You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Wed, May 5, 2010 : 4:35 p.m.

Ann Arbor nation's fourth most livable city, according to Forbes

By Erica Hobbs

Ann Arbor is the nation’s fourth most livable city, according to Forbes.

Forbes analyzed the country’s 200 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas and measured them according to five data points: unemployment, crime, income growth, the cost of living, and artistic and cultural opportunities.

One of Ann Arbor’s strongest features, like many other cities that made the list, is that it is a college town.

Downtown-ann-arbor.jpg

"Universities are large employers in their cities," Alexander Von Hoffman, senior fellow at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, said in the article. "In the long term, not only do you have that employment, but you have an educated population, and you have a large youthful population which tends to be a consuming population."

Pittsburgh, Penn., ranked first, followed by Odgen-Clearfield, Utah, Provo-Orem, Utah, and Ann Arbor in fourth place.

For complete list and article, click here.

Comments

jcj

Fri, May 7, 2010 : 6:15 p.m.

David Briegel I was sure nobody could get that ornery without being old. Am I right?

David Briegel

Fri, May 7, 2010 : 3:46 p.m.

jcj, who you callin' old?

jcj

Fri, May 7, 2010 : 7:47 a.m.

@David Briegel I knew sooner or later we would agree on something! I have been in A2 most of my life and I think it is a great place to live. Despite all the ornery old liberals.

a2dancelady

Thu, May 6, 2010 : 10:25 p.m.

cynicA2: There must be something you like about A2... otherwise why do you live here?

CynicA2

Thu, May 6, 2010 : 7:42 p.m.

I want some of whatever they are smoking at "Forbes" - must be really great stuff to create such profound delusions and outright hallucinations. I'm sure it would sell here in A2!... oops! I think it already has!

Anonymous Due to Bigotry

Thu, May 6, 2010 : 5:34 p.m.

I welcome other viewpoints, but only from rational people not the types who treat their political beliefs like a religion and have no ability to back them with logic. I feel like there are too many of later in this town and the U spawns them like Oral Roberts University spawns equally illogical people with a different set of beliefs. The irrational noise-making fundamentalist members of a political belief religion are really no less annoying than the the irrational noise-making fundamentalist members of any other religion. If nothing else I wish they'd make less noise.

Smiley

Thu, May 6, 2010 : 7:33 a.m.

I've lived in several desireable places around the country, and a few around the world, and it's very difficult to match Ann Arbor's quality of living. I'm pretty fiscally conservative, but I love Ann Arbor's liberals. Makes for a thought provoking community.

David Briegel

Thu, May 6, 2010 : 12:55 a.m.

I'm certain the naysayers would love Texas or Misssissippi! My grandparents and all subsequent members of my family were born here and I love it despite the ornery old curmudgeons who don't agree! I hear Jackson and Flat Rock are great!!

threeonethird

Thu, May 6, 2010 : midnight

Considering Pissburgh was #1, no wonder AA was on the list.

logo

Wed, May 5, 2010 : 10:45 p.m.

Good point Wago but A2 wins a lot these awards. Seems better to win them than not. Unless of course one is part of the crowd that wants to bar the door and keep anyone else from coming here.

Snow

Wed, May 5, 2010 : 10:06 p.m.

One Top-10 List's Leader Is Another's Also-Ran By CARL BIALIK http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704302304575214791145457742.html

b master b

Wed, May 5, 2010 : 5:18 p.m.

love Ann Arbor, hate the loud mouthed liberals

RhondaM

Wed, May 5, 2010 : 4:11 p.m.

I was born and raised here and am now raising my children here! We love Ann Arbor!!!

Dalouie

Wed, May 5, 2010 : 3:56 p.m.

Congratulations to Ann Arbor. This is another in a long string of very high rankings over the last several years. A great place to live!