StreetAdvisor Blog

The best of what's new in Australia

At StreetAdvisor we don't mind if your reviews of streets and cities are positive or negative, beautiful or ugly, as long as they share something genuine and original about the place. Fortunately, many of the recent reviews in Australia have been very positive, and people seem to be enjoying their homes and their local areas. Here's a sample of the latest great reviews from around Australia.

At Closter Avenue, Nunawading, Victoria (Street Rank in Nunawading #2, Overall Score 87.72), closteriscool says:

Closter Avenue is a gorgeous little street just of Springfield Road. Springfield Road is a really useful thoroughfare but not a horrible, noisy street by any means. Closter Avenue is in a quiet location with lovely tree lined pavements especially down the end towards Springfield Rd where there is a little bend.

There is lots to do nearby with great access to walking, running and bike trails and within easy walking distance of Blackburn Lake. Nunawading Aqualink is also nearby which has a great gym and huge pool. Awesome for aspiring Olympians and little kiddies doing their swimming lessons.

Blackburn North shopping centre is fantastic with 2 supermarkets and everything someone needs at short notice. There are heaps of great little restaurants, the Blackburn Hotel nearby and fabulous little Asian takeaway and pizza places.

At Wolfe Street, Jamestown, South Australia (Street Rank in Jamestown #1, Overall Score 84.38), Giraffian says:

Lovely little street, nice people, nice and wide. There's no through traffic down it despite a recycling centre at the end of the street - people take a different route to get to it. So the only cars that come down the street are from people who live on the street.

The most interesting feature of the street is one perfectly symmetrical house built on Mannenarie road has been built at an angle just to LOOM down Wolfe St. You can't miss it!

At Lockrose Street, Mitchelton, Queensland (Street Rank in Mitchelton #1, Overall Score 80.18), Pauly says:

Just off Samford Rd and 8kms to the city this great street is built with quality standalone townhouses and executive homes. It has parks, kids playground and good walking and cycle paths. You can hear the whipbirds and see the bush turkeys running around during the day. It's a very peaceful and quiet area, around the corner is Brookside shopping centre and the Blackwood Street Cafe Precinct even closer!

At View Street, Peppermint Grove, Western Australia (Street Rank in Peppermint Grove #1, Overall Score 90.00), jamesp101 says:

Peppermint Grove sure is an exclusive suburb - in fact the smallest one in WA. - and View Street, which is the only street that runs from one end of the suburb to the other, is lined with manicured gardens and a bright and happy street presence, shaded by the blooming Peppermint trees which give the suburb its name. But it's not only the look of the road and verge that set this street off. Also, like the rest of Peppermint Grove, the classic federation homes - which were built by wealthy West Australians many years ago, and often passed down through generations - line View Street as well as new mansions which are like no others in the state.

At Acacia Street, Cabramatta, New South Wales (Street Rank in Cabramatta #1, Overall Score 71.29), az1 says:

Acacia St is just across Cabramatta Rd from the main shopping street. The housing in this street is mainly units and townhouses. The units are 2 and three storey walk ups.

Due to the proximity to the shopping center parking tends to be an issue particularly on the weekends. The council is now assisting and paroling the area to ensure that footpath parking is eliminated. Just at the end of the street is Cabramatta Police station which is the area headquarters.

These are the stories of contented neighbors enjoying life in their streets and cities. What story do you have to tell about where you live? Log in to StreetAdvisor.com.au today and write a review, post a forum topic or comment on the reviews and topics relating to places near you.

Exploring the San Francisco Bay area

There's more to the Bay area in California than San Francisco itself. While landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge capture the hearts of tourists, for current and potential California residents the issue of finding an affordable and enjoyable place to live is probably more important.

Despite its fame as a city, San Francisco itself does not score very highly as a city (San Francisco, California, City Rank in California #60, Overall Score 65.14).

San Francisco is ranked similarly to smaller cities in the Bay area like Sunnyvale, California (Overall Score 65.45) and Redwood City, California (City Rank in California #61, Overall Score 63.41).

Scores and ranks for the neighborhoods in these areas are starting to fill out. For example, the third best neighborhood in Redwood City is Oakwood, Redwood City, California Neighborhood Rank in Redwood City #3, Overall Score 63.28).

Scores are lower in the area immediately south of San Francisco, such as San Mateo, California (City Rank in California #77, Overall Score 49.19), Daly City, California City Rank in California #81, Overall Score 45.34) and South San Francisco, California (City Rank in California #83, Overall Score 41.27).

