Q&A USA

9. San Francisco, California

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Population: 4,466,251

Median annual salary: $64,990

Quality of life: 6.6

Overall value: 5.3

A local expert described San Francisco as “the heart of the bohemian lifestyle, the epicenter of the LGBT rights movement, and the launching point of the technology era.” In the last decade, thousands of tech companies have raced to set up shop in the Bay Area, sending the cost of living through the roof. But despite all the focus on the tech and startup scene, the city also has plenty of business jobs available with more than 30 international finance headquarters.

8. Washington DC

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Population: 5,863,608

Median annual salary: $64,930

Quality of life: 6.5

Overall value: 7.3

The District’s neighborhoods each give off their own vibe, but across the city residents often “gather for block parties, mingle at dog parks, and converse at coffee shops,” explained a local expert. While Washington DC is known as a hub for politics, there’s also a strong job market for education and health services.

7. Seattle, Washington

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Population: 3,557,037

Median annual salary: $57,370

Quality of life: 6.3

Overall value: 6.0

Seattle is sandwiched between water and mountains and doesn’t get as much rain as you’d think, said one local expert. The city’s residents are drawn to the area for its atmosphere of “calm and patience” and its close proximity to nature. Jobs in Seattle are concentrated in tech, healthcare, and maritime industries, but the city is also a huge manufacturing center for companies like Boeing.

6. Boise, Idaho

Flickr/Charles Knowles

Population: 639,616

Median annual salary: $41,550

Quality of life: 7.5

Overall value: 7.5

Idaho’s capital city is “a recreationalist’s paradise,” according to one local expert, who also said Boise sits “squarely on the boundary of urban and rural, civilized and wild, refined and raw.” The region is home to more than 22,000 Boise State University students and provides jobs at government agencies as well as in tech and healthcare.

5. Colorado Springs, Colorado

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Population: 669,070

Median annual salary: $46,520

Quality of life: 6.5

Overall value: 7.6

Colorado Springs is “booming, with new residences popping up alongside quality schools, parks, and cultural attractions,” touts a local expert. The city is just an hour drive from Denver and in close proximity to Aspen and Vail’s world-class ski resorts. Military jobs influence Colorado Springs' culture and economy, but jobs are also available in medical innovation and tech.

4. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina

Wikipedia

Population: 1,714,629

Median annual salary: $47,430

Quality of life: 7.4

Overall value: 6.9

Raleigh-Durham and Chapel Hill are collectively known as the Triangle, an area anchored by its foundation in research and tech. The Triangle employs nearly 40,000 residents at companies like IBM, SAS Institute Inc., and Cisco Systems as well as surrounding colleges Duke, North Carolina State, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A strong job market coupled with a burgeoning microbrewery and dining scene draws 80 new residents every day, said a local expert.

3. Fayetteville, Arkansas

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Population: 483,396

Median annual salary: $42,410

Quality of life: 7.4

Overall value: 9.1

Fayetteville sits among the Ozark Mountains and is home to the University of Arkansas’ flagship campus. The surrounding area of northwest Arkansas is home to headquarters for seven Fortune 500 companies including Walmart and Tyson Foods. The city has experienced immense growth, according to a local expert, who said the region has evolved "from a small town to a center of higher education, culture, commerce, and entrepreneurialism.” 

2. Austin, Texas

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Population: 1,835,016

Median annual salary: $48,150

Quality of life: 7.2

Overall value: 6.5

The capital of Texas gains about 50 new residents daily, many seeking out the city’s “music, outdoor spaces, and cultural institutions,” said a local expert. Austin is beloved for its live music scene and is host to some of the country's biggest music and culture festivals, including South by Southwest and Austin City Limits. The city was nicknamed "Silicon Hills" in the 1990s for its status as "among the top areas for venture capital investment in the country."

1. Denver, Colorado

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Population: 2,651,392

Median annual salary: $53,060

Quality of life: 6.9

Overall value: 7.4

While Denver sits at the base of the Rocky Mountains, it’s not considered a mountain town since it takes at least an hour to get to the Rockies for snowboarding and ski activities, a local expert explained. At 5,279 feet, the Mile High City lives up to its name in more ways than one: In 2012, Colorado legalized recreational marijuana, paving the way for a flourishing and lucrative cannabis industry.

<출처: Business Insider>