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1a:T248f,
Sustainability has evolved into an important part of city planning due to the growing threat of climate change. Meeting the needs of a city's citizens in an environmentally friendly manner is possible, and there are five metro areas in the U.S. that excel at this: New York, New Orleans, Seattle, Boston, and Philadelphia.

To determine this list, we use the [Arcadis Sustainability 2018 Study](https://www.arcadis.com/media/1/D/5/%7B1D5AE7E2-A348-4B6E-B1D7-6D94FA7D7567%7DSustainable_Cities_Index_2018_Arcadis.pdf) (in particular, the planet sub-index) as our source and guide in ranking the greenest cities in the U.S.

Sustainability, however, can be a vague umbrella term, so it's important to look at what sustainability means in this context. The Arcadis study looks at more than just a city's pollution metrics. If a city has a low index of greenhouse gas emissions but has poorly planned and congested public transportation, it d

es not meet the required sustainability index. In other words, not only do cities have to meet environmental requirements, but they must also meet the needs of its citizens overall.

While our list focuses on sustainability, we also take note of each city's performance in the other accompanying areas.

## How does "sustainability" differ from "eco-friendly?"

As mentioned, the Arcadis study looks at sustainability as a whole. To qualify as one of the most sustainable _and_ greenest cities in America, urban environments must reflect social mobility and high quality of life, have low pollution metrics, and demonstrate strong economic performance. The study takes into account three important factors — "people," "planet," and "profit" — when ranking the most sustainable cities in the U.S.

"Eco-friendly" focuses primarily on a city's environmental impact, such as its carbon emissions, energy use, and pollution. Because we're taking the planet index (or pollution metrics) most into account, eco-friendliness features strongly in our list.

Now that we know the parameters of sustainability used, here are five of the most eco-friendly and most sustainable cities in the U.S.

## The top 5 greenest cities in the U.S.:

### New York, NY

Ranking 20 out of 100 on the planet sub-index, New York, NY, is a leading city in the U.S. for sustainability in terms of eco-friendliness. It's been at the forefront of large environmental initiatives aimed at reducing its overall greenhouse gas emissions.

It has [implemented the NYC carbon challenge](https://www1.nyc.gov/site/sustainability/index.page), a voluntary leadership program striving to reduce overall carbon emissions. It also promotes a [zero-waste program](https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/site/our-work/zero-waste), an [energy performance map](https://www1.nyc.gov/site/sustainability/codes/energy-and-water-performance-map.page), a [greenhouse gas data set](https://nyc-ghg-inventory.cusp.nyu.edu/), and a [GreeNYC](https://www1.nyc.gov/site/greenyc/index.page) program that works to educate and mobilize citizens toward sustainability. The city has also passed laws [enforcing energy efficiency](https://council.nyc.gov/data/green/).

#### Eco-friendliness score:

New York excels at air pollution measures, waste management, and overall water and sanitation.

#### Sustainability score:

For overall sustainability, New York ranks 14 out of 100 global cities, a high measure. As the first American city listed, it is the most sustainable city in the U.S.

#### Fast facts:

Population: 8,398,748

Median per capita income: $37,693

Median rent: $1,396/mo.

### New Orleans, LA

After Katrina in 2010, New Orleans took a major step in implementing city-wide sustainability reforms. [One of the most notable is GreeNola](https://www.nola.gov/getattachment/bece551e-5cf8-421c-ac27-48db26194c40/Appendix-Ch-13-GreeNOLA-A-Strategy-for-a-Sustainab/), a part of the Louisiana Disaster Relief for a sustainable New Orleans.

It also has an [office of Resiliency and Sustainability](https://www.nola.gov/resilience-sustainability/) that helps implement efficient, sustainable, environmentally-friendly infrastructure.

#### Eco-friendliness score:

New Orleans ranks 23 out of 100 for all global cities considered in the planet sub-index.

#### Sustainability score:

While it ranks high on the eco-friendliness measure, it comes in at 61 out of 100 for overall sustainability. It appears too heavily biased towards profit and not enough toward social mobility.

#### Fast facts:

Population: 343,829

Median per capita income: $30,177

Median rent: $973/mo.

### Seattle, WA

Seattle is well-known for its environmentally friendly persona. This is backed up by a [variety of greening programs that help](http://www.seattle.gov/services-and-information/environment-and-sustainability) boost its rank on the Arcadis study. It has multiple gardening, compost, and greening programs that help neighborhoods delve further into environmentalism.