In the east the scores are mixed. San Leandro, California (City Rank in California #79, Overall Score 47.55) is at the low end and Oakland, California (City Rank in California #78, Overall Score 54.78) is not much better. The high end is dominated by Alameda, California (City Rank in California #4, Overall Score 84.07).

Scores are generally higher in southern part of the Bay area, also known as Silicon Valley. Mountain View, California (City Rank in California #30, Overall Score 74.52) scores the highest, followed by Santa Clara, California (City Rank in California #49, Overall Score 68.66) and Palo Alto, California (City Rank in California #51, Overall Score 67.40).

What do you think of these scores and ranks? How does your neighborhood or city rank? Contribute your own reviews, comments, forum topics and lists to StreetAdvisor today and influence the scores and ranks of these places.

How does your neighborhood rate in StreetAdvisor?

Just as the scores of different cities vary considerably in StreetAdvisor, so too do the scores and ranks of the neighborhoods within cities. The difference in scores between the top 5 neighborhoods of different cities also varies a lot. Consider these examples.

Denver, Colorado (City Rank in Colorado #6, Overall Score 66.99)

Best neighborhoods in Denver:

First: Washington Park, Denver, Colorado (Neighborhood Rank in Denver #1, Overall Score 90.00)

Fifth: Cory Merrill, Denver, Colorado (Neighborhood Rank in Denver #5, Overall Score 81.45)

Phoenix, Arizona (City Rank in Arizona #5, Overall Score 68.19)

Best neighborhoods in Phoenix:

First: East Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona (Neighborhood Rank in Phoenix #1, Overall Score 72.98)

Fifth: Central Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona (Neighborhood Rank in Phoenix #5, Overall Score 68.40)

Atlanta, Georgia (City Rank in Georgia #10, Overall Score 65.83)

Best neighborhoods in Atlanta:

First: Virginia Highland, Atlanta, Georgia (Neighborhood Rank in Atlanta #1, Overall Score 79.20)

Fifth: Downtown, Atlanta, Georgia (Neighborhood Rank in Atlanta #5, Overall Score 66.78)

Austin, Texas (City Rank inTexas #5, Overall Score 71.06)

Best neighborhoods in Austin:

First: Zilker, Austin, Texas (Neighborhood Rank in Austin #1, Overall Score 92.50)

Fifth: West Austin | Tarrytown, Austin, Texas (Neighborhood Rank in Austin #5, Overall Score 76.68)

In each of these examples, even the fifth best neighborhood scores better than the city as a whole.

How does your neighborhood rate in your city? Is the score of your neighborhood higher than the score for your city?

If so, you probably live in one of the better parts of town. If not, you probably are not. But regardless of the score or rank of your neighborhood, are you happy where you're living? Log into StreetAdvisor.com today and tell us about it.

Small towns in Australia

Most of the time we write about streets in big cities because that's where most people live. It's fascinating when we receive reviews from more remote places, such as these reviews from small towns around Australia.

One of the most remote places to be reviewed in StreetAdvisor is Eromanga, Queensland (Overall Score 63.68). swampyro says that:

Power is costly, and we have many 'outages' Ergon always says there is nothing wrong, but they don't live here, they only account for outages over a minute long, so we may have 30 in an hour that are less than a minute long. Most people have a back up Generators left over from before we were connected to the 'grid'. Eromanga only got power in 1987.

The Local Quilpie Council is great, they have done a lot for this town, at present they are sealing our old dirt Air Strip.

It's hot and dusty in Summer, and freezing in winter. But in between times its lovely, plenty of places to go and camp and fish, nature walk, all that sort of stuff.

We love it out here. All the best to our visitors, we get lots of tourists, so many that we got a computer at the museum hooked up to the internet for them.....

At Wilmington, South Australia (Overall Score 86.94) Firey56 says:

Having been raised in Wilmington South Australia and also I lived there for about 33 years - it is a good place to live. My grandparents lived there all their married life-raised 5 children including my father who was well known as the mail contractor. He used to do the mail run from Wilmigton to Orroroo for many years. My mum also was involved in many local organisations. Myself, I belonged to the local EFS/CFS until I shifted to WA many years ago. Wilmington is a good place to visit-live and enjoy.

At Lobethal, South Australia (Overall Score 79.97) Roland explains that:

Lobethal is a pleasant 38km drive from the Adelaide City Business District and is known as the 'Valley of Praise' so named by German Settlers in 1842. It offers a relaxing rural lifestyle with all the conveniences of the city only 35 minutes away. Located in the Adelaide Hills Council district and in particular near to the townships Charleston, Mt Torrens, Woodside, Lenswood, Balhannah, Oakbank, Cudlee Creek and Kenton Valley.

