Grading Minnesota
An annual report card on how we ranked in health, happiness, work, fun, and love. Would your parents be proud?
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Best Cycling City
2nd
Previous rank: 1st (2011)
The country’s most contentious ranking rivalry heated up as Bicycling magazine reversed last year’s ruling and put Portland atop Minneapolis. But perhaps we should call it a draw: a new study this year of America’s most bikeable cities, by Bike Score, had us first, Portland second.
Highest Average Credit Score
1st
Previous rank: 2nd (2011)
Having lost its goody-two-shoes reputation and first-place position last year (to Wausau, Wisconsin, of all places), Minneapolis is back with an average score of 718 compared to the national average of 687. Feel free to buy whatever you’d like again—you’re good for it.
America’s Best Cities
St. Paul 10th, Minneapolis 12th
Previous rank: St. Paul 39th, Minneapolis 30th (2011)
How did we get so much better so fast? Businessweek put a greater emphasis on leisure, which curiously shot St. Paul past Minneapolis.
Number of mentions on Gawker.com
33
Previous number: 79 (2011)
It’s an unscientific estimate, comparing Minnesota-related mentions in the first nine months of 2012 with the last nine months of 2011. But the yawning gap in our gossip worthiness is nonetheless notable, as last year’s bump boiled down to just two factors: Michele Bachmann’s brief presidential run and Kris Humphries’s even briefer marriage to Kim Kardashian. Gawker loves crazy.
Manliest City
40th
Previous rank: 36th (2011)
At this rate, all that’s standing between us and San Diego in this study by Sperling’s Best Places is a couple more fro-yo stands.
Gayest City in America
7th
Previous rank: 1st (2011)
What happened, did Miss Richfield retire? Nope, the Advocate’s ever-changing criteria (such as the number of concerts in town by the Cliks, Veronicas, or Gossip) dropped Minneapolis into downright hetero territory. Rest assured, the rainbow here is still bright.
Healthiest, Fittest City
1st
Previous Rank: 1st (2011)
No. 1 looks good on you, Minneapolis! At least the American College of Sports Medicine and SHAPE magazine think so.
Number of appearances in David Letterman’s Top 10 list
4
Previous number: 11 (2011)
Another unscientific count, though Minnesota clearly moved out of Letterman’s spotlight this year. What happened? During her presidential run last year, Michele Bachmann or her husband, Marcus, often topped the list. Guess Letterman loves crazy, too.
Unemployment Rate
40th
Previous rank: 37th (2011)
We’re sinking in the rankings, which means our unemployment rate is as well: just 5.9 percent at press time. With the new Vikings and Saints stadiums scheduled to break ground next year, let’s see how low we can go.
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