Raleigh, North Carolina
Rank: 18
Population: 405,462

Raleigh wins the Carolinas, with strong median household income, low crime, and five universities. As one-third of the Research Triangle region, Raleigh is just minutes from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Duke University. The city features a major historical tradition with such properties as the Mordecai House and Tucker House. Residents who aren’t so interested in uninhabited old houses—especially younger residents—might prefer the sights at BugFest, the event at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Bars: 93
Restaurants: 1,007
Museums: 15
Libraries: 17
Pro sports teams: 1
Park acres per 1,000 residents: 31
Colleges: 5
Percent with graduate degree: 11.4
Median household income: $76,255
Percent unemployed: 7.8