At Womboota, New South Wales (Overall Score 49.02) jawjar says:

If you like peace and quiet then this is the place for you!!!! With only a handful of houses you are guaranteed isolation. I would not recommend this "town" for families or couples and definitely not for singles!! However if you are newly retired and looking for a change (challenge) then this would suit you to a tee! Expect to find cheap houses/land. Rentals are hard to come by and are by word of mouth only!

About 15km south/east you will find Deep Creek Marina. Continue a further 15km and you will find Echuca/Moama.

At Myrrhee, Victoria (Overall Score 72.00) MikeW tells us that it is:

A quiet place, access to bush walking, vineyards, forests. I found it a great place for inspiration for my painting, a good variety of buildings, creeks and geographical features.

There's a lot going on in small towns around Australia, and StreetAdvisor.com.au is a great place to share your stories.

The StreetAdvisor guide to the 5 boroughs of New York City

In StreetAdvisor we classify the 5 boroughs of New York City as cities. In descending order, the 5 boroughs hold the following ranks among cities in the state of New York.

New York (Manhattan), New York (City Rank in New York #12, Overall Score 63.30) is the highest ranked borough in NYC.

The top neighborhood in Manhattan is the Meatpacking District, New York, New York (Neighborhood Rank in New York #1, Overall Score 87.75).

The second highest ranked borough in NYC is Staten Island, New York (City Rank in New York #16, Overall Score 60.69).

The best neighborhood in Staten Island according to StreetAdvisor community members is Huguenot, Staten Island, New York (Neighborhood Rank in Staten Island #1,Overall Score 85.49).

Next is Brooklyn, New York (City Rank in New York #18, Overall Score 58.65).

Brooklyn's best neighborhood is Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, New York (Neighborhood Rank in Brooklyn #1, Overall Score 79.51).

Queens, New York (City Rank in New York #22, Overall Score 54.18) does not score quite as well as Brooklyn.

However, the best neighborhood in Queens scores almost as well as the best neighborhood in Brooklyn: Neponsit | Belle Harbor, Queens, New York (Neighborhood Rank in Queens #1, Overall Score 78.00).

The lowest ranked borough is The Bronx, New York (City Rank in New York #31, Overall Score 43.47).

The best neighborhood in The Bronx is Country Club, Bronx, New York (Neighborhood Rank in Bronx #1, Overall Score 69.71), which would not even place it in the top five neighborhoods in most of the other boroughs.

As you can see, there is huge diversity in the borough and neighborhood scores in New York City. How does your neighborhood rate? What do you think of the different ranks of the boroughs? Log into StreetAdvisor.com today and let the world know.

The StreetAdvisor guide to Boston neighborhoods

While the top ranked StreetAdvisor neighborhoods in other cities regularly score in the high 70s and even the low 80s, the top ranked neighborhood in Boston only scores 73. Why so low? Perhaps the residents of Boston, Massachusetts (City Rank in Massachusetts #3, Overall Score 68.07) are fussy or difficult to please.

The top neighborhood is Fenway | Kenmore, Boston, Massachusetts (Neighborhood Rank in Boston #1, Overall Score 73.15).

Second is Central Boston, Boston, Massachusetts (Neighborhood Rank in Boston #2, Overall Score 69.82).

Third is South End, Boston, Massachusetts (Neighborhood Rank in Boston #3, Overall Score 69.27).

Forth is South Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts (Neighborhood Rank in Boston #4, Overall Score 66.62).

Fifth is Back Bay | Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts Neighborhood Rank in Boston #5, Overall Score 66.46).

What do you think of these rankings? I think these rankings are a bit tough and some Bostonians should show their city some love. Log in to StreetAdvisor.com today and tell us what you think about Boston.

The StreetAdvisor guide to the neighborhoods of Los Angeles

Los Angeles (City Rank in California #63, Overall Score 62.02) is an amazing city, or rather a collection of cities in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Los Angeles is receiving lots of street and neighborhood reviews in StreetAdvisor, and the scores and ranks for the neighborhoods are filling out. These are the top five neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

The top neighborhood is Beverly Crest, Los Angeles, California (Neighborhood Rank in Los Angeles #1, Overall Score 81.87).

The second is Rancho Park, Los Angeles, California (Neighborhood Rank in Los Angeles #2, Overall Score 78.91).

