Reviews & Comments
Clovis, NM
re: Clovis, NM the city of choice for sexual preda -
4/20/2008Dude, sexual predators are everywhere in the United States. I looked at that website, and Clovis is no worse per-capita than anyplace else. Just to make a point: Appleton, Wisconsin has TWICE as many sex offenders per capita, and that city is widely regarded to be one of the safest places to raise a family. Clovis is a nice place to raise a family, and there isn't really anything that makes it worse than anyplace else (maybe except for the polluted air, but that's about it). If you want to see the REAL city of choice for sexual predators, check out Richmond, Virginia...
Peoria, IL
re: Info - 7/3/2006 -
4/19/2008Peoria is not all dominated by Caterpillar like some people will have you believe. Bradley University is also based here, and that university is home to about 5,000 students. Several financial companies are located downtown (but I don't know if they're actually hiring or not). Caterpillar has been known for laying off some of its employees. Parts of the city feel very run-down, and the south side of the city has a reputation for high crime and being home to many of the city's drug dealers. The area north of U.S. Route 150 is the best, with excellent public schools and low crime; schools in other parts of town are rather sketchy. Bottom line: Peoria is a nice place to live if you live in the right part of town.
Peoria, IL
re: The Caterpillar mining town - 5/27/2007 -
4/19/2008Caterpillar isn't really "the only game in town". Bradley University is also based here. Caterpillar is indeed the largest employer by far, but at least it's not like there aren't any other jobs other than Wal-Mart (that is, if you have college education).
Springfield, IL
re: Springfield is a nice place to live - 4/13/200 -
4/17/2008Dude, Springfield doesn't just have a "higher than average crime rate". How about an "abysmal crime rate"? Gangs and drugs are a huge problem in Springfield, and the city government does nothing about it. They even tore down the hay homes where the poor people lived in favor of luxurious homes for rich people, causing these poor people (most of whom commit crimes to support themselves and their families) to migrate all throughout the city. Now, almost all of Springfield is a decaying city ridden with crime, trash, gangs, and drugs. ("Almost all" because there are some safe, secluded areas, but you still have to go into the crime-ridden city to eat and shop). Please do the citizens of Illinois a favor, and avoid Springfield at all possible costs. You'll be glad you did.
St. Louis, MO
re: Rebuttal of Another Review - 12/21/2007 -
4/13/2008Dude, crime in St. Louis IS rampant and I can prove it. Go to the FBI's website, click on Crime Statistics, and click on 2006. Look at the national data. You will find the overall violent crime rate in the United States is 473.5 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. Then, look up St. Louis. If you do the math using statistics on that page, you will find that St. Louis has over 2,400 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. That's about five times the overall national rate!!! If you still think that crime in St. Louis is low, take a walk on the streets at midnight...especially in downtown and the north side...and you'll think otherwise. Heck, you might not even live to tell us your story...it's really THAT dangerous!
Liberal, KS
Liberal - Pros/Cons -
4/13/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
4. Good ethnic diversity compared to the rest of Kansas
Cons:
1. Very poor school system
2. Not much to do
3. Bad weather
Garden, KS
Garden City - Pros/Cons -
4/13/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. Very poor school system
2. Not much to do
3. Bad weather (too cold in winter, too hot in summer, tornadoes, etc.)
Dodge City, KS
Dodge City - Pros/Cons -
4/13/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Extremely low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
4. Old Western town atmosphere
Cons:
1. Very poor school system
2. Not much to do
3. Bad weather
Pittsburg, KS
Pittsburg - Pros/Cons -
4/13/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Extremely low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. Poor school system
2. Limited job market
3. Bad weather
4. Not much to do
Junction City, KS
Junction City - Pros/Cons -
4/13/2008Pros:
1. Low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
3. Home to Fort Riley Military Reservation
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Poor school system
3. Not much to do
4. Bad weather
5. Overall one of the worst places to live in the state
Hays, KS
Hays - Pros/Cons -
4/13/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
4. Good school system
5. A good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Not much to do
2. Bad weather
3. Crime rises gradually each year
Quincy, IL
The Ugly Truth About Quincy -- Part II -
4/13/2008Quincy and surrounding towns are very polluted. Sidewalks littered with lit cigarettes, as well as careless people who smoke in areas where there are children, are the norm here. Trash (soda cans, candy wrappers, etc.) seems to be everywhere. Pollution in Quincy may not be at the same level as Washington DC or Los Angeles, but it is worse than most big cities I've been to (Seattle, Denver, Dallas, etc.) Quincy seems to have a lot of smokers, so maybe that's why the air has a very unclean feel to it in my opinion. The water in Quincy also tastes terrible.
Let's not get started on the downtown area. Quincy claims to be full of historic charm, but nothing could be further from the truth. The historic buildings are concentrated in a small area south of downtown, and those buildings do look nice, but that's about it. Since Quincy was an industrial town until the mid-1970s, closed-down factories are a common sight in and near downtown. Other buildings in the downtown area are about as plain as they can get. Quincy also seems to have urban decay in areas near downtown, especially on the northwest side, with houses that look like they're ready to fall apart. For the most part, Quincy is not a beautiful city at all.
