One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Are America's Most Attractive People in Los Angeles?
Photo by © In 2 Making Images | °L.A. via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
"I feel pretty/Oh, so pretty/I feel pretty and witty and bright!" Okay, Angelenos, you can sing a little more softly: We are NOT the most attractive people in the nation. But we aren't the fugliest, either. When it comes to attractive locals, Los Angeles ranks fifth in the country.
The ranking comes courtesy Travel & Leisure's infamous annual "America's Favorite Cities" survey, in which, as CNN summarizes, "readers rate 35 metropolitan areas for qualities such as people-watching, walkable streets, and hot music scenes."
Who's got the looks? Miami, San Diego, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Charleston rank first through fourth ahead of us. Says T&L of our fair city (and its fair residents):
It's easy to make jokes about some locals having "work" done. But whatever the reason, Angelenos have ranked in the top five for looks in the last three out of four years, and they won the silver medal this year for their fashion-forward style. They're also trying that catch-more-flies-with-honey strategy: their niceness factor went up by three positions since last year.
See, we're pretty on the inside, too!
How else did L.A. stack up?
Well, the good news is, we rank highly in the following categories: Stylish (#2), Weather (#4) Luxury stores (#4), and Diverse (#4). The bad news is, we aren't doing so well in the following categories: Public transportation and pedestrian-friendliness (#34), Environmental friendliness (#32), and Affordability (#31). Ouch.
Sponsored message
The rankings, however, are split into perspectives of visitors versus residents. But even when it comes to a category like public transit, while visitors rank us second-to-last, residents only place us one notch higher at #33. Taking a look at how L.A. breaks down overall, visitors like our singles and music scene a bit more than locals, and aside from our street performers (what, does everyone go to the Third Street Promenade for this survey?) we are el stinko when it comes to culture here. Not surprisingly, we are aces in Food Trucks and street food (though both visitors and locals rank us a mere #6) but Angelenos don't think we have great ice cream or microbrew beer (which makes us wonder how the hell so many residents are missing out on both of those, which we have plenty of).
Honestly, the survey paints a rather depressing and limited view of L.A., even if it's tracking data in so many (so many!) categories. Seems like the only reason people come here--and even stay--is for the weather and the fancy shops.
Well, at least we're pretty cute.
Previously
Loserville, USA: Are So Many Cities Seriously That Much Better Than L.A.?
Travel + Leisure Likes It Dirty: Los Angeles Takes Third Prize For 'Dirtiest' City In America
How Smart Are LA Residents? Survey Says "Not Very"
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
