Best Cities

U.S. News and World Report selects "15 Cities for People Who Hate Driving and Long Commutes," choosing the cities with shorter than average commuting times and high percentages of non-auto commuters.

Forbes Magazine jumps into the fray once again with their list of "America's Safest Cities." Violent crime, workplace deaths, fatal crashes and natural disasters are all a part of the data considered.

A new book edited by John Julius Norwich with that title selects the 68 cities that have made the most impact on history. The Wall St. Journal has a review.

A lot has changed since February, so Builder Magazine has revised its list of the Top 10 Housing Markets in the country for 2009. The Bottom 10 are, of course, also featured.

The Wall St. Journal assembled a panel to determine which cities will be the next 'youth-magnets,' using factors like economic diversity and lifestyle to make their selections. Number one? A tie between Washington, D.C. and Seattle.

Here's another way to rank your city- the Society of American Travel Writers surveyed their members on the Top 10 cities to see live music. New Orleans comes in over Austin, home of the famed SXSW festival.

U.S. News and World Report looks at crime rates, schools, number of children and green spaces to compile this list of the 10 Best Places to Grow Up.

The NRDC reveals the most sustainable large, medium and small cities in the U.S., after an extensive evaluation based on air quality, energy production and conservation, environmental standards, recycling and many more criteria.

The New Economics Foundation's "Happy Planet Index" shows that Costa Ricans use fewer resources and lead happier lives than the rest of the world.

The Christian Science Monitor reports on America's fastest-growing cities, many of which were slow to feel the effects of the recession and hope to use their momentum to push through it.

Kiplinger's picks its 2009 Best Cities list, and in this tough economy decides to put the emphasis on job creation and stability. Number one? Huntsville, Alabama.

The League of American Bicyclists has released their Spring 2009 list of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the U.S. Davis, CA is one of only three cities given Platinum status, along with Portland, OR and Boulder, CO.

The 2009 Mercer Quality of Living Survey is dominated by Swiss, German and Austrian cities, while Vancouver hangs on to fourth place, the only city in the Americas to crack the top 10.

Green Living magazine gives kudos to Canada's leading cities in terms of energy, water, density and bike-friendliness.

Though typically centered in bigger cities, this piece from Business Week looks at the best small cities to locate startup businesses in every state.

Canadians are impressed by USA Today's rave review of their city last week, but the CBC says that its not all wine and roses in Vancouver.

Builder Magazine selects 15 picks for the best housing markets to be in in the U.S. in 2009. Houston, Texas comes out on top, and, predictably, Detroit scrapes the bottom.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has released their annual dozen 'distinctive destinations', vacation spots that rank high in authenticity, beauty, and of course, preservation. Franklin, Tennessee is one of the lesser-known locales.

CNN argues that the best cities to find a job right now aren't the usual suspects. Using low unemployment rates as their guide, the network points to Bismark, ND, Casper, WY, and Logan, UT as jobhunting meccas.

Bicycling Magazine has ranked U.S. cities in terms of air quality, bike infrastructure, and the number of other bikes on the road.