Third is Century City, Los Angeles, California (Neighborhood Rank in Los Angeles #3, Overall Score 78.70).

Forth is Elysian Park, Los Angeles, California (Neighborhood Rank in Los Angeles #4, Overall Score 76.50).

Fifth is Sawtelle, Los Angeles, California (Neighborhood Rank in Los Angeles #5, Overall Score 75.15).

If living in LA proper is not your scene, perhaps you prefer somewhere by the water or in the suburbs. The rankings of the cities in the LA area vary considerably.

Pasadena, California (City Rank in California #4, Overall Score 84.32) ranks much better than most LA neighborhoods. Glendale, California (City Rank in California #23, Overall Score 75.86) also ranks well and so does Santa Monica, California (City Rank in California #34,Overall Score 73.36).

What do you think of these rankings? Where does your neighborhood rate? Log in to StreetAdvisor.com today to find out!

What's the best city in Texas? StreetAdvisor has the answer!

In our last post we explored the best and worst places in Florida. Now it's time to rank the cities in Texas.

1 El Paso, Texas (CityScore 79.00)

Sample street - Sparrow Drive, El Paso, Texas (StreetScore 88.20) - bobalina says:

"Sparrow street is a very quiet and small street located in the Lower Valley part of town. It is only one block long, but the small size makes the street feel like a very nice community. A couple of blocks up the road you will find Ascarate Elementary School, which is good news to any families interested in moving into the area. There is also a shopping plaza located nearby where people can purchase food, clothes, baked goods, as well as a couple of restaurants. It is the perfect street for anyone who wants to move into an understated neighborhood without too much flash."

2 Fort Worth, Texas (CityScore 70.70)

Sample street - W Berry Street, Fort Worth, Texas (StreetScore 88.20) - AngelKarma says:

"West Berry Street is a wonderful place to visit. My high school is located here among the numerous fast food restaurants. TCU is also just off the street with many college related stores nearby. The city has been fixing up the road near the campus for some time now. It used to be just concrete and cracks. Now it's paved with beautiful red bricks in nice patterns and grassy areas in the medians. A pleasant site!"

3 Austin, Texas (CityScore 69.13)

Sample street - S 1st Street, Austin, Texas (StreetScore 81.59) - dporgie says:

"South First Street in Austin has a quainter feel than the touristy South Congress and the busy South Lamar. Located between the two behemoths, South First seems to focus more on relaxation. There's a Torchy's Taco trailer sitting alongside a creek and lots of small businesses where you can get that nice personal touch that is missing from the big chains."

4 San Antonio, Texas (CityScore 68.03)

Sample street - Bushbuck Cross, San Antonio, Texas (StreetScore 89.43) - kaiserhat  says:

"Bushbuck Cross is a tiny little street in a residential area in the city of San Antonio. It is a great place to live and raise kids. The houses are fairly priced and, for the most part, relatively new. It is part of the Mesa Grande Subdivision, which has a community pool and clubhouse."

5 Dallas, Texas (CityScore 61.98)

Sample street - Marsh Lane, Dallas, Texas (StreetScore 88.20) - Solopoet says:

"Marsh Creek was the second place we moved to after relocating to Dallas. This street was really nice, with about four complexes surrounded by a network of creeks this place had a really serene beauty to it. Every body would meet at the park in the middle of the complex and just enjoy natures wonders. There was a basketball court, swimming pools, picnic tables and bbq grills, plus the folks were super friendly and don't forget that gorgeous creek, man I would sit there for hours on end just watching the little fish swim by, so if you're ever in the north Dallas area on Marsh Lane take a detour to the creek it will be well worth it."

6 Houston, Texas (CityScore 58.83)

Sample street - Sewanee Street, Houston, Texas (StreetScore 90.65) - CB4Real says:

"Usually, you have to find a neighborhood that is good for singles if you are single. If you have a family, that single friendly neighborhood is generally not as appealing. Very rarely do you have a neighborhood that is appealing to both singles and those with families. This is one of those rare streets. If you have kids, you are automatically one of the 'group'. If you are single, it may take you a bit more time for everyone to get to know you, just for the simple fact that you don't have a kid as an 'ice breaker'. Overall, this street is good for anyone who has a family, or is still enjoying the single life."

So that's a taste of the city rankings for Texas. How does your street rate in your city? How does your city rate in your state? Search for it in StreetAdvisor.com and find out, then share your own opinion.

