Pittsburgh 2008 Rankings

• Pittsburgh ranks as the second best place to raise kids, according to Business Week magazine. School performance, affordability and safety were top key influencers, followed by job quality, air quality, ethnic diversity and attractions (such as parks, museums and theaters).
• Forbes.com ranked Pittsburgh 9th for Best Cities for Couples. Forty of the country's largest metropolitan areas were identified and ranked on marriage and divorce rates for the 20- to 34-year olds, affordability of a starter home, area's income disparity and availability of family counseling.
• Pittsburgh ranked first among large metropolitan areas when it comes to relocating families, according to Worldwide ERC and Primacy Relocation. Ranking of the 50 large cities was based on 2007 job growth, number of top-rated colleges, in-state tuition at public colleges, separate sales and income tax categories and a green living index.
• The Sporting News ranks Pittsburgh the 11th best sports city in America within the Meeting industry. Meeting planners include participatory sports as ice breakers to keep meetings fun and interesting. Examples of team-building sports are bowling, tennis and golf tournaments
• Pittsburgh's Duquesne University ranks second among more than 1,400 U.S. colleges. The annual U.S. News & World Report rankings evaluate universities based on 15 qualities, such as graduation and retention, class size, SAT/ACT scores and student/faculty ration.
• Pittsburgh Steelers fans rank first in the NFL according to ESPN. A team of bloggers ranked fans over the past five seasons using criteria such as "Tailgate factor" and "How well do they travel?" The Steelers share the top spot with Green Bay Packers fans.
• Forbes.com ranked Pittsburgh 13th on the top 40 best cities for young professionals, ahead of Philadelphia, Atlanta and Dallas. They tracked 1998 graduates of six elite schools to where people settled 10 years later, gauging where top jobs are for young people; combined with Forbes' 400 best big companies and 200 best small companies, salary data for college graduates and cost of living.
• Pittsburgh International Airport's AIRMALL received top honors from Airport Revenue News as the Airport with the Most Unique Services. The AIRMALL was also chosen for its comprehensive scope of management expertise in airport retail and food/beverage, ensuring quality and competitive pricing.
• Pittsburgh's century-old amusement park, Kennywood has been voted favorite traditional park by the National Amusement Park Historical Association.
• American Style magazine has ranked Pittsburgh the 3rd best arts destination among mid-size cities. Highlights of this honor include Pittsburgh's 250th celebration, the 55th annual Carnegie International and Pittsburgh Filmmakers and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts 2008 Biennial celebration.
• Pittsburgh has been listed sixth out of the top 10 "up and coming" technology cities. Forbes.com noted that the "old steel town" has become an innovative force in healthcare, biomedical technology, nuclear energy and robotics.
• Pittsburgh has been named among the Top 10 Underrated U.S. Cities by ShermansTravel.com. Pittsburgh ranks seventh and is recognized for its transformation. "The city is sparkling with pristine parks, architectural assets, and three rivers flowing into downtown's ‘Golden Triangle.'
• Pittsburgh ranks among the Seven Places to Retire during an Economic Downturn, according to SmartMoney.com, who selected seven recession-proof places their experts believe soon-to-be retirees should consider. Pittsburgh ranks 4th on the list for a variety of factors, including affordable cost of living (5 percent lower than the national average), lower taxes for seniors, a low crime rate (compared with other cities its size) and more than 20 quality hospitals, including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which was awarded "Best of the Best" in 2007 by U.S. News and World Report for its geriatric division.
• Cooking Light magazine has ranked Pittsburgh in its Top 20 Best Cities Awards. The magazine ranked major metropolitan areas on 15 criteria, including healthfulness and exercise data, restaurant ratings, farmers' market listings, and parks and recreation data.
• Pittsburgh ranked 13th based on American cities that best fit the philosophy to eat smart, be fit, and live well.
• Pittsburgh has been ranked number three among the top 10 romantic spots across the country by MSN.com. The Duquesne Incline is touted for its spectacular views of the Ohio and Allegheny River Valleys and downtown Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle.