Grand Rapids, Best Place To Live

Even though I wasn't born in Grand Rapids, I consider this my home town. With considerable luck and a supportive employer, I am proud to say I've been working in radio for the past 30 years....27 in Grand Rapids. As I have said many times, the Michigan's west side is the best side. ( apologies to my Livonia/Westland roots ) Each year, our area gets better. That is one reason I was disappointed our city didn't score higher on the list of places poised for greatness.

San Francisco tops the list from Sperling's BestPlaces /

Top 50 Cities Poised for Greatness. The study looked at five aspects of each city to determine the list. Economic, population, and "green" living statistics were considered, along with the local music scene, arts scene, sports scene, and the alternative sports scene, which includes activities such as skateboarding, BMX, and martial arts. San Francisco earns the top spot for its thriving music, art, and sports scenes as well as for the number of residents who are well educated and leading healthy lifestyles. Its emphasis on energy-efficient construction was also taken into account. Boston takes second place on the list, with Denver at number three. Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas round out the top five.

The Complete "Cities on the Edge" Rankings

1. San Francisco
2. Boston
3. Denver
4. Portland
5. Austin
6. Seattle
7. Washington
8. Los Angeles
9. Philadelphia
10. Salt Lake City
11. New York
12. Minneapolis
13. San Diego
14. Chicago
15 .Dallas
16. Oakland
17. Richmond
18. Detroit
19. Columbus
19. Milwaukee
21. Atlanta
22. Baltimore
23. Charlotte
24. Miami
25. Columbia
26. Pittsburgh
27. Nashville
28. Cincinnati
29. Houston
30. Las Vegas
31. Sacramento
32. Buffalo
33. Birmingham
34. New Orleans
35. Cleveland
36. Kansas City
37. Grand Rapids-Wyoming
38. Orlando
39. Oklahoma City
40. St. Louis
41. San Antonio
42. Phoenix
43. Rochester
44. Dayton
45. Indianapolis
46. Louisville
47. Jacksonville
48. Memphis
49. Providence
50. Tampa-St. Petersburg