Forbes recently released its list of “America’s Coolest Cities,” and Houston, TX tops the list. Among the “cool” criteria that Forbes considered are median age, entertainment and recreational opportunities, non-chain restaurants, cultural composition, and unemployment rates.
According to Forbes, the list “favor[s] places with a large young adult population.” Houston grabbed the number one spot with a young median age of 33. Houston also offers many restaurants, art galleries, museums, and a strong theater scene.
Forbes also emphasized the strength of Houston’s economy: “With the local economy humming through the recession, Houston enjoyed a 2.6 percent job growth last year and nearly 50,000 Americans flocked there in response—particularly young professionals,” wrote Morgan Brennan, a Forbes staff writer.
Washington D.C. came in second on the list “thanks to its melting pot of a population, a large selection of local eateries and watering holes, and a host of activities that range from Smithsonian museums to music concerts.”
In order to rank the “coolest” American cities, Forbes examined the 65 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Metropolitan Divisions. Below are the top ten:
