re: What city in the United States is the best place to live?

Tough question to answer. For me, “best” place to live has to take into consideration COL and climate. Portland and Bangor, Maine are both incredible during the summer but they would be absolutely hell in the winter. Parts of California are great but COL just makes it so undesirable to me. “Best” place to live also means that it leaves you with enough money to live in a nice home, and enough for things to do. Best place also depends on your distance from other desirable places; able to be traveled to on a weekend.

That being said;

Spokane, Washington
-couple hours from Seattle without Seattle COL. Very reasonable
-very beautiful and scenic
-Mid-sized city with plenty to do.
-Almost no culcha



Flagstaff, Arizona
-within driving distance to Vegas, Pheonix, SoCal, Mountains of Colorado, etc
-mountain town with very scenic landscape
-small town feel
-lots of outdoor types
-breweries and things to do




Chattanooga, Tennessee
-LOW COL
-Beautiful scenery that allows for outdoor activity
-no state income tax (huge one for me)
-within driving distance to family here in La, the gulf coast, the Atlantic coast, Asheville, Atlanta, Nashville, etc
-rapidly growing, diverse economy
-big but not huge town. Still feels small.