December 2022

So, you’ve lived in Minnesota all of your life, but you’re ready for a change?

Do you want the ambiance of safe living in a large city with the feel, affordability, and safety of living in a small town? Then, you might want to look at a lesser-known city like Arlington, TX or Pittsburgh, PA. 

Here are three awesome cities that fly under the radar. We think you will agree, these are cities worth exploring.

Example of How We Rate a City: Arlington, TX

What makes a city a good place to live? We look at the following criteria before we endorse a city:

• • Cost of living

• • Educational facilities

• • Diversity of the population

• Entertainment

Cost of living

The cost of living in Arlington is lower than most major cities in the United States. The single factor that makes the cost of living higher than other cities in Texas is the price of home ownership. However, Arlington is a very nice city to live in and many people bypass that hurdle by living in a luxury apartment in Arlington Apartments.

Opting for apartment living reduces the monthly cost of living. When you factor in the maintenance of keeping a home while you are building your career, your cost of living is much lower. There is no such thing as free money, but you can certainly try to make things easier on yourself!

Education

Arlington comes in the top 200 public schools in the United States. Many of Arlington’s residents are furthering their education at the University of Texas Arlington or one of the 36 colleges and universities that are within a 50-mile radius of Arlington Center. There are 2-year and 4-year schools as well as trade schools.

Diversity of population

There are 392,787 people living in Arlington. Across the board the diversity of people is close to equal. The three primary races that make up the numbers are White people, 39.8%, Hispanic people, 29.7% and Black people 35.3%.

There is a significant number of people in their mid-30’s but, with a student body of more than 10,000 people at University of Texas, there is a large population of people in their early adult years.

Entertainment

Arlington is the home of Globe Life Park Baseball stadium and the A.T.&T. Football stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys.) This is just two sports stadiums in Arlington. There are many more. So if you love sports, you will love Arlington.

Arlington features Six Flags of Texas amusement park. While this park is the most popular, it is by far not the only amusement center in the city. Click here for a list of the top 10 amusement parks in the area.

Due to the fact that Arlington if just a few miles from Dallas, there are many world-class museums, art galleries, and a booming nightlife.

If you are a person who loves fine dining, you will love this city. Try Restaurant 506 if you want great American food. Chamas Do Brazil is the place to go for Brazilian Steak. One of our favorites is Taste of Europe. They serve Polish, Russian, and Eastern European food.

There are plenty of restaurants that features every type of food from Asian to Greek. There are many family-style restaurants and of course, every kind of fast food you can imagine.

Charlotte, NC

If you want to live in the most upcoming city in the United States, you need to head to Charlotte. There are many reasons why Charlotte is so popular. You can describe Charlotte in one word; diversity!

Industry

Charlotte is the melting pot. Industry is drawn to the area because it is a hub. This makes it easy and profitable to produce and distribute product in Charlotte. Of course, where there is industry, there are employees. Employment is available, as is housing, and public transportation.

Education

There are 40 colleges and universities within 25 miles of Charlotte, including University of North Carolina. The NCES rates the 2 and 4-year colleges have the highest education rate in the country.

There are 113 public schools and 128 private schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district. Charlotte has above average ratings in their overall

Diversity of population

Charlotte has a diverse population. There are 45% white, 35% black, and hispanic, asian, Native American and many other ethnic groups are represented.

Entertainment

Charlotte is well known for their museum’s variety of world-famous collections of art. However, there are many more museums in this beautiful city. Enjoy science, history, discovery, and racing museums. Click here for more information and details.

Charlotte is breathtakingly beautiful. It draws nature lovers and adventurers. There are nature hikes and trails for every level of hiker.

The entire family will enjoy the theme parks that feature the highest roller coaster in the country and the largest man-made white-water river. Motor sports are very popular and they are the home of the motorsports hall of fame.

Enjoy high-end restaurants that feature gourmet food from around the world, family dining, and plenty of fast-food venues near the activity centers.

Safety

North Carolina is a very safe city, and especially for drivers in the US. GoodHire recently ranked North Carolina as the 14th safest state in America for driving.

Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh is a historical city in the western part of the state of Pennsylvania. When you think of Pittsburgh, three things come to mind. They are history, traditional and modern art, and the Pittsburgh Steelers football team.

There are many other attributes of this city. Let’s look at a few of them.

Education

According to research done by Niche.com sites that Pittsburgh schools at every level score very highly.

There are 29 colleges and universities within the greater Pittsburgh area. The top college for 2018 and 2019 is Carnegie Mellon University. There are also many trade schools. No matter what path one chooses to take, they can get the education they need to succeed.

Students report that Pittsburgh is a safe area, and the diversified student body gives them a unique opportunity to meet people of different cultures.

Cost of living

It may surprise you to know that Pittsburgh is rated as one of the most affordable cities to live in. The city is beautiful. It is built where three rivers join. Their reputation for historic sites and art make us immediately associate the city with money.

Commerce is alive and well in Pittsburgh. They have a massive and impressive list of corporations, so jobs are plentiful. They have an unemployment rate of only 3.9%. Housing is not a problem.

Entertainment

As mentioned there is a large network of various types of museums. Sports are big in Pittsburgh with football being the top of the heap. The diverse citizens contribute to the many types of foods you can enjoy at every level.

With the colleges and universities in the city, there are plenty of young adults who want to party. Pittsburgh has a thriving and exciting nightlife. Whether you want to throw back a few beers with the guys or go for wine and dancing, it is available to you.

All in all, Pittsburgh fits comfortably into our top three places to live.

Other cities that made our list

Based on the same criteria, here is a list of other cities around the country that we consider to be on this level. We encourage you to do your own research. Plan a trip to a city that you are interested in and go for it. Don’t go by what other people say. Gather your information based on what you are interested in. You will not be disappointed.

• • St. Louis, Missouri

• • Kansas City, Missouri

• • Lafayette, Louisiana

• • Syracuse, New York

Final thoughts

There are good attributes and bad in every city. Based on our research, any of these cities have a lot to offer. We encourage you to do your research. We recommend you start with this list. You may find exactly what you are looking for.