It also has various bike programs, camps, environmental learning programs, sustainable landscaping initiatives, and water conservation measures.

#### Eco-friendliness score:

Seattle ranks 26 out of 100 on the planet sub-index.

#### Sustainability score:

Seattle is one of the greenest cities in the U.S. due to its high rank for overall sustainability. It's 19 out of 100 cities for all three factors.

#### Fast facts:

Population: 753,675

Median per capita income: $55,789

Median rent: $1,496/mo.

### Boston, MA

Boston has been making major headway as one of the most environmentally friendly cities over the past few years. Its [Climate of Progress is an ambitious plan](https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/blog/post/sustainability-big-boston/31274) to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.

It also integrates climate change into all future planning, has a framework to engage communities in sustainability, and a growing energy efficiency program called [Renew Boston](https://www.google.com/search?q=renew+boston&oq=renew+boston&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l7.2059j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8).

#### Eco-friendliness score:

Boston sits at 29 out of 100 global cities for overall environmentalism.

#### Sustainability score:

Boston is high on the list — 22 out of 100 — for overall sustainability because it engages as much of its diverse community as possible in sustainability measures.

#### Fast facts:

Population: 692,600

Median per capita income: $42,101

Median rent: $1,539/mo.

### Philadelphia, PA

Last but not least, Philadelphia ranks as one of the greenest cities in the U.S. [due to its comprehensive Greenworks Philadelphia initiative.](https://www.phila.gov/departments/office-of-sustainability/) It's made up of eight distinct visions: zero-waste, healthy air, accessible food and water, engaged stewards, quality natural resources, clean energy, carbon-neutral communities, and accessible transportation.

The city also has an energy benchmark and solar rebate program to further incentivize clean energy use.

#### Eco-friendliness score:

Philadelphia rests at 36 out of 100 global cities on the planet sub-index.

#### Sustainability score:

While it is known for decent social sustainability programs, Philadelphia has only recently started investing in this area, leaving it behind other, more equitable cities. It sits at just 52 out of 100.

#### Fast facts:

Population: 1,584,064

Median per capita income: $26,557

Median rent: $1,007/mo.

_Note: Data for population, median per capita income, and median rent were all pulled from the_ [_U.S. Census_](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/philadelphiacitypennsylvania,bostoncitymassachusetts,seattlecitywashington,neworleanscitylouisiana,newyorkcitynewyork,US/PST045219)_. The population estimates were from 2019, and income and rent estimates were pulled from 2014-2018 data._

## The bottom line

Some of these cities ranked high on the eco-friendly scale but low on the overall sustainability scale, usually due to a lack of equal access to sustainable measures. It's important to keep this in mind when analyzing which of the aforementioned cities are the greenest cities in the U.S.

In other words, will moving there with a below-average income afford you equal access to the sustainable measures that the city has implemented? In the case of Philadelphia and New Orleans, probably not. While they rank high for sweeping air quality and water sanitation measures, their lack of social mobility programs weakens their sustainability profile.

There has been substantial progress over the last several years for many U.S. cities, and our selections hold a few high spots in the Arcadis study. This is an encouraging trend. As the country continues to delve further into sustainability, we can help by delving equally into all three pillars: people, planet, and profitability.

_Note: On the international scale, taking social equity, environmentalism, and economic prowess into consideration, Arcadis found that London tops the list for overall, balanced sustainability. Edinburgh was first in the people sub-index. Stockholm was first on the planet sub-index. Last but not least, Singapore claimed the top spot for economic prowess._ [_Learn more about the study here._](https://www.arcadis.com/media/1/D/5/%7B1D5AE7E2-A348-4B6E-B1D7-6D94FA7D7567%7DSustainable_Cities_Index_2018_Arcadis.pdf)
1b:Tbec,
Millennials are growing up. And, yes, they do more than buy avocado toast. The oldest millennials are entering their late 30s in 2018. By now, they've earned plenty of career expertise, along with an idea of what makes a good home town. It's true that buying a house is harder for millennials than it was for their parents, but that doesn't mean the first generation to bridge analog and digital aren't finding savvy ways to get their own homes.

