How the Best Places Search Tool Works

I find that the criteria used to choose these places just doesn't work for everyone. I am a single 40-something working professional who lives between Baltimore and Washington and I wouldn't dream of living anywhere else. Why should I care how close I am to some major university? I finished school long ago and have no intentions of going back. While I agree a low crime rate is important - and Baltimore/DC do have a relatively high crime rate - I've been here 16 years and never once encountered crime on a personal level. To me, it's a matter of picking a safe area to live in - every city has its share of decent safe suburbs and personally I prefer to live in a demographically heterogeneous area where you aren't going to have a great risk for high crime. And since I don't have any kids, why should I care if there are tons of kids around? To me, that equals higher taxes because of the need for more schools. And while climate is important, I personally think I could live most anywhere. Sure, I wouldn't want to live in Siberia or likewise at the Equator or someplace where it rains 350 days a year but no matter where you go, something isn't going to be quite right. In the end, I feel it's all about where you can get the best job - after all, you spend most of your waking day working - and make the most of the free time you do have. "Home" means different things to different people and you know in your heart where it is - it's where you feel you belong, where your friends and roots are and where you truly wnat to be. You can't rely on some quiz to tell you this!

David Larson of MD 7:00AM June 10, 2009

I admit the following criteria are idiosyncratic, but they are important to me. I would add these:

1. I am a world traveler, and it is important to be close to a major international airport, with world-wide connections, in my case LAX. I can usually go one-stop to most of the countries in the world. For example, I recently went to Kyrgyzstan, one stop on Aeroflot via Moscow, then to Bishkek. Or to Hanoi, one stop on Cathay Pacific via HK. When my return flight arrives at LAX, I am basically home.

2. I am an arts lover, e.g., ballet, chamber music, opera, museums, etc. We have a lot in the Los Angeles/Orange County area. But where that doesn't suffice, I get a non-stop to New York. I go 3 or 4 times a year there, for the imcomparable arts scene (and many other attractions). At least 3 nearby airports offer non-stops to New York.

3. When home, I run every morning. 10K. Weather never obstructs. Could I say this in, for example, La Crosse?

Roger of CA 7:23PM June 09, 2009

Have you not watched old episodes of cops? Every single episode was filmed in Albuquerque until Mayor Chavez banned it. The crime here is unbelievable and yes there are nice places but also dirt poor ghetto local places.

Joe of NM 6:09PM June 09, 2009

Durham instead of Raleigh or Asheville? Your criteria is sketchy at best. Durham is a town of terrible racial strife, crime, and constant townies versus gownies. The locals HATE the Duke University elite, and barely tolerate the stuck-up brats who arrive in Daddy's car to attend Duke, but look down their noses at the old textile town they temporarily call home and the locals. Of course, it's also home to fat farms galore, so there you have the singles scene. Research Triangle Park is in the middle of nowhere, not in the town of Durham. Please actually visit the places you recommend!

Alex Hope of SC 5:27PM June 09, 2009