Americans who are up for moving have a vast variety of cities to live in. They can choose a bustling metropolis such as New York City or Los Angeles, escape to the tropical climes of Miami, or seek out the mountainous adventures of Denver or Salt Lake City, among many other options.

But in the past year, Americans have become less satisfied with where they live, according to a recent survey conducted by real estate website Home Bay in conjunction with Allied Van Lines. In 2023, just 63% of Americans say they like where they live, down from 80% in 2022.

Home Bay surveyed 1,000 Americans online, asking them 26 questions on where they live, which areas of the U.S. they prefer and what they believe makes a city or state desirable, undesirable, underrated or overrated. The company supplemented its survey with data such as net migration rates, violent crime rates and typical home values. Allied Van Lines produced data on which cities and states have seen the most outbound and inbound moves from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2023.

We’ve listed the top five most underrated cities, followed by the top five most overrated cities, according to the survey. Let’s start with the most underrated top five, counting down from No. 5.

5. Boston

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Good old Boston is the home of the bean and the cod, as the saying goes. And the famed college town is also No. 5 on the list of most underrated U.S. cities, moving up 31 spots, according to Home Bay. Survey respondents say high crime is the top reason they would choose to move, and Boston was ranked No. 2 among the safest cities in America, according to a recent Gallup poll.

4. St. Louis

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Meet me in St. Louis? The Missouri city jumped a whopping 42 spots to become the No. 4 most underrated city. It was the No. 2 choice among Gen Z members and urban residents. According to Home Bay, affordability is the main draw here, with a cost of living 5% lower than the average among studied cities and a typical home price 44% below average. It also came in at No. 5 on a recent list of U.S. cities with the cheapest first year of homeownership.

3. Charlotte, North Carolina

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Charlotte jumped up five spots this year to the No. 3 on the most underrated cities list. Home Bay notes rural residents who took the survey find it to be the most desirable of all U.S. cities. Charming Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S., but be warned: It’s getting pricier. it ranked No. 6 on a recent list of cities where homebuyers are most impacted by rising interest rates.

2. Tampa, Florida

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Tampa moved up 21 spots this year to become the No. 2 most underrated city in the U.S. But weirdly, it also moved up 21 spots to land at No. 6 on the most overrated city list. Can a place be both under- and overrated? Tampa definitely has both pros and cons. It topped a recent list of places where inflation is soaring, but also came in at No. 9 on a list of the best places to retire in America.

1. Seattle

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Scenic Seattle … underrated? According to the survey, the Emerald City is considered both the most desirable U.S. city — stealing the distinction from Virginia Beach — and the most underrated. Seattle’s positives are easy to list: the natural beauty of the Puget Sound, Olympic and Cascade mountain views, vast opportunities for outdoor recreation and the city’s many good restaurants and cultural attractions.

Seattle recently made the list of most relaxed cities in the U.S. And at a time when many states are suffering through hotter temperatures than ever, Seattle remains relatively cool. But let’s hope you have one of the city’s famed high-paying tech jobs because the study notes that the cost of living here is 14% higher than the U.S. average. Perhaps because of this, Seattle experienced the second-most outbound moves among all 50 cities studied between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2023.

The most overrated cities

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While the previous cities were listed as underrated by survey respondents, the next five cities were labeled as overrated. No. 5 is first, and we’ll count down to the No. 1 most overrated city.

5. Washington, D.C.

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The museums, monuments and history of our nation’s capital beckon many, but in this survey, enough respondents dubbed it overrated to land Washington, D.C., in the top five. Poor D.C. was also named the least desirable city in the survey, although it still posted at No. 2 for cities with the most inbound moves from January through June 2023, behind only retiree-favorite Phoenix.

