The Mile High City is cooler than Boston, Dallas and New York, but we don’t even make the Top 5 when it comes to being the coolest in the U.S.
That’s according to a new list from Forbes Magazine, which takes into account a city’s entertainment options, “foodie” culture, diversity, age spread and population growth using data from Sperling’s BestPlaces, a statistics-driven research site.
“This metric essentially measures ways you might spend a Saturday, quantifying the availability of professional and college sports events, zoos and aquariums, golf courses, ski areas, and National parks, among others,” wrote Forbes scribe Erin Carlyle.
Denver would seem to have a distinct advantage over many cities, given our young, educated populace, the number of new bars and restaurants that have opened recently, and the city’s plethora of live culture and entertainment options.
Still, Denver only ranked No. 7 when it came to the Top 10 coolest cities in the country, despite our Arts & Culture Index score of 96 (out of 100) and Recreation Index of 91.
Rounding out the Top 10: Riverside, Calif. at No. 8, Boston at No. 9 and Dallas at No. 10.
So who beat us?
6. San Diego, Calif.
This southern California city had a higher percentage of young people and a better Local Eats score than Denver. But wouldn’t you quickly tire of all the seaside lazing and high rents? And where are you going to snowboard in the winter?
5. San Francisco, Calif.
It’s hard to argue with San Francisco, which has been one of the coolest cities in the world for at least a century. But as with New York, many have lately bemoaned the loss of authentic grit in this former Beat and hippie epicenter, given the influx of young, rich, white tech workers streaming up the hill.
4. Houston, Texas
OK, we’re legitimately surprised by the inclusion of Houston here. But its Diversity Index (74.36) doesn’t lie, and the amount of food and entertainment options for the city’s huge population (6 million in the metro area as of 2012) is legit. We’ll let this one slide.
3. Austin, Texas
While Austin’s live music is legendary, the city in recent years has become choked with hipsters, wannabe celebrity chefs and software developers that have turned it into a twangy Portland, Ore. (i.e. insufferably smug) — minus the refreshing Pacific air and scenery. South by Southwest aside, Denver’s got better weather and just as much going on. Maybe not in the barbecue realm, but still.
2. Seattle, Wash.
The 1990s were kind to Seattle’s cultural renown, but fading glory does not a sustainable paradise make. Throw a dart and you’ll find a better version of something in Denver. Affordability? Check. Comedy scene? Check. Legal weed? Their system is a shambles compared to ours. Weather? I trust this doesn’t even need to be addressed. And we might even get a chance to avenge our Super Bowl loss with tonight’s pre-season Broncos vs. Seahawks game.
1. Washington, D.C.
No doubt D.C. benefits from being a relatively Vatican-sized slice in the middle of a sprawling Eastern pie, but we’re going to have to call BS on this one. No amount of mover-and-shaker bars or aging punk culture is going to convince us that this violent, gridlocked, hyper-Type A town is cooler than Denver. More humid? Sure. But hardly cooler.
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642, jwenzel@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johnwenzel
