Ever wonder how Boston compares to other cities when it comes to subjects like being rude, drinking alcohol, staying fit, being flirty, or staying wired? Read on to see where our city ranks on some recent lists.
Ever wonder how Boston compares to other cities when it comes to subjects like being rude, drinking alcohol, staying fit, being flirty, or staying wired? Read on to see where our city ranks on some recent lists.
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Top generous cities: 11th
Who says: WhatsYourPrice.com
Boston was ranked 11th in the nation’s cities based on the generosity of single men, according to WhatsYourPrice.com, a dating site. The calculations were made according to the average price of all accepted first-date offers made by members of the dating site since June 2012.
Kayana Szymczak for the Boston Globe
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Top US cities with the happiest workers: 8th
Who says: Glassdoor.com
Boston was given a 3.3 satisfaction rating on a scale of 5. It got a 3.2 rating out of 5 for compensation and benefits.
Glassdoor.com listed the city’s highest rated companies as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and HubSpot. It said the most in-demand jobs are business analyst, financial analyst, and software engineer.
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Top LGBT sports cities: 6th
Who says: Target-10
Boston totalled 13 points in this ranking for its LGBT population, number of gay sports leagues, and number of gay sports bars. Chicago and New York tied for first.
www.target-10.com
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Best cities for small business employees: 2nd
Who says: CardHub
Boston ranks second only to Denver in friendliness for small-business employees, based on CardHub’s factors including job growth, industry variety, hours worked, and average wages for new hires.
Dina Rudick/Globe Staff
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Happiest cities for job-seeking college graduates: 10th
Who says: CareerBliss
Boston and Pittsburgh are the only Northeast cities on this ranking, which is determined by employee happiness surveys and cost of living adjusted average salaries.
BRIAN SNYDER/Reuters
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The most physically fit cities in America: 6th
Who says: American College of Sports Medicine
Boston makes the top 10 of this list for a lower death rate from heart disease and diabetes, a higher percentage of insured residents, and a higher state requirement for gym classes in public schools.
Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff/File 2012
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The best biking cities in America: 5th
Who says: BikeScore
Biking map site BikeScore released its ranking of the best cities in the United States for biking. The factors include route options, bike lanes, number of commuters.
Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff
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Best major US city for college students.
Who says: US News & World Report
Boston stands out for many reasons, according to current and former Boston-area college students. Included in the selling points: a large student population (exceeding 150,000), many employment opportunities, lots of shopping, good restaurants, and a strong sports heritage.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff/File 2008
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Worst city for driving: 5th
Who says: Nerdwallet.com
This list isn't based on driving abilities. The three questions it asked were: Will you be stuck in traffic? Is gas expensive? Is the city overcrowded? Only New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles ranked worse in the study.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
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Most taxed cities: 10th
Who says: H&R Block
According to H&R Block’s infographic, based on the D.C. study, that took a hypothetical annual household income of $50,000 and calculated how much the household would pay in income, property, sales, and auto taxes. The study showed a family of three would pay 12.2 percent of that income in taxes. Bridgeport, Conn., came in first with 24.5 percent of the same income going to taxes.
Bill Greene/Globe Staff/File 2012
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Best cities for single men: 1st
Who says: nerd wallet
According to the financial information website, Boston tops the list of places for single men, ahead of Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Denver. “Unmarried women outnumber unmarried men in Boston, and the walkable layout and variety of bars and gyms are conducive to dating as well. Dates are a little pricier here, but the low unemployment rate makes it likely you’ll both be able to afford it.”
Yoon Byun/Globe Staff
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Traffic congestion: 5th
Who says: Texas A&M Transportation Institute
According to an annual study of national driving patterns, Washington, D.C., residents have the worst commute in the country, followed by Los Angeles, San Francisco-Oakland, New York-Newark, and Boston. See data for Boston here, including how much excess fuel is consumed as a result of the delays, the number of hours we spend in traffi, and how the figures have changed since 2006.
