3 Florida cities make HGTV top 20 of best mid-sized cities in US. See which one came in at No. 1
If big-city living isn't your thing but a more rural lifestyle doesn't sound attractive either, you may be interested in HGTV's list of the best mid-sized cities in the United States.
One Florida city, Tampa, came in at No. 1 on the list, with another in the top 10 at No. 3 and a third squeaking into the top 20.
HGTV described mid-sized cities as those with a population between 100,000 and 500,000. Citing the U.S. Census Bureau and think tank Milken Institute, HGTV said "newcomers are flocking to these cities."
Here are HGTV's 20 "favorite mid-size cities on the upswing that are worthy of your attention."
The top-ranked mid-sized city in the U.S. on HGTV's list was Tampa, on Florida's west coast. Here's what HGTV had to say about Tampa:
"Tampa has a population of nearly 400,000 and it's showing no signs of slowing down, continuing to attract visitors with easy access to theme parks, major league sports teams, contemporary museums and, of course, white sandy beaches on Florida's Gulf Coast.
"Visitors flock to Tampa for Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and the Tampa Museum of Art, as well as the 2.6-mile Tampa Riverwalk that meanders alongside Hillsborough River."
Gobankingrates.com on singles living in Tampa:
Salary needed to live comfortably: $92,708
Median household income: $71,302
Average monthly cost of living: $3,863
Separated from Tampa only by Henderson, Nevada, Port St. Lucie on Florida's east coast, was ranked No. 3 by HGTV. Here's what was said:
"Port St. Lucie, a town of more than 200,000 residents, jumped in population size by 5% in one year. Of course, Clover Park is a fan favorite. It's the spring training home for the New York Mets. Not a baseball fan? Not a problem. There are plenty of outdoor draws for nature enthusiasts, like Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens and Savannas Preserve State Park, which is a go-to for kayaking, biking and birdwatching. For beach access, head to Jensen Beach for quiet stretches of coastline and fantastic fishing."
Three Florida cities made HGTV's list for the best 20 mid-sized cities in the United States, with two appearing in the top 10:
Tampa, Florida
Henderson, Nevada
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Overland Park, Kansas
Fort Collins, Colorado
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Frisco, Texas
Huntsville, Alabama
Durham, North Carolina
Boise, Idaho
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Modesto, California
Lubbock, Texas
Omaha, Nebraska
Knoxville, Tennessee
Kansas City, Missouri
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Madison, Wisconsin
Salem, Oregon
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is growing, moving up in the ranks as a top mid-size city, appealing for a feel that is both urban and suburban. The state capital wows with its historic downtown, public art works and a vibrant nightlife scene, as well as public parks and green spaces
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: HGTV lists Tampa as No. 1 mid-sized city in US
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vogue
an hour ago
- Vogue
Heat Check—Stay Cool in Summer's Best Button-Up Shirts
Summer, in many ways, is all about the classics. Maybe it's the built-in nostalgia of the season. When the weather warms up, we're hit with that 'school's out' feeling—whether or not we're still heading into the office every day. High temps and long days call for old-school ease: bike rides, beach reads, and after-dinner ice cream. However long or fleeting summer months can feel, the season is all about ease and simplicity, and sartorially, few staples capture that carefree spirit better than the button-up shirt. Vogue's Favorite Summer Button-Up Shirts Button-up shirts are a wardrobe staple year-round, but they're especially essential in the warmer months. Whether you're shielding your bikini from a salty breeze or your sanity from relentless office air conditioning, it's a reliable companion—one that carries you effortlessly through any summer situation. And with options ranging from crisp poplin to breezy linen, soft silk to classic chambray—not to mention plenty done up in summer's top-trending colors—there are endless choices, and of course, an equally vast amount of styling opportunities. Shop some of our favorites in the edit below. Cotton Linen Silk Chambray Crochet Cropped Print
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Realizing how few summers I have left with my oldest son at home made me want to go back to work
I was recently struck with the realization that we have six summers left with my oldest child. The time for that "one day in the future" family road trip just became now. Going back to work will not only fund these once-in-a-lifetime trips, but also kickstart my career. I used to think I had unlimited time with my children, filled with playdates and cuddles on the sofa. It wasn't until recently that I considered going back to work full-time. It all started in the school pickup line. It was the last day of school, and I was surprising my kids with a trip to our local novelty shop to buy Pokémon cards. My oldest, Noah, climbed into the front seat. "Woo hoo!" I screamed out the window, to the horror of my middle child, who was shoved next to his sister in the back seat. "You're all done with school!" "And I'm finished with 6th grade!" shouted my oldest, "Only six more years to go." It was then that it hit me, with a terrible clarity that nearly made my eyes water. Six more years? Just six more summers before he finished high school? Six short summers — to have water balloon fights, go to trampoline parks, and swim until our hair turns green? And six more opportunities to drive to the Tetons on an epic family road trip that I'd planned in my head but had never taken. Opportunities to show them the world that we'd seen, but together, as a family. With my oldest son entering 7th grade, time to take that "we'll do that later"-vacation is dwindling. Sure, I can tell him about Southern England and the small town where he was born, or we could go there together. He could see the shoreline where I used to walk to work while I was