So this year Sacramento has been ranked by both
Forbes as the fifth most miserable city in U.S.
and number six by
Bloomberg Businessweek as America's Most Fun, Affordable Cities.
You'll have a blast on a budget if you choose to live in any of the 10 cities on
our list of the nation's most fun-&-affordable places to live.
Good times, low prices
It can be difficult to enjoy the wealth of dining and nightlife options in big
cities such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco after housing and
other expenses are paid. Fortunately, many areas outside of major
metropolises offer both affordable homes and a variety of restaurants and
bars, according to a new report from Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate.
The company, with real-estate data company Onboard Informatics,
evaluated 6,106 ZIP codes in which the median home price is within 20% of
the state’s median home price. It then selected the 25 areas with the
greatest number of bars and restaurants. The list of fun, affordable places
includes tourist destinations, such as Honolulu and Myrtle Beach, S.C., which
tend to have a greater number of restaurants and bars, as well as college
towns, such as Wilmington, N.C., and Tempe, Ariz.
Note: The report is based on ZIP codes, but a city name is included as a
frame of reference for the reader.
10 most fun, affordable U.S. cities
No. 6: Sacramento, Calif. 95814
Number of bars and restaurants: 188
Population: 10,061 (based on zip codes)
Median home price: $228,500
Besides museums and shops, downtown Sacramento, the city’s original
commercial district, has a variety of restaurants, cafes, pubs and wine bars,
according to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.