity in our three pillars this year.Theres a storied sports scene thats tied for a#17 for Pro Sports(and the sports tourism that contributes more than a billion dollars annually in visitor spending),and a legacy of culture embodied in the#23-ranked museums,inc

294、luding one dedicated to local son Warhol with a new six-block Pop District and another to the steel industry,called Rivers of Steel.Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center power the citys#16 University ranking and an overall sense of practicality and stewardship(a reason why

295、urbanist and author Richard Florida launched his career here).New Pittsburgh residents often marvel at the citys joyful walkability(#24),440 bridges and hills made more fun by Mount Washingtons funicularsthe last such operating inclines in America and remnants of a system that once contained 17 arou

296、nd the city.Pittsburgh Brewing is writing the citys next sudsy chapter with a 42-acre destination site along the Allegheny River in an 1883 complex.Meanwhile,Pittsburgh International Airports new$1.4-billion terminal should open next year.POPULATIONPOPULATIONPOPULATIONMetro 1,010,000Metro 2,669,000M

297、etro 2,366,000Outdoors CultureAirport Connectivity Professional Sports TeamsFortune 500 University171581716PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTS34AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT202432San AntonioTexas33BaltimoreMaryland34ColumbusOhioAn urban utopia blooms tactically in Texas.

298、The genius of San Antonio is its stewardship of its greatest urban attraction:the River Walk.The pedestrian promenade along the San Antonio River,extended from three to 15 miles a decade ago,is a scenic link that connects self-propelled citizens and visitors with the city.On one end theres the San A

299、ntonio Missions National Historical Park,the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texasrecently enhanced with the new Alamo Exhibition Hall&Collections Building as well as this falls new World Heritage Center.On the other,the San Antonio Zooand,in between,the San Antonio Museum of Art,the Texas Golf H

300、all of Fame and dozens of eclectic stops.No wonder the city ranks#6 in our Attractions subcategory,just one of the performance metrics elevating the citys performance and visitors for years to come.The firehose of openings includes the circa 1949 Alameda Theater next year after a massive$37-million

301、reno to become the largest performance venue in the U.S.focusing on Latino performing arts,with a capacity of up to 1,500.Just make sure to leave time to feast in one of Americas two UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy and its#14-ranked restaurants.Historic subtleties and educated citizenry make fo

302、r a captivating hometown tapping its strategic assets.Less than an hours commute from Washington,D.C.,Baltimore offers a slower pace of life and significantly cheaper housing than the hyper-charged capital.But the window to buy into one of Baltimores diverse,historic communities is closing fasthome

303、prices in the city reached a 10-year record high a year into the pandemic and are up 10%year over year.Yet the citys beguiling urban pockets and dipping crime rates continue to attract visitors and curious potential residents seeking unvarnished American urbanism and some of the countrys best museum

304、s(ranked#15 nationally).The tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in March that killed six shook the community,but in typical Baltimore resilience container ships were back serving the regions vital port a month later.The city marches on,with years of placemaking investment blooming in South Balt

305、imores industrial Warner Street district(since rebranded to The Walk Warner Street),with plans for a new entertainment district between M&T Bank Stadium and Horseshoe Casino Baltimore being implemented.The city also boasts the 15th-most educated residents in the U.S.,partially the result of Johns Ho

306、pkins University,which ranks#6 in our University subcategory and is also Baltimores largest employer.A Midwest masterpiece is climbing.Ohios capital and largest city is one of Americas fastest-growing placesan economic powerhouse thats also home to Ohio State University(#23 in our University subcate

307、gory).And Buckeye football isnt the universitys only contribution to the local economy:with more OSU graduates deciding to stay in town,Columbus is an emerging tech mecca with a thriving arts scene.The city is buoyed by a growing number of startups,as well as by top employer Ohio State and a Top 25

308、ranking for Fortune 500s(including Nationwide Mutual Insurance and L Brands).Urban reuse and development are everywhere,from small bets on branding retail strips like the new Common Thread fashion district to doubling down on fortifying historic places,such as the Trolley District with its craft bre

309、weries and restaurants.Columbus is suddenly a food town,too,with newly opened Hiraeth,run by 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist Chef BJ Lieberman.The Peninsula neighborhood is a new-build destination anchored by the 198-room Makeready property called The Junto,stacked with 13,000 square feet of eve

310、nt and meeting space,restaurants and cafs.Last year,nearby Quarry Trails Park opened the countrys first urban via ferrataa style of fixed-rope and rung climbing.POPULATIONPOPULATIONPOPULATIONMetro 2,571,000Metro 2,840,000Metro 2,137,000Attractions RestaurantsUniversity Sights&LandmarksCost of Living

311、 Internet Access6619141120PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTS35AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT202435PortlandMaine36MilwaukeeWisconsin37TucsonArizonaUnder the radar and on top of a warming world.It may be Maines largest city,but at just over half a million people,the other

312、Portland is the smallest city to rank so highly in our Top 100.It offers a special blend of post-pandemic urban attributes:local shopping and culture(ranking#9 for both),smart people(#12 for Educational Attainment),a rich biking network(also#12)and natural endowment(#16 for Outdoors)the latter two p

313、owering its impressive#28 finish in our overall Livability index.Expect to hear more about“Forest City”soon,given local investment and,um,more global factors.Lets start macro:The New York Times cited numerous climate change experts that chose Portland as a highly resilient city,not prone to seawater

