Rank cities by what you find fun

Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.

Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.

Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.

Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.

Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.

Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.

Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.

Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.

Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.

Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.

How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.

How often the weather is good enough to get outside.

How well a person without a car can move around the city.

Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.

Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.

Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.

Reported violent and property crime rates.

Congestion and the time lost to commuting.

Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.

Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.

Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.

Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.

What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.