Quincy does have some positive aspects. Blessing Hospital is Quincy's largest employer by far, and it offers some of the best healthcare in the Midwest. The cost of living and housing is very low, and aside from the areas with urban decay, housing quality is very good for the price. Quincy also offers a decent public transportation system for a town its size. Unfortunately, that's not enough to make up for a high crime rate, bad public schools, drug problems, a lack of things to do, pollution, and urban decay.
If the small-town life and a low cost of living are what you're looking for, there are far better options for your family than Quincy. Galesburg, which is in the northwest-central part of the state, is about the same population as Quincy, yet has a lower cost of living, much lower crime, and a much better public school system. Hannibal, Missouri, across the river 15 miles south, is also a decent option, but you'll still have to go to Quincy for higher-end shopping. But whatever you do, avoid Quincy at all costs, and don't say I didn't warn you!
Quincy, IL
The Ugly Truth About Quincy -- Part I -
4/12/2008I request that a moderator please delete my first two reviews for Quincy and all replies to them. This review is intended to replace my first two.
Quincy's city government makes it look like a wonderful place to live and raise a family. They claim that it has a low crime rate, an easy lifestyle, good schools, and nice architecture. Unfortunately, Quincy is absolutely nothing like what the city government describes. So if you're planning on relocating to Quincy from crime-ridden Chicago or St. Louis, expecting Quincy to solve all of your problems, this review will make you think twice. And there are so many things wrong with Quincy that I had to divide the review into two parts!
Low crime? BIG LIE. According to 2006 statistics (the most recent available as of this writing) from the Illinois State Police, Quincy has a violent crime rate that exceeds the national average by more than 60%. In crime statistics, a "violent crime" is defined as non-negligent murder, forcible rape, robbery, or aggravated assault. Quincy has 757.9 violent crimes per 100,000 residents -- where 473.5 is the U.S. average and 720 is considered high. Probably worsening the crime rate is the fact that most Quincians feel safe in their hometown, so much that they don't take enough measures to protect themselves from crime and eventually end up becoming a victim. And for those of you who use the usual defense of "the crime just happens in certain parts of town", keep in mind that there are not many different places to eat and shop in Quincy, and most of them are centered along Broadway Street. Everyone in Quincy -- including the criminals from these bad parts of town -- can be in any of these restaurants or stores. Also take a look at the Illinois Sex Offender Registry -- you'll be surprised at how many sex offenders per capita there are in Quincy. It's definitely not a safe place to raise a family.
Quincy also has a bad public school system. Quincy High School, the only public high school in the city, only received a score of 6 out of 10 on greatschools.net based on standardized test scores, the most accurate measure of the quality of education kids are really receiving in public schools. In addition, use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is rampant throughout the junior and senior high schools. Quincy Mayor John Spring even admitted that Quincy has huge problems with underage drinking and smoking, and I think it was the attorney general who said that cocaine was a huge problem in Quincy. Marijuana, heroin, and meth are also huge problems here (most of the meth comes from meth labs across the river in Missouri). Worsening drug use is the general lack of recreation in the Quincy area, maybe except for bowling and playing arcade games.
Emporia, KS
Emporia - Pros/Cons -
4/11/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. Bad weather
2. Poor school system
3. High unemployment
4. Not much to do
Sedalia, MO
Sedalia - Pros/Cons -
4/11/2008Pros:
1. Low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
3. Good air and water quality
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Poor school system
3. Very hot, humid summers
4. Not much to do
5. Overall one of the worst places to live in the state
Durango, CO
Durango - Pros/Cons -
4/7/2008Pros:
1. Good mountain views and recreation opportunities
2. Excellent school system
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Extremely high cost of living
3. Unaffordable place to live
4. Rapid growth
5. Huge drug problem
Durango, CO
re: Durango Great - 12/30/2006 -
4/7/2008Dude, Durango does have a high crime rate. And yes, I did look it up -- on the FBI's official webpage! Durango has the second-highest violent crime rate among Colorado cities with 5,000 or more population, with 810 violent crimes per 100,000 residents (where 450 is the national average and 700 is considered high), and rates of aggravated assault, forcible rape, and even murder are especially high. Although it isn't common, people DO get robbed in Durango (there were 4 robberies in 2006). Just because you didn't lock your doors at night doesn't mean that it's safe -- the decision to lock doors or not depends largely on a human's judgment, and humans (except for the police, of course) don't see all of the crime happening in Durango, so they can feel safe even when it's not safe at all. Bottom line: Durango's high crime and extremely high living and housing costs make it a bad place to live and raise a family.
Durango, CO
re: Durango has highest crime rate in Colorado - 7 -
4/7/2008I completely agree, except Durango doesn't have THE highest crime rate in Colorado. Among Colorado cities with a population of 5,000 or more, however, Durango has the second-highest violent crime rate, with 810 violent crimes per 100,000 residents (where 450 is the national average and 700 is considered high.) Englewood had the highest crime rate, with more than 900 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. Of course, that doesn't even include the extremely violent small towns like Cripple Creek that have less than 5,000 people, but Durango definitely has a high enough crime rate. And this is based on official FBI data, so the statistics are NOT wrong. Rates of aggravated assault, forcible rape, and murder are especially high. And speaking of murder, there wasn't a murder in Durango for years and years, but the silence was broken in 2004, when 1 or 2 murders started happening each year. This is just ridiculous for such a small, isolated town. This, combined with the extremely high cost of living, makes Durango a bad place to raise a family.
