DC Among 2018 Best Big Cities In US List: Report

WASHINGTON, DC -- D.C. is one of the best big cities in the United States, according to the recently released Conde Nast 2018 Readers' Choice Awards.

D.C. placed 11th on the list. Chicago was tops, followed by New York and New Orleans. Alexandria, Va. made the top five of the small cities list.

"Despite our nation feeling more polarized than an Energizer battery these days, our capital, Washington, D.C., is having something of a moment," the report states. "It's done good work of late to shake its reputation as a buttoned-up bore."

Conde Nast pointed to the opening in 2016 of the National Museum of African-American History and Culture as one good example of that, as well as the revitalization of the Wharf and Navy Yard.

Conde Nast also noted the arrival of hotel Eaton Workshop, "where you get a chance at activism instead of pillow mints."

"Something's brewing in D.C., and it's not just the craft beer," the report added.

The travel magazine split rankings into two categories: small cities with populations under 1 million and big cities with populations over 1 million. In the small cities category, Alexandria placed fourth. Washington, D.C. placed 11th among big cities.

Here are the top 10 small cities:

1. Charleston, SC
2. Santa Fe, NM
3. Savannah, GA
4. Alexandria, VA
5. Sarasota, FL
6. Sedona, AZ
7. Monterey, CA
8. Asheville, NC
9. Greenville, SC
10. Key West, FL

Here are the top big cities:

1. Chicago, IL
2. New York, NY
3. New Orleans, LA
4. San Francisco, CA
5. Honolulu, HI
6. San Antonio, TX
7. San Diego, CA
8. Seattle, WA
9. Portland, OR
10. Boston, MA

See the full Best Cities in the U.S. list here.

Additional reported by Patch editor Emily Leayman

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 12: Fans cheer at a rally celebrating the NHL Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals on the National Mall on June 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)