Define "best". Best for partying, attending concerts, making and saving money, dating, buying a house, going to school, getting a job, or for smokin up? Here's my shortlist 1. San Francisco + great weather all year round (except maybe 1 month in teh winter when it rains sporadically. But when it rains in frisco, it snows in Taho, so it's good for skiing/boarding I guess) + fun outdoors stuff - hiking, skiing, running, biking + tons of bars, restaurants, clubs + music scene vibrant + lots of young cool ppl + hi-paying jobs, esp in hi-tech + great universities (well 2) - expensive - Everywhere else is far 2. New York City + Tons of stuff to do - clubs, broadway shows, etc. + hi paying jobs, esp in financial services + subway - expensive - crazy ppl encounterd, but u get used to it 3. Boston + Nice cafes, bookstores + fun stuff to do, but u need to know ur way around I guess + great schools - a little expensive - summers hot and humid, winters cold (I guess this is true for all of New England) 4. Seattle + Good bands + Warm weather - It rains like a bi*ch -/+ microsoft 5. Austin + Great bands, live music + tons of young folks + fairly cheap + With the $$ for a crappy studio in manhattan, you could get a mansion here - Arid and dry - Need to drive everywhere - rednecks 6. DC + Fun things to do esp in and around Georgetown, Dupont circle + Lots of young folks + Jobs in government (?) +/- tons of nepali folks in VA/MD/DC 7. Chicago + Metropolitan + jobs in finance - cold and windy in winter