pregnant with him — experience the gulls diving into the frigid sea. But how? In the early days of our marriage, my husband and I traveled quite a bit, even moving to England for a stint after finishing our Master's programs. We made a pact just after my oldest was born that we'd take a big trip for his high school graduation — Cairo, to see the Grand Egyptian Museum, or a river cruise down the Nile — back when we were barely making car payments and utilities. We knew traveling with a family would only be possible with two incomes. Yet, I quit my full-time job to raise our children. While my husband worked, I held my babies and watched them take their first steps. We walked the pathways at our local zoo and made playdates with other moms and their children. I worked part-time, teaching music lessons and writing to pay the grocery bill. Though it was the right choice for us, the decision to live on one full-time income came with sacrifices. Thankfully, we always had what we needed, but we were never really able to save for those big family trips we'd always dreamed of. I am ready to start saving for an epic trip, but I'm also ready to kick-start my career. Having done gig work most of my life, I considered simply upping my hours and continuing to work for myself. After a "go get 'em, babe" from my husband and a check-in with my kids, I dusted off my résumé and put it out there. Two weeks in, and I've already gotten an offer. Will it be difficult in the beginning, juggling new responsibilities? Yes. But my family, parents included, have agreed to pitch in where necessary and support my decision, so I won't be alone. I've always lived my life with a carpe diem, seize the day-type attitude. I've made most of my important decisions asking for wisdom from trusted friends and family, but also by pretending I was 100 years old and lying on my deathbed. I call it the "deathbed" test. I pretend I'm 100, lying there, and my children ask me, "Do you have any regrets?" If the answer is, "Yes. I wish I had…" then I do that thing — before it's too late. Now, at 44, I'm saying yes to raising my kids the best way I know how. Yes to job applications, to awkward interviews, and eventually, yes to Cairo and the Tetons. This is for all of us and our last six summers together. Read the original article on Business Insider
Fast Company
an hour ago
- Fast Company
Private jet use is soaring—and the U.S. is responsible for the most flights
Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles is one of the country's busiest general aviation hubs, as residents nearby can attest. Those who live near the airport say they hear a 'relentless' roar of planes overhead—but none of those flights are commercial. Instead, Van Nuys serves private air travel, and it's where celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Elon Musk store their private jets. Van Nuys is also the third most polluting private airport in the world, according to a new study from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). It's also just one example of the way private jet use has been growing, particularly in the United States. Of the 20 largest airports for private jet use, 18 are located in the U.S., including Van Nuys, Palm Beach International Airport, and New Jersey's Teterboro Airport, which is just 12 miles from midtown Manhattan. (The other two top airports for private jets were located in France.) Private jets come with a huge carbon footprint. One typical private jet emits the same amount of greenhouse gasses per year as 177 cars. And the use of private jets has been increasing. ICCT estimates that private jets produced up to 19.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, a 25% increase over the past decade—and equivalent to driving nearly 50 billion miles in an average gas car. Aviation overall accounts for 2.5% of the world's emissions. But how you fly can change your personal carbon footprint. On a commercial flight, those spacious business-class seats are responsible for up to five times as many CO2 emissions as seats in economy. That means people who take private jets, which typically have between six and 19 seats, are responsible for an even bigger share of emissions. Private jet use accounts for about 2% of global aviation emissions. In 2023, global private jet flights collectively emitted more greenhouse gasses than all flights departing from London's Heathrow Airport, which is the busiest airport in Europe. Private jet flights also tend to be quick jaunts: less than 900 kilometers, and lasting fewer than two hours. (Short haul flights produce a disproportionate amount of emissions, accounting for about a third of aviation's total carbon footprint.) And most of the private jet flights happen, or at least start in, the U.S. Two-thirds of all private jet flights in the world departed from U.S. airports in 2023, accounting for 55% of all private jet emissions globally. Private jet use here has made headlines multiple times, as people have tracked Taylor Swift's personal plane journeys or the fact that Starbucks CEO Brian Niccols would be using a business jet (a type of private jet) to commute from his home in Newport Beach, California, to the company's headquarters in Seattle. The U.S. is so flush with private jets that Florida and Texas together were the source of more private jet flights and greenhouse gas emissions than the entire European Union. When it comes to curbing private jet use, some policymakers have floated the idea of taxing private jet emissions or fuels. In 2023, Congress introduced legislation to raise private jet fuel taxes from $0.22 to $1.95 per gallon, which would essentially be $200 per metric ton of a private jet's CO2 emissions. While that proposal didn't gain much traction, the tax proposal has recently been reintroduced. Such a tax, the ICCT report estimated, could generate $3 billion annually for decarbonization efforts. 'Given the slow pace of technological progress,' said Dan Rutherford, ICCT's Senior Director of Research, in a statement, 'it's reasonable to charge ultrawealthy travelers more for their pollution.' The extended deadline for Fast Company's Next Big Things in Tech Awards is this Friday, June 27, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