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
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Most LEED certifications
Who says: BostInno
The US Green Building Council that developed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, announced its list of top states for LEED certifications in 2012. Ranked No. 4, Massachusetts had more than 13 million square feet of LEED certified space in 2012, or 2.05 feet per capita. Atlantic Wharf, the new center of Boston’s waterfront, received the highest Platinum level. This makes Atlantic Wharf Boston’s first LEED skyscraper.
CBT Architects/Neoscape Inc.
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Drunkest city of 2012
Who says: The Daily Beast
In Boston, 20 percent of our population is classified as binge drinkers. Adults drink an average of 15.6 alcoholic drinks a month.
Laurie Swope/Globe Staff
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Tops on gay friendly municipality index
Who says: The Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign has released its first ever Municipality Equality Index, which rates cities based on 47 criteria falling under six broad categories: non-discrimination laws; relationship recognition; the municipality’s employment practices; inclusiveness of city services; law enforcement; and municipal leadership. Boston and Cambridge scored a perfect 100 percent.
www.hrc.org
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America’s Best 50 Cities
Who says:
Bloomberg Businessweek
In its annual “America’s Best 50 Cities” roundup, Bloomberg Businessweek ranked Boston the No. 4 city in the country, bested only by Washington, D.C., Seattle, and No. 1 San Francisco.
The Boston Globe
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Most favorable tax structures for businesses.
Who says: KPMG International
Boston placed 10th among US urban areas in an international survey of cities that offer the most favorable tax structures for businesses.
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Most expensive city to travel: 2d
Who says: TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor released its second annual TripIndex list of the most expensive cities for travelers, both abroad and at home, and for US travelers, New York and Boston topped the list. The index is a cost comparison of one-night accommodations in a four-star hotel and an evening out on the town, including dinner with wine, and round-trip taxi fare for two people. Boston’s index came in at $450, right behind New York, at $457.
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Swearing at work: 5th
Who says: Careerbuilder.com
In the nationwide survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive, 56 percent of Bostonians say they swear at work.
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Most economically integrated: 1st
Who says: Pew Research Center
The Boston metro area is becoming more segregated by income, but ranks as the most integrated of the nation’s 10 largest metro areas along class lines, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center. Just 8 percent of upper-income households in the Boston metro area live in census tracts where a majority of households are upper-income as well, showing that most wealthy residents live in areas with a range of income levels.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
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Good place to grow old: 4th
Who says: Milken Institute
Boston ranks fourth nationally as a desirable place to live as you age, according to a study from from the Milken Institute that finds that the region has a wealth of physical therapists, nurses, orthopedic surgeons, and fitness centers, along with convenient public transportation and employment opportunities for people over age 65.
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Well-being of children: 2d
Who says: Annie E. Casey Foundation
Massachusetts is the second-best state for child well-being, according to a national study looking at health, education, community and economic factors. The annual study gave its highest overall marks to New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont, while Nevada, New Mexico, and Mississippi received the lowest overall scores.
Globe Photo
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Best beer city: 9th
Who says: Zane Lamprey
Zane Lamprey host of television shows “Three Sheets,” “Drinking Made Easy,” and “Have Fork, Will Travel” has made a career out of traveling and drinking. Lamprey counted down the 25 best beer cities in the world, and Boston finished 9th, one spot ahead of London and one spot behind Denver.
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Best for families: 1st
Who says: Parenting Magazine
The Parenting magazine made a list of the country’s top locations for raising kids based on categories such as education, health, community, charm, and culture using nearly 4,000 pieces of data. Boston was chosen for its great opportunities, offering families urban life with a focus on education.
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Most tolerant: 20th
Who says: The Atlantic Cities
The Atlantic Cities ranked US metro areas for tolerance according to three key variables — the share of immigrants or foreign-born residents, the Gay Index (the concentration of gays and lesbians), and the Integration Index, which tracks the level of segregation between ethnic and racial groups. San Diego is the top-ranked metro area, Boston is the 20th most tolerant city.
