Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has ranked the best cities in the country to live in and, damn it all, we’re number four. We’re behind Huntsville, Albuquerque, and Washington D.C., and just ahead of Athens, Olympia, Madison, and Austin. (Kiplinger’s apparently has a soft spot for liberal college towns.) It was in 2004 that Frommer’s rated Charlottesville’s the top city to live in, which put Our Fair City in the spotlight and led legions of people to move here from New Jersey, driving up the cost of housing. Then, in 2007, Frommer’s dropped us to #17…because of the high cost of housing. So remember, if anybody asks, Charlottesville’s cost of living, housing shortage, skyrocketing unemployment rate, terrible schools, gang violence, and industrial waste problems all make it an awful place to live. Thanks to SBE for the tip.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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I highly disagree with the Washington D.C. ranking. That is stunning they are #3.
Also, discussion of litigious chicken farmers are sure to require discussion on one negative in Cville.
let us not forget our 9 story Tyvek monument to the credit crisis.
Oh hell, there goes the neighborhood… again. Does anyone even read Kiplinger’s? *crosses fingers*
What can they possibly be calculating by automation that would rank DC anywhere near Cville? One more sign civilization has collapsed for lack of brain.
I just moved from Cville to Austin. I would have to say Austin should be a little higher.
Kiplinger’s list is a list cities to stay away from.
Not that I think these lists mean diddly-but what is it about Huntsville,Alabama that made it #1?
@HollowBoy
Space Camp of course:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Space_Camp
Hell yeah, Space Camp.
My sister in Albuquerque wins again!
Don’t miss the comments that come after the Cville part of the article. There are some comments after the intro, but the comments after the description tell Kiplinger’s a thing or two.
I heard this mentioned on WVTF this morning, but the announced mangled the name. I swore she said “Hitler magazine”. I’m glad to have this correction.
Wow, those comments on the site were rough. Especially from Beth. But she’s right. Great place if you can afford it. Ooooh, space camp. Maybe we could have a biotech camp. (tongue in cheek)
Don’t you think that casting aspersions (jsut can’t stop using that word!) on the places ranked ahead to Cville automatically casts doubt on Cville’s ranking as well?
Sounds to me like the whole thing is a wash. But after having lived in or spent amounts of time in all of the top 4, I’d give Albuquerque the nod. Personally. But Madison kicks ass, too.
I’m with Chad, I find it incomprehensible that DC would rank highly on such a list.
The last comment on the Kiplinger article is pretty mean. I’m from upstate New York originally so maybe I shouldn’t say anything, but it’s rude for newcomers to gloat about how much fun it is to displace the natives.
My sister, who art in Albuquerque, writes:
Oh, okay, that’s good to know.
@Patience: “it’s rude for newcomers to gloat about how much fun it is to displace the natives.”
That’s what makes them Yankees.
If you bothered to understand Kiplinger’s formula, it all makes sense. They looked for places with high-paying professional jobs that are weathering the recession well — not great, but well. That’s Charlottesville, Huntsville, D.C., etc. Get. A. Clue.
Let’s see: Inadequate water storage for times of drought-no short term solution in sight, high speed bump on down town mall, really weird revenue sharing agreement with surrounding county- sure to lead to difficult politics someday maybe, interesting traffic when undergrads mix with retirement folks on roads…There must be more to complain about??
Bob’s right. This was not a quality of life rating. It’s where will jobs continue to be despite and after a recession.
Right to work state. Nuff said.
I knew that was part of the equation, Bob, but if I’m to believe that’s the primary factor in their calculation, then I cease to understand why Charlottesville is on that list instead of a hundred other cities with better-faring professional populations. Charlottesville isn’t doing terribly, but there are far more than three cities weathering the recession better than it by the standard you claim.