Magazines, websites and public interest groups just love to grind their gears pitting Portland and other cities against one another based on vast swaths of sometimes-relevant, often-trivial criteria, like overgrown data-driven dogfights.
Compiled by Brandon Sawyer
Magazines, websites and public interest groups just love to grind their gears pitting Portland and other cities against one another based on vast swaths of sometimes-relevant, often-trivial criteria, like overgrown data-driven dogfights. Trying to form a vision of your city based on a compilation of these rankings is enough to drive an urban citizen mad, and we definitely don’t want to be the No. 1 most insane city in America. Here is a selection of Portland’s recent rankings:
#1 unhappiest city in America (BusinessWeek, 2009)
#3 for athletic/active people (Travel+Leisure, 2008)
#70 most migraine-afflicted area
#48 highest quality of living in the world (Mercer, 2008)
#1 best city for senior citizens
(Bankers Life and Casualty Company, 2005)
#35 best place for business and career (Forbes, 2008)
#11 best big metro city to do business (Inc., 2008)
#8 best city for beer lovers in the world (ShermansTravel, 2006)
#2 lowest business taxes as a percent gross state product (Council on State Taxation, 2009)
#1 for quality of life and visitor experience overall (Travel+Leisure, 2008)
#2 most fiscally fit city (State Farm Insurance, 2004)
#1 in sustainability (SustainLane, 2008)
#2 for farmers’ and specialty food markets (Travel+Leisure, 2008)
#1 greenest city in America (Popular Science, 2008)
#9 best long-term housing bet (Forbes.com, 2008)
#2 most secure place to live, large metro areas (Farmers Insurance Group, 2008)
#11 riskiest city for identity theft (Sperling’s BestPlaces)
#1 best city for cycling (Bicycling, 2008)
#5 worst city for bike theft (Kryptonite, 2008)
#8 best town (Outside, 2007)
#1 best city to have a baby (FitPregnancy, 2008)
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