Hobbs, NM
Hobbs - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Extremely low cost of living and housing for region
2. Affordable place to live
3. Nice physical setting and climate
Cons:
1. Very high crime rate
2. Huge problem with gangs and drugs
3. Poor school system
4. Poor air quality
5. Overall one of the worst places to live in the state
Tulsa, OK
Tulsa - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
3. Good school system for a big city
4. Diverse economy
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Huge problem with gangs and drugs
3. Not much to do for a big city
Lawton, OK
Lawton - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
3. Good school system
4. Home to Fort Sill Military Reservation
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Huge problem with gangs and drugs
3. Gang problem is becoming so bad that gangs have become common in the suburbs!!!
4. Not much to do
Farmington, NM
Farmington - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of living and housing for region
3. Affordable place to live
4. Good school system
5. Nice physical setting and climate
6. Plenty of recreation in the mountains to the north
7. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Rising housing costs
2. Rapid growth
3. Very poor air quality
Farmington, NM
Cost of Living -
4/6/2008Many people complain about how high cost of living is in Farmington. But if you think Farmington is expensive, check out Durango, Colorado. Housing prices there are more than TWICE as high. Farmington's living and housing costs are rising, but are still low for the region.
Clovis, NM
Clovis - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Extremely low cost of living for region
3. Affordable place to live
4. Good school system
5. Nice physical setting and climate
6. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Not much to do
2. Very poor air quality
Cape Girardeau, MO
Cape Girardeau - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Good school system
3. Low cost of living and housing
4. Affordable place to live
5. A good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Not much to do
2. Very hot, humid summers
3. Close to some really horrible towns in Illinois
Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Good mountain views and recreation opportunities
2. No alcohol (yes, that's a pro)
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Very poor school system
3. High cost of living and housing
4. Unaffordable place to live
5. Rapid growth and sprawl
6. Poor air quality
7. Mormon culture is dominant in SLC, so Atheists will have an extremely hard time fitting in
8. Overall one of the worst places to live in the state
Boulder, CO
Boulder - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Very low crime rate
2. Excellent school system
3. Beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains
4. Home to University of Colorado
5. A good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Extremely high cost of living and housing
2. Unaffordable place to live
3. Bad traffic compared to other cities its size
4. UC is a big party school
Fort Collins, CO
Fort Collins - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of living and housing for the region
3. Affordable place to live
4. Excellent school system
5. Beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains
6. Home to Colorado State University
7. A good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. CSU is a big party school
2. Rapid growth
Grand Junction, CO
Grand Junction - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Excellent outdoor recreation
3. Best air quality in the state
Cons:
1. Poor school system
2. High cost of living and housing
3. Unaffordable place to live
4. Huge meth lab problem
5. Rapid growth
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Hot, dry, sunny climate
2. Good school system
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. High cost of living and housing
3. Unaffordable place to live
4. Very poor air quality
5. Horrible traffic
6. Extremely rapid growth and sprawl
7. I could go on and on...Don't move to Phoenix!
Denver, CO
re: Denver - 7/10/2006 -
4/6/2008True, but it still does have high crime on a national scale.
Clovis, NM
re: Clovis is not a good place to live - 1/8/2006 -
4/6/2008"Schools here are inferior to many in the nation" and "schools in Mississippi are far superior"? Where do you get your statistics? Based on data from greatschools.net, Clovis schools are not that bad.
Roswell, NM
Roswell - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Extremely low cost of living and housing for region
2. Affordable place to live
3. Good school system
4. Nice physical setting and climate
5. The UFO museum and local obsession with aliens
6. 21% decrease in violent crime from 2005-2006
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Huge problem with gangs and drugs
3. Aside from visiting the UFO museum, there's not much to do
Roswell, NM
Alien culture is big in Roswell -
4/6/2008If you are interested in space aliens, Roswell is a decent place to visit. They've got a UFO museum, a lot of alien statues, and a local obsession with aliens (for instance, they have an "Aliens Welcome" sign on the Arby's restaurant). As a place to live, Roswell is a mixed bag. The climate is great, the school system is good, and cost of living is extremely low for the region, but crime is high and there is a huge problem with gangs and drugs. But with a 21% decrease in violent crime from 2005 to 2006, it looks like police are working hard at eliminating the problem. Also, while Roswell is by no means a boomtown, it has attracted people from larger cities seeking an extremely low cost of living and a slow-paced lifestyle.
Roswell, NM
re: Crime, Crime, Crime - 11/6/2005 -
4/6/2008Nope...as of the time I'm writing this comment, Albuquerque has higher crime than Roswell. Look up the statistics.