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
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Neighborhoods with most same-sex couples: 1st
Who says: Trulia
Trulia used census figures to track what neighborhoods across the country have the highest percentage of same-sex couples. Massachusetts comes out with top honors. Four neighborhoods, including Jamaica Plain, landed on the list of communities with the highest percentage of same-sex female couples.
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
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Costliest for tourists: 2d
Who says: TripAdvisor Inc.
The Newton-based firm, which offers online travel-recommendation services, has just drawn up lists of the most expensive cities for tourists in both the United States and the world. According to those metrics, Boston is the second most expensive US city.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
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Best for parks: 3d
Who says: The Trust for Public Land
Boston has one of the best city park system in the United States. The new report from Trust for Public Land ranked Boston third. Sacramento ranked second behind San Francisco, while Boston and New York tied for third, followed by Washington, D.C.
Aram Boghosian/Globe Staff
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Worst Commute: 9th
Who says: The 5th Annual INRIX National Traffic Scorecard
If you find your daily trip on Interstate 93, 95, or the Mass. Pike painful, you won’t be surprised to learn Boston has the ninth-worst commute in the nation.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
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Best for recent college graduates: 10th
Who says: The Atlantic Cities
The Greater Boston area, including Cambridge and Quincy, ranked 10th in a recent assessment of the best cities for new college graduates. Urban theorist Richard Florida, writing for the Atlantic Cities website, said he and a colleague used eight criteria to rank the cities, including unemployment rate, salary levels, housing costs, commuting and share of adults who have never been married.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
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Best for hipsters: 17th
Who says: Travel+Leisure
When voting on the metropolitan areas for the best hipsters, the magazine’s readers considered the best microbrews and most offbeat and tech-savvy locals. Seattle ranked No. 1 for the city’s funky individuals who frequent cool, often idiosyncratic restaurants, shops, and bars. The “techie crowd” in Cambridge boosted Boston’s hip quotient in a city steeped high in history and classical music.
John Reynolds/Globe Staff
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Expecting first date sex: 1st
Who says: Glamour magazine
Glamour conducted a nationwide survey of 8,000 singles in conjunction with Match.com, where Boston received the notorious distinction of ranking number one for men who expect to have sex on the first date. One out of eight men surveyed in Boston expected his date to hop into bed after a single dinner and a movie—the highest ratio of any city.
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Safest place to drive: 3d
Who says: Men’s Health, April 2012
Men’s Health ranked cities after looking at stats from the number fatal crashes, percentage of fatalities involving alcohol, speeding or hit and run, and the rate of seat belt use. Boston received an A- rating, good for third. The full results will be published in the April issue.
John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
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Most innovative city: 3d
Who says: Zipcar Inc.
A new survey from Zipcar Inc. concludes that Boston is the country’s third most innovative city, behind Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Zipcar studied the 36 largest cities in the United States and ranked them according to five different categories.
“Future Metropolis Index”
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Best city for students: 3d
Who says: The BBC
BBC reported that a new city rankings list by QS Top Universities placed Boston in third for students’ city of choice behind Paris (1) and London (2). Researchers looked at cities of 250,000+ populations and at least two top universities before considering affordability, quality of life, and university reputations.
See the complete list.
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Most Literate: 5th
Who says: Central Connecticut State University
In attempts to measure the nation’s social health, Central Connecticut State University compared newspaper circulation, number of bookstores, library resources, and other “indicators of literacy” to gauge how well the country reads.
Boston jumped seven spots to fifth from last year’s 12th, ousting Pittsburgh (2011: 6th). The top four spots—Washington, D.C., Seattle, Minneapolis, and Atlanta—remained unchanged.
