hip to be square
Houston snubbed on ridiculous list of America's coolest cities
A new study ranking the coolest cities in America has revealed Houston was entirely snubbed on the list, while two other Texas cities made the cut.
The survey by British gambling company Betway.com ranked 50 most populated cities across the U.S. and Canada, ranking them on factors associated with "being cool."
Though Houston was nowhere to be found, Austin faded into the background by landing in the No. 11 spot. Dallas came in at No. 14 on the list — not even the top 10, but nonetheless one of only two cities in Texas to make the list at all.
Boston, Massachusetts claimed the title as the coolest city in America, followed by Las Vegas, Nevada (No. 2), and Portland, Oregon (No. 3).
The rankings were determined based on seven "coolness" factors including the median age of residents, the number of tattoo parlors, record stores, upcoming music events, street art murals, and vegan/vegetarian restaurants each city has.
The report specifically called out the two Texas cities' "energy and culture" and gave nods to their respective culinary scenes.
"What makes a city cool often goes beyond its reputation or famous landmarks – it’s the unique blend of culture that provides the energy," the report's author wrote. "From thriving music scenes and vibrant street art to foodie hotspots and inclusive, laid-back vibes, the coolest cities offer something authentic, exciting, and effortlessly memorable."
In defense of H-Town
Channeling CultureMap's late columnist Ken Hoffman, who has criticized similar studies in the past: There is so much that makes Houston cool that this silly study doesn't appear to take into account.
This city treasures its numerous music and cultural icons, and we aren't just talking about Beyoncé. Houston's top-tier universities are shining beacons in the education field, and its nearby suburbs are among the best places to live in the nation.
Houston's food scene is unmatched with several new bars and restaurants opening up all over the city, offering affordable lunch specials, trendy meals, and cocktails galore.
Plus, the city's fashionistas are pioneering sustainable clothing swaps to keep perfectly good pieces out of landfills and promote slow fashion practices. And don't even get us started on the city's colorful and thought provoking art scene. It's not like Boston has a Meow Wolf or a citywide event like the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. If that's not cool, we don't know what is.
The top 15 coolest American cities are:
- No. 1 – Boston, Massachusetts
- No. 2 – Las Vegas, Nevada
- No. 3 – Portland, Oregon
- No. 4 – San Francisco, California
- No. 5 – Seattle, Washington
- No. 6 – Denver, Colorado
- No. 7 – Nashville, Tennessee
- No. 8 – Washington, D.C.
- No. 9 – Detroit, Michigan
- No. 10 – Los Angeles, California
- No. 11 – Austin, Texas
- No. 12 – San Diego, California
- No. 13 – Phoenix, Arizona
- No. 14 – Dallas, Texas
- No. 15 – Columbus, Ohio