Las Cruces, NM
Las Cruces - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of living and housing for region
3. Affordable place to live
4. Good school system
5. Nice physical setting and climate
6. A good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Rapid growth
2. Poor air quality
Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Low cost of living and housing for the region
2. Affordable place to live
3. Good school system
4. Nice physical setting and climate
5. Diverse, stable economy
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Huge problem with gangs and drugs
3. No major league sports teams
4. Rapid growth and sprawl
5. Poor air quality
Albuquerque, NM
re: Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) - What A JOKE -
4/6/2008Your kids must have been going to one of the really bad high schools in Albuquerque. A lot of the high schools in APS actually have very good test scores. Go to www.greatschools.net and you'll see what I'm talking about. People should be more concerned about crime, gangs, and drugs than the school system in Albuquerque.
Pueblo, CO
Pueblo - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Extremely low cost of living and housing for region
3. Affordable place to live
4. Beautiful view of the mountains
5. Lake recreation at Lake Pueblo nearby
Cons:
1. People have to drive 40 miles to Colorado Springs for work
2. Poor school system
3. Huge meth lab problem
4. You have to travel 50 miles or more for mountain recreation
Seattle, WA
Seattle - Pros/Cons -
4/6/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Public schools are excellent for a big city
3. Beautiful views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker
4. Good weather
5. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Very high cost of living and housing
2. Unaffordable place to live
3. It rains a lot, and there aren't enough sunny days
4. Horrible traffic
Canon City, CO
Canon City - Pros/Cons -
4/5/2008Pros:
1. Plenty of outdoor recreation
2. Extremely low cost of living and housing for region
3. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Poor school system
3. City government is corrupt
4. Rapid growth
5. Overall one of the worst places to live in the state
Canon City, CO
re: Canon City - 8/13/2007 -
4/5/2008"Low crime rate"? Please look up factual statistics. According to the FBI, Canon City has almost 800 violent crimes per 100,000 residents -- where 450 is the national average and 700 is considered high. Even more insulting is the fact that Canon City only had 200 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2003. You heard that right -- crime in Canon City has QUADRUPLED in just 3 years!!! Canon City is a terrible place to live and raise a family, with its high crime (especially for such a small town), bad public schools, and corruption. If you want a good place to live and raise a family, check out Colorado Springs, 50 miles northeast. (Interestingly, in your review for that city, you claim that it has a "high crime rate", when in fact, it has a MUCH lower crime rate than Canon City.) But whatever you do, avoid Canon City at all costs, and don't say I didn't warn you!
Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs - Pros/Cons -
4/5/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Good school system
3. Low cost of living and housing for the region
4. Affordable place to live
5. Beautiful view of the mountains
6. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Extremely rapid population growth
2. A whole bunch of religious organizations trying to shove their beliefs down your throat
3. No major league sports teams
Denver, CO
Denver - Pros/Cons -
4/5/2008Pros:
1. Beautiful view of the mountains
2. Nice downtown
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. High cost of living and housing
3. Unaffordable place to live
4. Poor school system
5. Snobby people
6. Horrible traffic
7. Overall one of the worst places to live in the state
Spokane, WA
Spokane - Pros/Cons -
4/5/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of living and housing for the region
3. Affordable place to live
4. Good school system
5. Good weather
6. Plenty of outdoor recreation
7. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. General lack of sunny days
2. Rising housing costs
3. Some ghetto areas
4. Compared to the rest of Washington, Spokane seems to have a significant meth lab problem
Seattle, WA
Comments about Seattle -
4/5/2008Seattle is one of the best big cities in the United States. The city has beautiful views of Mt. Rainier to the south and Mt. Baker to the north, and has good weather devoid of extremes. Seattle is also a nice place to raise a family, with low crime for a large city and an excellent public school system. On the downside, the very high cost of living and housing makes it inaccessible to most middle-class people. While it rarely snows in the city, rain is common and there is a general lack of sunny days compared to other cities in the United States. Also, if you don't like the typical disadvantages of living in a big city (such as crowding and traffic), Seattle is not the place for you.
Joplin, MO
Joplin - Pros/Cons -
3/28/2008Pros:
1. Good school system
2. Low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Very hard to find a job
3. Not much to do
4. It was a good place to live, but that attracted people from all around the country that screwed it up
Joplin, MO
re: Information please. - 2/21/2007 -
3/28/2008Joplin is not a good place to live or raise a family. The crime rate is high and is bound to get even worse over the next 10 years. Springfield, which is 100 miles northeast, still has quality schools while also offering low crime and a better job market than Joplin. However, there is more of a meth lab problem in Springfield (at least in certain parts). Generally, if you check the sex offender registry to make sure your house isn't near any sex offenders and research the schools your house is zoned to, you should be alright. Good luck with your move.
Joplin, MO
It used to be a good place to live... -
3/28/200810 years ago, Joplin was a model for how a Midwestern city should be. It had very low crime, the lowest living and housing costs in the country, and good schools. It was a peaceful, quiet community where people could walk the streets without the fear of being shot, stabbed, beaten, raped, or mugged.