Dina Rudick/Globe Staff
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Rudest: 5th
Who says: Travel and Leisure
We may be smart, but that’s not endearing us to visitors, according to a survey by Travel and Leisure. The publication had the audacity to suggest we’re rude because we’re “guilty of gloating” about our championship sports teams. Jealous much?
Globe-trotting: Boston named America’s fifth-rudest city
The Boston Globe
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Drunkest: 1st
Who says: The Daily Beast
Redefining the term “competitive spirit,” Boston placed on top of the second annual list of cities that don’t know when to say when. In polling 25 cities nationwide, individual Boston drinkers were found to consume on average 15.5 alcoholic beverages per month. Houston came in last on the list with an average of 14.3 drinks consumed monthly.
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Mobile shopping: 12th
Who says: Interactive Advertising Bureau
In a “Mobile Shoppers” study, Boston ranked low on the list, not far from the lowest ranking city, Phoenix in 15th place. According to the study, the top mobile shopping cities in the United States are Houston, New York, and Atlanta.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
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Happiest: 5th
Who says: Men’s Health Magazine
Boston has been ranked the fifth happiest city in United States. Men’s Health magazine ranked 100 American cities from the happiest to the saddest. According to a Dutch research, people living in cities near parks and gardens were 25 percent less likely to be diagnosed with depression than those with nary a patch of grass in sight.
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Sleep-deprived: 10th
Who says: www.stonehearthnewsletters.com
Boston effortlessly bagged the 10th position in the most sleep-deprived cities list based on an independent analysis of individual sleep habits as reported in an annual study of more than 350,000 adults by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Trick-or-treating: 2d
Who says: Zillow
The Zillow Trick-or-Treat Index is designed to help kids (and parents) use data to identify cities that will boost their Halloween haul. Boston ranked second in 2011, trailing just San Francisco. Last year, Boston ranked eighth.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
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High credit scores: 7th
Who says: USA Today
A national analysis by credit bureau Experian showed Boston to have the seventh highest credit score nationwide with a score of 779. The city has an unemployment rate of 7.10 percent and $96, 500 median family income.
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Healthiest: 3d
Who says: Forbes
Forbes recently announced its list of America’s healthiest cities, and Boston came in third. According to Forbes, 80 percent of Boston residents said they exercise regularly and 47 percent consider themselves “moderately physically active.”
Globe Photo
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Best for seniors: 2d
Who says: Bankers Life and Casualty Co.
Forget about Florida and the belief that old people crave the sun. A new survey found that Boston is the second best US city for senior living, with Minneapolis ranking No. 1. The survey looked at categories such as health care, economics, health and longevity, social, environment, spiritual life, housing, transportation, and crime.
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Romantic men: 6th
Who says: Chemistry.com
For all those local lonely hearts who think they’ll never find love in Boston, here’s a little news to cheer you up. Boston ranks six nationwide as the top city to find a romantic man, according to the online dating site Chemistry.com.
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Tablet use: 40th
Who says: Men’s Health Magazine
For Bostonians, everything is at their fingertips. With an average grade of a C+, Boston ranked 40th out of the 100 most-tablet-computer-using cities. The magazine filled the criteria with the amount of Apple and Best Buy stores per capita, and the percentage of households that own tablets, notebooks, or laptops.
Carl Court/Getty Images
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Social media savvy: 9th
Twitter usage: 29th
Who says: NetProspex
Tweet. Post. Like. Tag. @reply. Follow. Friend. Bostonians are pros when it comes to using social media and staying connected with people through social networks. Boston was ranked No. 9 out of 25 in social media intelligence. The city tied for 29th out of 50 spots for Twitter usage.
Associated Press
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Walkability: 3d
Who says: Walkscore.com
Boston ranks third among the nation’s largest cities in walking accessibility, trailing No. 1 New York and San Francisco according to a survey by Seattle-based Walkscore.com. The best community in the commonwealth is Cambridge, left, which scored 89, one point shy of being considered a “walker’s paradise.” Boston got a score of 79.
Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff
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Worst-Dressed City: 1st
Who says: GQ
The fashion police have spoken. The men’s style magazine named Boston as the most sartorially challenged metropolis in the greater United States. Take note: Pleated khakis are a fashion no-no.
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Least obese: 4th
Who says: Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Massachusetts is the fourth least obese state in the country with an obesity rate of 22.3 percent. The state’s obesity rate has increased to almost double from its previous obesity rate of 11.6 percent in 1996, though it has maintained its rank as the fourth least over these years.
Joel Benjamin/Globe Staff
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Best cities for families: 3d
Who says: Parenting Magazine
Boston is one of the best cities for families, according to Parenting Magazine’s 2011 list. Boston has a great school system, fine organizations, and top universities. Its community gardens, playgrounds, and parks make it an ideal place for kids.
Peter Cade/Getty Images
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Well-read: 1st
Who says: Amazon.com
Amazon.com recently released its list of the top 20 most well-read cities in America. Cambridge – one of the higher education hubs of the state (at left, Harvard University) – was ranked at the top.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
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Youngest: 5th
Who says: RealAge
Bostonians are at least a year younger than the age listed on their birth certificates. Why? They smoke less, sleep more (6-9 hours a night), and are less likely to be in unhappy relationships.
John Blanding/Globe Staff
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Angriest city: 81st
Who says: Men’s Health Magazine
Here’s a ranking Boston nearly failed. Not surprised to hear someone lose their temper, whether it’s road rage or a misunderstanding at a grocery store? Men’s Health Magazine wasn’t either. It ranked Boston as one of the angriest cities in the United States. Our grade: a D-plus.
Note: The list is organized from most angry to most serene. The higher the ranking, the angrier the city; the lower the number, the more serene.
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Best place to live for those with autism: 4th
Who says: Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks ranked Boston No. 4 based on its “proximity to services, access to services, and education in both public and private schools for children with autism,” according to Autism Speaks president Mark Roithmayr.
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Sports town: 2d
Who says: The Sporting News
With the passion fans feel for the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins, locals might take issue with Boston only achieving runner-up status to Chicago in the The Sporting News ranking of top sports towns.
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
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Flirtiest: 2d
Who says: Badoo, a social networking and dating site
New England’s snowy, cold winters don’t seem to have a negative effect on Bostonians’ passion for meeting up with potential matches. The city ranks second only to Miami for being the flirtiest US city, according to a 2011 survey by Badoo.
The Boston Globe
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Love: 6th
Who says: The Daily Beast
Not only do Bostonians flirt, they apparently follow up. The Daily Beast ranks Boston among the top 10 cities for love, giving it an A ranking for the number of singles and a B rating for marriage.
Pictured, Claudiu and Alina Badea after their 2009 wedding ceremony in Boston.
Globe Photo
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Smartest: 3d
Who says: The Daily Beast
With so many top colleges and universities calling Boston home, is there any surprise that The Daily Beast considers it a “wicked smaht” city?
Dina Rudick/Globe Staff
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Best college town: 4th
Who says: American Institute for Economic Research
That being said, one survey ranked Boston behind New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., among college towns in the United States.
The Boston Globe
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Running: 8th
Who says: Runner’s World
The lure and legacy of the Boston Marathon gives the city a solid place among runners. Those training for 26.2 miles or something shorter can look for motivation along with views of the city along the Charles River and Esplanade.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
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Best microbrews: 7th
Who says: Travel and Leisure
Boston scores big for its craft beer selections. Local residents may already know about area stalwarts Harpoon, Sam Adams, and Cambridge Brewing Company, but many smaller companies, such as the Cambridge-based Pretty Things and Clown Shoes, have also joined the Hub’s beer scene in recent years.
John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
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Most wired: 12th
Who says: Forbes
Boston didn’t score too high in a Forbes listing of the most-wired cities, citing the relatively small number of broadband service providers in the region.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
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