If you're a millennial looking for a place to call home, whether as a homeowner or a renter, [Niche](https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/search/best-cities-for-young-professionals/) creates an annual list of the best cities in America for your generation. The criteria for 2018 includes having a lot of residents between the ages of 25-34, a good higher education rating, access to coffee shops, cost of living, and access to bars and restaurants. Without further ado: Here are 2018's top five cities for millennials to live in.

## 1\. Cambridge, MA

**Average age of residents:** 30.5

Cambridge gets an A+ from Niche for nightlife and family life, so it can accommodate a millennials from 20-something single to 30 and ready for kids. The majority of people rent in this university town of 108,000, where nearly half of residents have a master's degree.

## 2\. San Francisco, CA

**Average age of residents:** 38

San Fran has an A+ rating for nightlife and diversity, and the Bay Area is a hub for startups and tech companies; in other words, opportunity abounds. Younger residents will also appreciate the incredible amount of public transportation here.

## 3\. Arlington, VA

**Average age of residents:** 34

Arlington scores highly on the list of best cities for millennials, in part, because of high scores in diversity, nightlife, and public education. This bustling city just west of the nation's capital offers the fine dining opportunities of a huge city, with a population that hovers just under 250,000. It also offers more opportunities for home ownership than a lot of other major cities, with about half of all residents owning their property.

## 4\. Seattle, WA

**Average age of residents:** 35

On top of receiving good marks for diversity and nightlife (not to mention coffee), Seattle is a hip city that is ever evolving. Millennials may find it appealing for its bevvy of healthy eating options and independent music scene that has been thriving for decades.

## 5\. Washington, D.C.

**Average age of residents:** 34

The nation's capital has diversity, nightlife, and rents that are surprisingly doable for a metropolis (the average one-bedroom is $1,300 per month). You'll be close to the action of the federal government and a slew of non-profits, so career opportunities abound for young professionals.

Are you a millennial in search of a new place to call home? In addition to these top five options, you may want to click your ruby red slippers and move to Berkeley, Minneapolis, Boston, Alexandria or Denver, which round out the top ten cities for millennial living.
1c:T146e,
Tired of living in a city of grumps? Maybe it's time to pack up and move to a friendlier city where the vibe is easygoing and the people are a little more neighborly.

Hundreds of thousands of people felt some pretty friendly vibes when they visited (and voted for) the cities that topped this year's annual [Readers' Choice Awards survey](https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2015-08-11/the-2015-friendliest-and-unfriendliest-cities-in-the-us) for friendliest cities in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler. Besides being friendly, these cities all boast landscapes to be envied, whether it's majestic mountainsides, beautiful rivers, historic cobblestone streets or pristine parks.

## 1\. Telluride, Colorado

You don't have to hit the slopes to feel welcome in this small, funky ski town. Its population in 2015 was only 2,444, but it's this the lack of huge crowds-and abundance of friendly people-it's residents love most. And Telluride doesn't shut down during the summer: the city hosts a hugely popular bluegrass festival every year that brings in thousands of people.

## 2\. Des Moines, Iowa

Affectionately known to many as the "big small town," Des Moines is definitely a friendly frontrunner when it comes to popular places to set down roots. Based on its high marks for quality of life, job prospects and affordability, U.S. News ranked Des Moines the 4th best place to live (2018) in the U.S.

## 3\. Natchez, Mississippi

As voters in the Condé Nast Traveler survey conveyed you would be hard-pressed to find friendlier people than in this river town of Natchez. The birthplace of Mississippi, Natchez is named for the Native American people who originally lived in the nearby bluffs. It's a "take it easy" river town flowing with down-home hospitality-and it's hard to be in a bad mood when you can take in the stunning scenery from 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway.

## 4\. Greenville, South Carolina\*\*

Greenville started out as "Pleasantburg," which sounds like a friendly place to begin with, but the name was changed to Greenville in 1831. True to its name, the city boasts plenty of lush green scenery, as well as a happy medium average temperature of 60° year round-perfect weather for walking through the 32-acre Falls Park that runs through the middle of town. _Bonus fun fact: There is a city named "Greenville" in all 50 states in the U.S._

## 5\. Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia has a unique combo of "old meets new," with its delightful old pecan and magnolia trees dotting the outskirts of town and new modern skylines lighting up the industrial downtown area. This amicable mix gave this happy-go-lucky capital city high marks in the survey _\[EDITOR'S NOTE: it also happens to be the location of a certain MYMOVE editor's Alma Mater: The University of South Carolina. Go Gamecocks! \]_

## 6\. Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga is probably so friendly because everyone is outside enjoying the mountains. All that fresh air from hiking, biking, and kayaking generates a lot of feel-good endorphins. The landscape is so gorgeous, Chattanooga is nicknamed the "Scenic City." There's plenty of made-made beauty in Chattanooga as well, in the form of sculptures that line the river bank in the Chattanooga Coolidge and Renaissance parks.