10 years later, Joplin is a complete mess, with more than triple the crime it used to have. Don't believe me? In 1999, Joplin had 275 violent crimes per 100,000 residents (where 450 is the national average); today, it has 875 (where 700 is considered high). The reasons are unknown, but looking at the population statistics, I would have to say that population growth is to blame. Joplin is by no means a boomtown, but no doubt about it, it has attracted people from other parts of the country seeking extremely low living costs and a slow-paced, small-town lifestyle. This obviously attracts economically disadvantaged individuals and even gangs from L.A. (OK, I don't know if there are really any gangs in Joplin, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was...) One of my friends even survived a SCHOOL SHOOTING at one of the middle schools in Joplin (has anyone ever heard about that in the news?). Still, the schools retain their high quality of education, and cost of living is still low, despite a rise in home prices over the past 10 years.
Overall, I would not recommend Joplin as a place to live or raise a family. The crime rate is high and bound to get even worse over the next 10 years, and the poor job market does nothing to help. And if you want quality schools, Springfield (which is about 100 miles northeast) is a better option. The living costs are a little higher there, but at least it has low crime and a better job market.
Wichita, KS
Wichita - Pros/Cons -
3/20/2008Pros:
1. Low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Poor school system
3. Not much to do for a big city
4. Wichita is in the middle of tornado valley, and I think it's been hit by a tornado twice in the 1990s
5. Overall one of the worst places to live in the state
Topeka, KS
Crime Rate -
3/20/2008There seems to be this stereotype around Kansas about how dangerous Topeka is and how safe Lawrence (home to University of Kansas) is. While both have low crime for cities their size, Lawrence is actually the more dangerous city, with about 600 violent crimes per 100,000 residents (where 450 is the national average and 700 is considered high). Topeka has closer to 500.
So the next time you do a stereotypical comparison of two cities, look up the facts instead of basing your judgment on an "opinion" that could very well be wrong.
Topeka, KS
Topeka - Pros/Cons -
3/20/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. Very poor school system
2. Not much to do
3. Finding a job in Topeka is not easy
Kearney, NE
Kearney - Pros/Cons -
3/20/2008Pros:
1. Very low crime rate
2. Low cost of housing
3. Quiet, peaceful community
Cons:
1. Poor school system
2. Taxes in Nebraska are extremely high due to the presence of wealthy people like Warren Buffett (richest man in the world)
3. Not much to do
Lincoln, NE
Lincoln - Pros/Cons -
3/20/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of housing
3. Home to the University of Nebraska and the state government
Cons:
1. Not much to do
2. Taxes in Nebraska are extremely high due to the presence of wealthy people like Warren Buffett (richest man in the world)
3. There's not enough data on the school system, so I don't know if it's good or not
Omaha, NE
Omaha - Pros/Cons -
3/20/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of housing
3. Nice downtown
Cons:
1. Not much to do for a big city
2. Taxes are extremely high due to the presence of wealthy people like Warren Buffett (richest person in the world)
3. There's not enough data on the school system, so I don't know if it's good or not
Ottumwa, IA
Ottumwa - Pros/Cons -
3/16/2008Pros:
1. Extremely low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Very poor school system
3. Economically depressed
4. Drug problems
5. Not much to do
6. One of the worst places to live in the state
Danville, IL
Danville - Pros/Cons -
3/16/2008Pros:
1. Extremely low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
3. Some lake recreation nearby
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Very poor school system
3. Economically depressed
4. High unemployment
5. One of the worst places to live in the state
Galesburg, IL
Galesburg - Pros/Cons -
3/16/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Good school system
3. Extremely low cost of living and housing
4. Affordable place to live
5. A good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Not much to do
2. Hearing the trains blow their horns every half-hour
3. Finding a job in Galesburg is not easy
Danville, IL
One of the worst cities in the state! -
3/1/2008Danville is easily one of the worst places to live in the state of Illinois. Crime is high, schools are terrible, and the area is economically depressed. Unemployment and poverty are huge problems here. On the plus side, it has all the advantages of a small town, and housing is dirt-cheap (as to be expected from such a crappy place to live). Unfortunately, that's not enough to save Danville from becoming one of Illinois' future ghost towns. Avoid Danville at all costs, and don't say I didn't warn you!
East St. Louis, IL
The worst place to live in America, period! -
2/17/2008When people are talking about "the ghetto", they're talking about East St. Louis, no doubt about it. With more than 7,000 violent crimes committed per 100,000 residents (where 450 is the national average and 700 is considered high), anyone who truly feels safe living here has to be involved in illegal activities. It's just terrible how the city government and police department have been lazy enough to allow the city to become like this. The ONLY positive thing about East St. Louis is the extremely low cost of living, but that is very typical of such a decayed, blighted, crime-ridden city. They call East St. Louis "The City of Champions", but nothing could be further from the truth...it's more like "The City of Gangsters, Crooks, Drug Dealers, and Rapists Working Against Innocent People". If it's not clear up to this point, DO NOT live in this city unless you want your life to be ruined forever!!!
