Alot depends on your lifestyle also. For myself personally I wouldn't make use of many big city features (theaters, plays, museums etc). I prefer to spend my evenings after work in silent recreation. Stuff like riding to the lake and swimming, hiking, playing with the dogs, light gardening. So a small city is perfect. The one I live in has 6,000 people, over 40 restaurants, two hardware stores, both marts (that I never use), 4 movie screens, dozens of lakes, one of the nicest small downtowns, a huge new library, high speed internet, farm markets, bookstore, and new brewpub. Pretty much everything I need. All within bike distance. The town is 95% grided streets all with curbs (swept everymonth). perfect carfree for me. I live less than two minutes from downtown (and work) by bike. Housing is much cheaper, since you don't need a car and cheap housing you can make alot less salary. My house is a decent 800sq on one acre for under $70k. It fits my lifestyle but probably not others.