St. Louis
Rank: 47
Population: 304,219

St. Louis is a fun place to be, at No. 10 in our leisure rankings, on the strength of such attractions as the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, outdoor sculpture center Citygarden, and the Gateway Arch. It’s a standout for its barbecue, the bustling Laclede’s Landing historic district, and popular sports teams, including the 2011 World Series champion Cardinals. St. Louis rated the worst on this list, however, in crime.

Bars: 143
Restaurants: 795
Museums: 32
Libraries: 23
Pro sports teams: 3
Park acres per 1,000 residents: 10
Colleges: 6
Percent with graduate degree: 7.8
Median household income: $44,360
Percent unemployed: 9.8