## 7\. Bend, Oregon

Its name certainly doesn't give off much of a "gotta-move-there" vibe, but the city itself makes up for its nondescript name with its beautiful scenery and welcoming personality. Bend is located near the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, with the popular Deschutes River running through it. Residents get chummy while kayaking, biking and walking together. Visitors are even encouraged to take the ["Bend Pledge"](https://www.visitbend.com/the-bend-pledge/) which includes, "I'll be friendly and courteous because that's the Bend way."

## 8\. Park City, Utah

Best known for skiing and the Sundance Film Festival, Park City continues to find a spot on the survey as the locals are "very friendly and welcoming." Maybe it's all the vitamin D and the fresh mountain air people soak up from the endless amounts of year-round outdoor activities. Whatever the reason, good-natured vibes are plentiful.

## 9\. Healdsburg, California

Tucked away in the wine country region, you might think this small town is friendly because people are popping corks all day (that would do it for me!), but, according to the survey, Healdsburg's laid-back, welcoming vibe is what does the trick. You'll fit right in even if you're not a wine snob, as one survey taker says, "It's less fancy than Napa, but still very charming."

## 10\. Savannah, Georgia

Technically, according to the survey, Savannah is one of the friendliest cities in America, but "congenial" seems more appropriate. The southern charm is as abundant as the signature Spanish moss that lines the cobblestone streets. One survey taker remarks, "The folks in restaurants, on the streets, and on their balconies were so kind and welcoming." Being the oldest city in Georgia, it's not surprising that Savannah has its share of tales of ghosts haunting antebellum mansions, but don't let that scare you off from moving there--they're just as friendly as the living residents (allegedly).
1d:Td8d,
There are plenty of considerations that go into where you should move next. Housing costs, education opportunities, and weather all come to mind. But access to beer? Sure, why not! If you love relaxing with a pint of brew more than most, here are five places you should consider moving to.

## Bend, Oregon

**Median home price:** $411,900**Average 1br rent:** $725

If the Pacific Northwest is your type of place (and who could blame you, what with all emerald trees and Bigfoot sightings), you'll be happy to know it also produces a ton of beer. Specifically, Oregon makes more beer than any state except Texas. Bend is a scenic town south of Portland, with 19 breweries and hosts the Bend Brewfest every summer. Living in Bend also means easy access to the trails of Deschutes National Forest.

## Fort Collins, Colorado

**Median home price:** $376,800**Average 1br rent:** $824

With more than 20 breweries, the charming "mountain town that could" produces almost 70% of the entire state's craft beer! Even [Expedia](https://viewfinder.expedia.com/features/best-beer-counties-usa/) named Fort Collins as one of the best beer cities in the entire country. Fort Collins racked up five 2017 Great American Beer Festival awards, and it seems like the town is just getting started. A bonus for lovers of the great outdoors: if you move here, you'll also be an easy-breezy 35 miles from Rocky Mountain National Park.

## San Diego, California

**Median home price:** $622,700**Average 1br rent:** $1254

You'll definitely pay the sunshine tax to live in "America's Finest City," but you get a lot for your money (and brew for your buck). As if 70 miles of beach wasn't enough, San Diego County has literally hundreds of breweries to choose from. The San Diego County International Beer Festival is the biggest beer festival on the West Coast. From Mira Mesa to North Park, there are tons of neighborhood craft brew spots opening every year. When you're not sampling new local hops, you can learn to surf or see the latest museum exhibits in Balboa Park.

