Pittsburgh Is America's Most Livable City

If you haven't heard, the rest of America just validated what we here in Pittsburgh have known all along: Pittsburgh is America's most livable city.

(Okay, that's partially a lie -- we here in Pittsburgh tend to nitpick every little aspect of life in the 'burgh, so we had NO IDEA we were the most livable. But, when compared to other cities, it makes sense: for as much as we'd like to see improved around here, nearly everything about Pittsburgh is pretty good as-is.)

How did Pittsburgh make it to the top? From the article (bolded text is ours):

"There are nine categories: housing affordability (cost of living); transportation; jobs; education; climate; crime; health care; recreation; and ambience (museums, performing arts, restaurants and historical districts).

The seven-county area that makes up Pittsburgh failed to finish in the top 20 in any of the categories, ranging from a competitive 21st in recreation and 29th in education to a less-than-stellar 111th in housing and 135th in climate. But when the numbers are added up, the one that counts is the final total."

Hmm. So we won by being NOT PARTICULARLY BAD in any area?

We can live with that. After all...

"This is the seventh edition of the "Places Rated Almanac," and Pittsburgh hasn't always finished first, dropping as low as 14th in 1997 and 12th in 1999, the last year that the listings were done. But the city is the only one to finish in the top 20 every time."

New possible Allegheny County slogan -- "Pittsburgh: we're always decent."