The best city to live?

Chicago...some of the most strict gun laws in the nation and still had more than 500 murders in 2012. Three murders already in 2013. Don't go to Chicago like Venus de Milo...unarmed.

Baltimore, Md but im biased lol

I lived in Baltimore (actually right outside, but still) for 3 years. I liked it well enough. There was always plenty to do - New Years in the Harbor was something my wife and I enjoyed doing.

But we ultimately moved back to WV, because of being close to friends and family. I worked a lesser job for lesser money for a few years in order to make things work, and we struggled - but I think neither one of us regret moving back. So, try out Atlanta, for the nice job - or try Chicago... eventually your heart will lead you to whatever city you should call home.

I grew up in suburban NJ, about halfway between NYC and Philly, so I spent a lot of time in both cities (and a lot of time in suburban NJ, of course). I then went to college in Philadelphia, so I lived there for four years. After college, I lived outside of Detroit for three years and then in Ann Arbor, MI for another two years. Then I moved with my fiance/now-husband to the suburbs of Atlanta for two years (he's from GA originally), after which point we moved to Charleston, SC and never looked back.

NJ - crowded, expensive

NYC - great if you like city living, but expensive

Philly - also great if you like city living, more affordable than NYC, NYC is only a train ride away if you feel like going there for anything, lots of neat history, you feel like there's more of a community than there is in NYC (kind of like Boston in that way)

Detroit/Ann Arbor - I just don't recommend Michigan - SO cold, and winter is SO long, though the summers are gorgeous - however you pretty much need to either have a boat or know someone with a boat to enjoy the water

Atlanta - even though I didn't work downtown, traffic was HORRIBLE - my office was 11 miles from my house, but it was at least an hour each way - didn't feel any different than, say, living in NJ or suburban Detroit, apart from the weather, which is INSANELY hot in the summer with no beach relief

I loveloveLOVE living in Charleston. It is consistently rated the friendliest city in the US, plus you get Revolutionary and Civil War history here, great parks and landscape, and BEACHES!!! There's a little bit of everything without even including downtown Charleston, which is beautiful. It's relatively affordable to live here, too, depending on where you decide to live (of course certain areas are not cheap).

The weather is, of course, awesome. Well, it's really, really hot in the summer, but just go to the beach Spring and fall are lovely, and winter is hardly cold. Today it's 60 degrees out, and it rarely gets below the 50s (except maybe at night, and even that isn't consistent). I hate the cold, so I'm happy! You get more of a feeling of the four seasons here than you do in Florida but less than what you get in North Carolina or Virginia.

A few little downsides:

(1) While the weather is great, occasionally it bums me out that December doesn't feel Christmas-y because it's 65 degrees out. In the four years I've lived here, it's snowed twice, and before that it hadn't snowed for 20 years. Both times it was a dusting that was gone within a day, but the world shut down.

(2) There is always a threat of hurricanes here. However, homes are built to withstand them as best as they can, and people are well-prepared. All you can do is board up your house, then ride it out or get out, and that's why we have wind/hail and flood insurance. Charleston hasn't been hit since Hugo in 1989, so we consider ourselves overdue.

(3) Because Charleston is a smaller city, some of the retail chains you would expect to have just don't exist. I never even considered when I moved here that I wouldn't be able to shop at Macy's. Same with certain chain restaurants, but for the most part you can find alternatives or small businesses (especially with restaurants) that suit your needs and oftentimes exceed what you were looking for.

I'm tempted to try out Texas

I'd never leave Texas. I'm in Houston, but San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas are great also. Our state rocks.

Rio de Janeiro, the wonderful city.
Beach, Nice weather and a lot of work.

I have lived in the Chicago area since 1972 and can find no compelling reason that anyone would want to live here. Job and family keeps me here.

Weather: It's cold here nearly six months of every year. For three of those months it's grey sky all day...yuk.

Crime: Despite very strict gun laws, Chicago continues to be a leader in homicides every year...and getting worse...

Fiscal: Illinois is among the states in the worst fiscal condition in the country. In the top three in every study I have read. High taxes, home prices declining faster than average, last two governors in prison.

I advise looking elsewhere.

NYC all the way.

Manhattan, New York.