## Richmond, Virginia

**Median home price:** $207,400**Average 1br rent:** $791

Fun fact: Richmond was the first place beer was ever sold in a can. Nowadays, beer and Richmond go together like tea and lemonade. According to the [_Wall Street Journal_](https://www.richmond.com/food-drink/restaurant-news/richmond-s-beer-scene-written-up-in-the-wall-street/article_26900667-439c-5c83-83d2-520ec2673427.html), Richmond has one of the fastest growing beer scenes in the country. If you make Richmond your new home, you can spend your weekends on the [Richmond Beer Trail](http://res.cloudinary.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1528469866/clients/richmond/RRT_20180608_Richmond_Beer_Trail_Map_web_d2f133e2-0cee-48c0-a36d-9dfb7f92905f.pdf), which includes more than 30 breweries and a boatload of good food. While you're living in Richmond, you can also take day trips to Washington, DC and Virginia Beach.

## Nashville, Tennessee

**Median home price:** $249,300**Average 1br rent:** $730

Nashville is known for its country music twang, but electric guitars aren't the only thing buzzing in this southern city. The city has dozens of breweries with fun names such as Fat Bottom Brewery and Bearded Iris Brewing. Between the brewpubs and the taprooms, you'll never be at a loss for where to grab a cold one. While you're living in Music City, you might just catch the next big singer before their ticket sales blow up.
1e:T526,
How are you planning to spend your summer vacation? If your answer was "playing video games" or "sitting by the pool," it's probably time to put some thought into a more productive summer.

A recent study showed that 70% of job recruiters and college seniors said an internship is more valuable on a resume than a high GPA.

<br />

MYMOVE analysts recently published a list of the 2017 Best Cities for Internships based on the number of internship postings online, the cost of living and apartment costs in the area, crime rates, and other factors in more than 1,100 places.

Nationwide, the top 10 Best Cities for Summer Internships were:

1. Morgantown, W.Va.
2. Greenville, S.C.
3. West Des Moines, Iowa
4. Naples, Fla.
5. Neenah, Wisc.
6. Charlottesville, Va.
7. Asheville, N.C.
8. Golden Valley, Minn.
9. Salt Lake City, Utah
10. Portsmouth, N.H.

But sometimes, it's unrealistic for a student to move halfway across the country for the summer just to take an internship that might only last a few weeks. In that case, you're better off looking close to home.

So instead, we pulled out the top-ranked city in each state.

Overall, the top cities tended to be smaller; the highest-ranked place in 33 states had fewer than 100,000 residents, and all but 9 had fewer than 150,000. Only one was more than 500,000.
1f:Ta91,
Ah, Los Angeles. A city of movie stars, pampered pooches, and string bikinis - but also beautiful beaches, endless sunshine, high-tech jobs, and plenty of health-conscious shops and fresh farmer's markets.

There's certainly plenty of allure to the City of Angels.

_But there's no way you could pay me enough to move there._

In a funny way - but really, it's not funny - that's almost literal. The cost of living in L.A. is insane. Sperling's reports the [cost of living for housing in L.A.](http://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/california/los_angeles) is more than three times the national average. Many people living in L.A. do not get paid enough to afford a home there.

The city is facing an affordable housing problem, and it's beginning to affect the workforce, according to a [survey](http://www.labusinesscouncil.org/files/LABC_Report-V7-for_web.pdf) released recently by the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Business Council Institute.

## Let's break it down

[Experts](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/1791/what-debt-income-ratio-why-43-debt-income-ratio-important.html) say that people who take on debt that is more than 43% of their monthly income tend to have a harder time paying it back. It's so widely accepted that most banks won't approve a mortgage if it will push you over that limit.

In L.A., [income](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045216/06037,00) for a typical household was $56,196 in 2015. A family making that much could, in theory, afford to owe $2,014 each month for all its bills - house, car, credit card, student loans, and any other debt.

**But how much does a house cost?**

Median home value for Los Angeles County in 2015 was $441,900. Even with a 20% down payment, monthly payments for a house at that price would be $$2,198\*. That's $184 more than the typical household can afford - and that leaves no room for student loans and car payments.

That's from the Census Bureau, and a couple of years old. The California Association of Realtors reports actual sales prices are higher, reaching a median of $474,550 in March, or $2,354 per month.

**Maybe renting would be better?**

Maybe, but not much. Average rent was [over $2,100 a year ago](http://chpc.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Los-Angeles-County.pdf), and prices have continue to rise. The report from the California Housing Partnership showed the city needs 549,197 properties to address the affordable housing problem.

With housing costs that high, and continually on the rise, you couldn't convince me to move there.

_\*Calculated based on a 20% down payment, 4% interest rate, 1.16% property tax rate, and estimated insurance premium of $1,000._
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