4. Chicago

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The busy bustle of the Windy City is undeniable, but not everyone thinks Chicago is as hot as a deep-dish pizza. Not only did it come in at No. 4 on the most-overrated city list, but Chicago also had the most outbound moves of any other city in the first half of this year. Another unpleasant real-estate reality for Chicagoans: The Illinois city landed on a recent Redfin list of cities where home sellers are losing money.

3. San Francisco

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Open up that Golden Gate … or maybe, don’t? The “City by the Bay” is both one of the most overrated and most desirable, according to the survey. In addition to being No. 3 most overrated, it was No. 6 most desirable — as well as No. 7 least desirable. (Rural and suburban residents were more likely to call big cities overhyped, which is perhaps to be expected since they’ve chosen not to live in one.) Sure, San Francisco has its issues — it tops a recent list of places where home sellers are losing money. But don’t worry, be happy: SF is No. 2 on a list of the most relaxed cities in America.

2. Los Angeles

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Los Angeles boasts famously sunny weather and ocean beaches, as well as proximity to Hollywood and other entertainment-industry careers. But enough Americans find it overrated to push it to No. 2 on the list. Opinions differ, of course: L.A. is also No. 7 on the survey’s list of most desirable cities to live in. It’s the top choice of millennials, with 19% of them ranking it most desirable, just ahead of Seattle for that generation. And while there are many job opportunities here, try and get one that allows you to work from home, because L.A. is No. 2 on a recent list of cities where residents lose the most time in rush-hour traffic.

1. New York City

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Tops on the most overrated list is New York City. They say if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. But the gleaming skyscrapers, busy subways and Broadway shows of in the Big Apple aren’t for everyone. Still, NYC also came in at No. 4 on the list of most desirable cities to live in. The city’s high cost of living is well-known. But if you can land a well-paying job that lets you work from home, know that NYC recently topped a list of the best metro areas for remote workers.

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The San Francisco 49ers have made the news quite a bit over the past few weeks. Most of that stemmed from what would they do with 2021 No. 3 overall pick in quarterback Trey Lance. That was decided on Friday when the team surprisingly traded Lance to the rival Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round pick. 

Now, with the team fully behind 2022 seventh-round pick Brock Purdy as their starter going forward, the attention turns to can the team who’s lost in the NFC title game the past two seasons get over the hump and advance to the Super Bowl.

With one of the best and most complete rosters in the league, the Niners are one of the top two teams in the NFC, along with the Philadelphia Eagles. But not everyone is sold on the Niners, including former NFL receiver Plaxico Burress. 

.@PlaxicoBurress: The 49ers are overrated

“The Seahawks have a chance to win the division. We haven’t seen Brock Purdy go thru any adversity. What happens if the 49ers lose 2-3 games in a row, what’s going to be his mentality moving forward?” pic.twitter.com/KABTDECiVm

— The Carton Show (@TheCartonShow) August 25, 2023

Niners Overrated? Burress Believes So

During a recent appearance on “The Carton Show,” Burress let it be known that he isn’t sold on the Niners. 

“I’ll go on record and say I think the San Francisco 49ers are overrated,” Burress said. “The Seahawks have a chance to win the division. We haven’t seen Brock Purdy go through any adversity. What happens if the 49ers lose 2-3 games in a row, what’s going to be his mentality going forward?”

Burress calling the Niners overrated is a huge stretch when you consider the team has been on the doorstep of the last two Super Bowls and played in one just four seasons ago. 

Purdy Was Good When Called Upon In 2022

For Burress to say Purdy didn’t have to deal with much adversity isn’t really true. There were moments in the team’s first two playoff games where Purdy had to make plays in close contested battles. And he did just that. Not bad for the final pick of the 2022 NFL draft, or Mr. Irrelevant as he’s known. 

Purdy’s 2022 season consisted nearly 1,400 yards passing, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. He was so good in his limited late-season action that he finished third in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. 

The belief is he’ll be even better in 2023 with a year in the system and getting all those crucial in-game reps in 2022. 

Burress may dislike the Niners, but they are far from overrated.  

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