StreetAdvisor knows the best and worst places in Florida

As more and more street and city reviews are submitted to StreetAdvisor.com, the scores we create for cities become more accurate. With a large population and lots of visitors choosing it as a vacation destination, Florida is the ideal state to compare city rankings. So which Florida city is rated the best?

1 Venice, Florida (CityScore 87.32)

Sample street - S Orange Avenue, Sarasota, Florida (StreetScore 77.81) - LiveWithPassion says:

"South Orange Avenue is comprised of office buildings, boutiques, businesses and lots of things to do. This is nestled in downtown Sarasota but you don't get the typical dirty city feel. It is a well manicured area! Burns court shopping is nearby and the Pineapple district is right next door."

2 Tallahassee, Florida (CityScore 73.03

Sample street - Rockbrook Court, Tallahassee, Florida (StreetScore 73.77) - Pitydafool says:

"I love living here! We are within walking distance of a very nice high school and convenient shopping and restaurants. The neighborhood is very clean and the neighbors are friendly."

3 Tampa, Florida (CityScore 71.29)

Sample street - W Wilder Avenue, Tampa, Florida (StreetScore 77.67) - astrochimp98 says:

"We have a beautiful view of the Hillsborough River. Rivercrest Park, which is a large scenic park with a great walking/running path, is only 2 blocks away. We have a very strong trio of neighborhood associations, who are committed to maintaining the historic bungalows of our area. This is so nice."

4 Fort Lauderdale, Florida (CityScore 67.48)

Sample street - NE 10th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (StreetScore 80.69) - misslu says:

"Las Olas is filled with a great of night life. No matter what your preference in music, you are bound to find a bar/club to fit your needs. As you walk down the street you will hear rock, rap, pop, reggae as well as techno. One can’t forget about all the lovely restaurants and café’s that line up the streets. It’s just really a good place to go hang out for the night with friends."

5 Jacksonville, Florida (CityScore 66.81)

Sample street - Trumbull Place, Jacksonville, Florida (StreetScore 87.81) - Cricketblue99 says:

"This street is located in Walden Woods subdivision. It is absolutely beautiful! The streets are well maintained and the lawns are neatly manicured. The family atmosphere is great! The neighbors are very friendly and look out for one another. There are plenty of kids that get along well together, also. The schools are excellent and very highly rated. There are grocery stores, gas stations, a few churches, and various restaurants within close driving distances. This is an outstanding neighborhood to raise your family in!"

6 Pensacola, Florida (CityScore 65.65)

Sample street - Davis Highway, Pensacola, Florida (StreetScore 35.28) - simonden says:

"Davis Highway literally sucks as far as traffic goes. It is busy at all times during the day and the worst part is that it goes the entire way through town. There is so much to do on Davis Highway, but with all the traffic it hardly seems worth it."

7 Miami, Florida (CityScore 63.84)

Sample street - NE 135th Street, Miami, Florida (StreetScore 17.64) - rockstar49 says:

"This was once a middle class Miami neighborhood and the home of North Miami High School. The neighborhood has changed since the 1960's. I went to high school there and now when I visit, it is virtually unrecognizable. The houses are run down and the school has bars and fences. It is sad for me to see how deteriorated this area, which I once loved, has become. They are re-building the school and hopefully the neighborhood will also begin to make improvements."

8 Orlando, Florida (CityScore 61.94)

Sample street - Landstar Boulevard, Orlando, Florida (StreetScore 60.59) - NikoB says:

"The communities along this road are cheap, but each has its own quirks. A lack of activities in the area has lead to youths turning to petty crime; burglaries and vandalism is relatively-commonplace, not to mention noise coming from neighbors and passing cars. There are several strip malls dotting the road, with affordable grocery shopping as well as barber shops and bars/restaurants. Public transportation is present, but few and far between. Bus-riders will definitely need a pair of walking shoes to be able to catch the bus, many run only once an hour. Cheap prices, but many caveats."

So that's a taste of the diversity of street stories in sunny Florida. How does your street rate in your city? How does your city rate in your state? Search for it in StreetAdvisor.com and find out, then share your own opinion.

StreetAdvisor has made it even easier to review your favorite places

StreetAdvisor has made a minor revision to our homepage to add a 'Write a Review' button to the top menu bar.

Now it is even easier for you to review your favorite places. Click the button to visit our new review page, where you can follow three simple steps to create a review of your street or city:

1. Search for a place
2. Select from the list
3. Write your review

You can of course continue to browse our site and then review places you find that way. What local news do you have to share today on StreetAdvisor.com?