Waterloo, IA
Waterloo - Pros/Cons -
2/17/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Extremely low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. Some economically depressed areas (there were a lot of lay-offs at John Deere in the 1980s)
2. Poor school system
3. Not very much to do
Dubuque, IA
Dubuque - Pros/Cons -
2/17/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
4. Good school system
5. Historic downtown featured regularly in the movies
6. A lot of amenities for a town its size
7. Recent job growth
8. Diverse, stable economy
9. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Not much to do, unless you're into arts and culture
2. The job growth may cause high population growth, which has good and bad consequences
3. Crime, while still low, rises gradually each year
Sioux City, IA
Sioux City - Pros/Cons -
2/17/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Extremely low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
4. They're revitalizing the downtown
Cons:
1. Poor school system
2. Not very much to do
3. The economy is not as good as other cities in Iowa
Sioux City, IA
re: Crime - 9/5/2005 -
2/16/2008The crime "scales" on this site are not always accurate. If you want more accurate crime statistics, look at the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports. You are right -- Modesto is a much more dangerous place to live, and it was recently ranked by "Cities Ranked and Rated", written by the same people as this website (but much more accurate), as the worst place to live in the United States. Sioux City got a modest ranking of #226. Sioux City isn't really a great place to raise a family (because of the poor school system), but the crime rate is only slightly above the U.S. average.
Iowa City, IA
Iowa City - Pros/Cons -
2/16/2008Pros:
1. Very low crime rate
2. Excellent school system
3. Affordable place to live
4. Diverse, stable economy
5. Home to the University of Iowa
6. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Not very much to do
2. High housing costs
Cedar Rapids, IA
Cedar Rapids - Pros/Cons -
2/16/2008Pros:
1. Very low crime rate
2. Good school system
3. Low cost of living and housing
4. Affordable place to live
5. Diverse, stable economy
6. Home to Quaker Oats and several other industrial producers
7. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. The city smells from the Quaker Oats factories
2. Not very much to do
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines - Pros/Cons -
2/16/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
4. Diverse, stable economy
Cons:
1. Very poor school system
2. Not very much to do
3. Very cold winters
Fort Madison, IA
Fort Madison - Pros/Cons -
2/16/2008Pros:
1. Extremely low crime rate
2. Extremely low cost of living and housing
3. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. Poor school system
2. Not very much to do
Kansas City, MO
Kansas City - Pros/Cons -
2/16/2008Pros:
1. Diverse economy
2. Plenty of things to do
3. Low cost of living and housing
4. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. Very high crime rate
2. Very poor school system
3. Very polluted
4. Huge meth lab problem
5. Huge problem with gangs and drugs
Independence, MO
Independence - Pros/Cons -
2/16/2008Pros:
1. Low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
3. Good school system
4. Plenty of jobs and things to do in nearby Kansas City
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Huge meth lab problem -- I hear that Independence is the "meth lab capital of the U.S."
3. Nearby Kansas City is a horrible place to live
O'Fallon, MO
O'Fallon - Pros/Cons -
2/16/2008Pros:
1. Extremely low crime rate
2. Good school system
3. Affordable place to live
4. Plenty of jobs and things to do in nearby St. Louis
5. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. High housing costs
2. Extremely rapid growth
3. Nearby St. Louis is one of the worst places to live in the country
St. Louis, MO
St. Louis - Pros/Cons -
2/16/2008Pros:
1. A lot of things to do, including visiting the Gateway Arch
2. Diverse economy
3. Low cost of living and housing
4. Affordable place to live
5. School system is better than in many big cities
Cons:
1. Very high crime rate
2. High unemployment
3. Very polluted
4. Huge problems with gangs and drugs
5. Russian Mafia presence
6. One of the worst places to live in the country
Keokuk, IA
Keokuk - Pros/Cons -
2/10/2008Pros:
1. Extremely low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Very poor school system
3. Not much to do
4. It's too small to have any "parts" of town, so crime is a city-wide problem
Moline, IL
Moline - Pros/Cons -
2/10/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Low cost of living
3. Affordable place to live
4. Good school system
5. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Not much to do
2. It's in between Rock Island and Davenport, Iowa, which are both horrible places to live
Rock Island, IL
Rock Island - Pros/Cons -
2/10/2008Pros:
1. Extremely low cost of living
2. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Poor school system
3. Not much to do
Davenport, IA
Davenport - Pros/Cons -
2/10/2008Pros:
1. Low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
3. Headquarters for John Deere are across the river in Moline, IL
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Very poor school system
3. Not very much to do
4. The economy is dominated by John Deere
St. Louis, MO
Wasteland City, U.S.A. -
2/10/2008If people truly, in their heart, feel safe in the City of St. Louis, then something is definitely not right with them. According to the FBI, St. Louis has an amazing 2,000 violent crimes committed per 100,000 residents (where 450 is the national average and a 700 is considered high). I have visited St. Louis several times, and I think it is a wasteland ridden with crime, trash, gangs, and drugs. But that's not the whole story! A friend of mine told me that he knew this woman who worked for this guy in St. Louis, but she quit after finding out that he worked for the Russian Mafia. You heard that right -- St. Louis not only has generic street gangs, but the Russian Mafia as well!