314、 flooding(its elevated),air pollution(remote!)or wildfires,with plenty of fresh,clean water.The city is building for the coming climate migrants(or at least the WFH ones)and is undergoing unprecedented development,led by the Old Ports Portland Foreside,the largest development project the city has se

315、en in decades,to be completed by 2026.The mixed-use neighborhood will house 60 businesses and 600 homes in a 10-acre,eight-block district where trains were built for more than a century.Milwaukee is rebuilding as an honest hometown for everyone.Milwaukee threads the needle on post-pandemic magnetism

316、,offering economic opportunity courtesy of its Fortune 500 companies(#24)and urban authenticity with big-city excitement.Located on Americas third coast,Wisconsins largest city combines cherished traditions and open arms(and,with a median home price of$185,000,housing affordability,although thats up

317、 almost 16%year over year,according to Point2).It celebrates its beer heritage and a vibrant farm-to-table culinary scenebuilt from a century of feeding and brewing for a continent.Try the Milwaukee Public Market for a quick bite,or The Wolf on Broadway for an indulgent one.Plans to expand the downt

318、own Milwaukee convention center are proceeding,building on a downtown renewal kickstarted by the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons in 2017,Fiserv Forum(home of the NBA Bucks)in 2018 and the BMO Tower.The big news is Bronzeville,a vibrant African American district from the early 1900s that was bu

319、lldozed in the 1960s for freeway construction(and racist urban policy).Local organizations have brought Black-owned enterprises back,with the reopening of Americas Black Holocaust Museum in 2022 drawing praise and even more curious touristsand prospective talentfor years to come.Arizonas second city

320、 is ascending fast,with bold city leadership and placemaking.Fast-growing Tucson is getting its sun-kissed,well-toned arms around its distinct sense of place.Take its unique culinary attributes:Americas first UNESCO City of Gastronomy boasts citizens like Barrio Breads James Beard Award-winning Don

321、Guerra,who serves up baked perfection using locally grown heritage grains,and local favorites like Borderlands Brewing retooling its hefeweizen with white Sonora wheat.Buzzy newcomers are also launching locally first,whether its BATA(where 90%of ingredients are sourced within 400 miles of your table

322、)or openings by Maria Mazon,of Top Chef fame,whose BOCA Tacos y Tequila has long been required eating.Tucsons#48 Restaurants ranking will rise once word spreads.Local stewardship has also embraced Tucsons urban bounty,especially with the 150-acre Barrio Viejo neighborhood,sprinkled with Pueblo Reviv

323、al architecture dating back to the 1800s.New creative businesses occupy the historic buildings;the iconic 109-year-old Teatro Carmen should reopen by 2026(which will bolster Tucsons already impressive#16 Culture ranking);and there are whispers that a National Historic Landmark designation for the di

324、strict is imminent.Saguaro National Park is a 25-minute drive away and was recently certified as one of nine global Urban Night Sky Places.POPULATIONPOPULATIONPOPULATIONMetro 553,000Metro 1,569,000Metro 1,042,000Culture ShoppingAverage Rent Fortune 500Museums Outdoors9141492415PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTS

325、PLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTSPLACE POWER HIGHLIGHTS36AMERICAS BEST CITIES REPORT202438RaleighNorth Carolina39MadisonWisconsin40ClevelandOhioA booming economy and a global intellect poise this Carolina powerhouse for the future.The City of Oaks is part of North Carolinas Research Triangle,one of the country

326、s largest and most successful research parksthink high-tech and biotech,along with advanced textile development.The city also boasts three major research universities,which supply a pipeline of young,cheap,brilliant talent that ranks#6 for Educational Attainment nationally.Is it any wonder,then,that

327、 Apple recently announced a$1-billion,281-acre Raleigh campus that will open later this decade?Forecasts indicate it will house more than 3,000 employees.Good thing,too,because new arrivals are increasingly drawn to Raleigh for its affordable housing(although ascendant with a median average now of$4

328、34,741,according to Point2),and the city ranks#28 in our Cost of Living subcategory.With all the potential residents pouring into town to try before they buy,exciting hotel openings are plentiful,from long-stay focused Tempo by Hilton Raleigh Downtown to the new Kimpton opening in late 2025.Placemak

329、ing matters here,too.The one-acre North Carolina Freedom Park just opened in the heart of downtown,honoring the African American struggle for liberty.Raleighs already improving Sights&Landmarks ranking(#39)will keep climbing as a result.This oft-cited example of livability,job creation and millennia

330、l magnetism checks all the boxes.Madisons enviable position as both capital of Wisconsin and the site of the states largest university(ranked#21 in the nation)has certainly fueled its livability in all manner of rankings.(For the record,its Top 30 in our overall Livability index.)The city is firing

331、on all cylinders,buoyed by high-paying work thats long evolved from academia and public service to splinter into ascendant tech startups and satellite offices eager to recruit U of W talent in healthcare,IT and manufacturing.all amid an unprecedented talent shortage.Case in pointMadison gained more

332、technology sector jobs in the first year of the pandemic than in the prior half decade,according to a report by Brookings Institution.The employment boom is powering Madison to#39 in our overall Prosperity index.Even big dogs like American Family Insurance have arrived in town,lured by its smarts(#8

333、 for Educational Attainment)and relative,but fleeting,housing affordability(with median home prices up almost 19%year over year,according to Point2).The ability to get around without paying for a car might help the citys cause:it ties at#15 for Biking,powered by its 200 miles of bike trails.Where second-tier-city cool meets affordability.Few American cities boast a rebirth story like Clevelands.Fi