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Survey: Seeking Quality of Life? Move to Portland

Portland was the only U.S. city that scored a slot in a British quality of life survey
Image: Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon was the only U.S. city that scored a spot on an annual British quality of life survey.Portland Oregon Tourism Bureau

Stay cool, Portland.

The Oregon city was the only one in the U.S. that scored a slot in the top 25 in a recent British quality of life survey. Monocle, a London-based global affairs and lifestyle magazine, compiled the survey that ranked the top 25 cities based on quality of life. The annual survey evaluates the balance between a community’s intangible perks and infrastructure.

Portland — in its second year at No. 23 — topped its neighbor Seattle because of its “innovative and creative residents.” North American cities, in general, were minimally represented, with Vancouver being the only other mention at No. 15. The overall spread included 14 European, five Asian, four Australian and two American cities.

Among cities, the top five were Copenhagen, Tokyo, Melbourne, Stockholm and Helsinki, respectively. “From food and drink to culture and design, Copenhagen is unbeatable. It’s a city that understands the need for public space filled with people who know how to use it.”

— Natalie Daher