St. Louis, being the wasteland that it is, does have a few positives. The school system, while not exactly great, is better than in many big cities. The cost of living and housing is low. The economy is very diverse, and there are plenty of things to do (such as visiting the Gateway Arch), but those two positives are very typical of a big city. All things considered, St. Louis is one of the worst places to live in the country. Avoid it at all costs, and don't say I didn't warn you!
Normal, IL
Normal - Pros/Cons -
2/10/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Excellent school system
3. Affordable place to live
4. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. High housing costs
2. Not much to do
Bloomington, IL
Bloomington - Pros/Cons -
2/10/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Good school system
3. Affordable place to live
4. Stable economy
5. Home to State Farm Insurance and Illinois State University
6. Rated as one of the best places to live in the U.S. by Money Magazine
7. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Not much to do
2. High cost of housing
Decatur, IL
Decatur - Pros/Cons -
2/10/2008Pros:
1. Extremely low cost of living
2. Affordable place to live
3. Home to ADM Corporation
Cons:
1. The city literally stinks from the ADM factories
2. High crime rate
3. Not much to do
4. Poor school system
5. The economy is dominated by ADM, so it's hard to find employment if you don't want to work for them
Peoria, IL
Peoria - Pros/Cons -
2/10/2008Pros:
1. Low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
3. Diverse economy
4. Good school system
5. Home to Bradley University and Caterpillar Corporation
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Not much to do
3. I think there have been some lay-offs at Caterpillar
Springfield, MO
Springfield, MO - Pros/Cons -
2/10/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Excellent school system
3. Low cost of living and housing
4. Affordable place to live
5. Stable economy
6. Home to 5 or so colleges, including Missouri State University
7. Lots of recreation nearby in the Ozarks
8. An overall good place to live
Cons:
1. Huge meth lab problem, as pointed out by other reviewers
2. It is largely religious, so if you're an Atheist you generally won't fit in
Columbia, MO
Columbia - Pros/Cons -
2/10/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Excellent school system
3. Affordable place to live
4. Home to the University of Missouri
5. Overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. UM is a big party school
2. High cost of housing
3. The economy is dominated by UM, so it's hard to find employment if you don't want to work there
Macomb, IL
Macomb - Pros/Cons -
2/10/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Excellent school system
3. Low cost of living and housing
4. Affordable place to live
5. Home to Western Illinois University, a "Best in the Midwest" college as rated by Princeton Review
6. An overall good place to live
Cons:
1. Huge drug problem (but the police seem to be making progress)
2. WIU is a big party school (they're making progress alleviating that too)
3. The economy is dominated by WIU, so it's hard to find employment if you don't want to work there
Barry, IL
Barry - Pros/Cons -
2/9/2008Pros:
1. Everyone knows everyone really well
2. Extremely low cost of living
3. Affordable place to live
Cons:
1. Very high crime rate -- the Pittsfield kids are now beating the living crap out of the other kids here. The 1 / 10 for violent crime on this website is WRONG.
2. Very poor school system
3. Very polluted
4. Problems with bullying and underage smoking/drinking
5. Probably one of the worst small towns in Illinois, if not THE worst.
Hannibal, MO
Hannibal - Pros/Cons -
2/9/2008Pros:
1. Low crime rate
2. Extremely low cost of living
3. Affordable place to live
4. Good school system
5. Very nice downtown
6. The Mark Twain amenities, such as Mark Twain Cave and Mark Twain's childhood home
7. Mark Twain Lake is nearby
8. An overall good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Very polluted -- lots of illegal trash dumping
2. Not very much to do aside from the amenities listed above
3. It's only 10 miles from Quincy, Illinois, which is a horrible place to live
Quincy, IL
Quincy - Pros/Cons -
2/9/2008Pros:
1. Low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
3. The Bayview Bridge is really nice
Cons:
1. High crime rate
2. Sidewalks are very polluted
3. Nothing to do
4. Poor school system
5. Drug problems
6. It's too small to have any "parts" of town, so crime is a city-wide problem
Springfield, IL
Springfield - Pros/Cons -
2/9/2008Pros:
1. Low cost of living and housing
2. Affordable place to live
3. Good school system
4. Visiting the State Capitol
Cons:
1. Very high crime rate
2. Huge problem with gangs and drugs
3. Lots of illegal trash dumping and vandalism
4. Nothing to do
5. The city government is corrupt
6. The "good" areas of town have suddenly gone bad
Springfield, IL
A horrible, crime-ridden city. -
2/9/2008Across the state of Illinois, Springfield has a stereotype for being "peaceful and quiet" and "typically Midwestern". But having several friends that used to live in Springfield, having looked at the crime statistics to back up their statements about the city, and having visited the city several times, I can assure you that Springfield is the exact opposite of its stereotype.
Springfield has a very high crime rate that makes it impossible to live there without being in fear of becoming a victim of crime. In fact, it's probably the most dangerous mid-sized city in the state (with about 1,500 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, where 450 is the national average and a 700 is considered high). The aggravated assault rate in particular is over 4 times the national average. Gang- and drug-related violence is the norm here. In mid-sized cities like Springfield, crime can usually be avoided by not living in the bad parts of town. However, as one reviewer mentioned, the corrupt city government demolished the hay homes where the poor people lived in favor of luxurious homes for the rich people, forcing these poor people (many of whom commit crimes to support themselves and their families) to live in areas of Springfield that used to have low crime. Because of this, gangs and drugs are a huge problem almost everywhere in the city. Further aggravating drug use is the general lack of things to do in the city, except for visiting the State Capitol. The city is also very polluted, with a lot of illegal trash dumping and vandalism.
Springfield does have a few positives. Thanks in part to a large campus of the University of Illinois as well as the presence of the state government, the public school system is good and educational attainment is some of the best in the state. The cost of living and housing is very low, and the economy is fairly stable, with lots of state government jobs. Unfortunately, that's not enough to save a corrupt city ridden with crime, trash, gangs, and drugs. Avoid Springfield at all costs, and don't say I didn't warn you!
Colorado Springs, CO
A couple of comments... -
1/12/2008I have not lived in Colorado Springs before. However, I noticed how some people are complaining about how high the crime rate is. Of course it's going to have a higher number of TOTAL crimes going on than, let's say, Pueblo, because Colorado Springs has almost 4 times the population of that city. The crime RATE measures crime per 100,000 residents.
Colorado Springs has about 500 violent crimes per 100,000 residents -- just slightly higher than the national average. Pueblo has about 600. Canon City, a small town about 50 miles southwest of COS, has almost 800, which is considered high. Which city are you more scared to live in? Don't forget that in a larger city like COS, you can avoid crime by not living in the bad parts of the city. Unlike a smaller city (such as Quincy, IL), there are many places to eat and shop, so you generally don't have to worry about being beat up at the store by someone from the bad parts of the city. Judging by the news on krdo.com, most of the crime seems to happen on the east side of the city.
Finally, on krdo.com, they had a news story on how crime was rising in small towns like Cascade, Cripple Creek, and Canon City. That considered, I'd rather live in COS than any of those towns.
Quincy, IL
Another note about crime and pollution... -
10/21/2007I'll probably win a lot of enemies with my SperlingView of Quincy, but I stand by what I said. Sure, the pollution in Quincy may not be as bad as in Washington DC or Los Angeles, but I've been to many cities in the United States -- these include Seattle, Oklahoma City, Dallas, and many smaller cities -- and Quincy is the most polluted of all those cities. I mean, at least in those places, people don't lay their lit cigarettes on the sidewalk or smoke carelessly near children.
People are always complaining about how dangerous Hannibal, Missouri (the city across the river about 15 miles south of Quincy) is and how safe Quincy is. Again, people are grossly misinformed when they think that. Hannibal has a violent crime index of about 450; Quincy's is 850. And those are based on crimes committed per 100,000 residents, so don't say that Quincy's larger population is distorting the crime statistics. By contrast, the violent crime indexes in New York City and L.A. are both about 700. You heard that right. Quincy is more dangerous than NYC and LA. That says a lot, considering the negative image that both cities get when it comes to crime.
People will say, "But if you stay away from the bad parts of town, you'll be OK". That's not true, either. The crime rate affects the entire city because everyone from all parts of Quincy go to the same part of town to do their shopping, eating, etc. So somebody could get beat up at the Quincy Mall by someone from the bad parts of town. Since there's only one public high school and one public middle school in Quincy, every teenager from every part of town goes to the same school (unless they go to Quincy Notre Dame, which is a private religious school). This creates a good opportunity for drug-dealing kids from the projects to be making drug deals to non-project kids at school.
Quincy, IL
Another horrible place to live. -
10/20/2007Quincy and the surrounding area is one of the most boring, polluted, crime-ridden, and overall worst places you'll ever live.
All of the comments posted mentioned that Quincy has "low crime". This is absolutely not true. If you look at the crime statistics for the city, you'll notice that about 850 (I couldn't remember the exact number) violent crimes were committed per every 100,000 residents, where an 800 is considered high. Yes, I know it's a larger city, but I said "per 100,000 residents". In crime statistics, a violent crime is defined as murder, forcible rape, robbery, or aggravated assault. Except for murder, all of those crimes are very common in Quincy, especially aggravated assault. You should also take a look at the Illinois Sex Offender Registry -- you'll be surprised at how many sex offenders live in Quincy. It's definitely not a safe place to raise children.
Quincy and surrounding towns are also very polluted. It's not uncommon to see a sidewalk littered with lit cigarettes, or even people carelessly smoking in areas where there are children!!! The air seems to have a very "unclean" feel to it, and the water tastes terrible.
I have not been to Quincy Public Schools yet, but I should probably be glad I haven't. Quincy Mayor John Spring actually admitted that his own city has a huge problem with underage drinking! I have also heard of problems with illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.) in the high schools, which further aggravates matters. This is probably because of a lack of things to do in the city, except for bowling and (not surprisingly) smoking, drinking, and doing drugs.
On the positive side, housing is very affordable and the quality of housing is very good for the price. Unfortunately, that can't make up for a high crime rate, pollution, drug problems, and a lack of things to do. Unless you're masochistic, you should stay away from Quincy.