Best Shopping Cities In The U.S., According To Forbes

Forbes released its list of the best shopping cities in the U.S., and as a whole, it's quite surprising. Coming in first was Houston, second was Dallas and third was Baltimore. New York placed 22nd -- well after Phoenix, Denver and Detroit.

So how were the rankings decided? Forbes writes:

In compiling our list of America's best cities for shopping, we took the interests of all types to heart to find the urban centers with the best combination of options, ease and affordability.

Of the 525 major shopping centers in the country's biggest cities, there are nearly 257 million square feet of gross leasable retail area, according to data provided by Esri, a geographic information systems firm that tracks the leasable area of major U.S. shopping centers of over 225,000 square feet. Of that, nearly a quarter of the retail space (87,879,057 square feet) is in the Lone Star state, more than explaining how three Texan cities landed in our top ten cities for shopping. Like their football and BBQ, Texans take their shopping seriously.

Here's the full list. Let us know what you think in the comments.

1. Houston, TX
2. Dallas, TX
3. Baltimore, MD
4. Columbus, OH
5. Indianapolis, IN
6. Philadelphia, PA
7. Phoenix, AZ
8. San Antonio, TX
9. Jacksonville, FL
10. San Diego, CA
11. Charlotte, NC
12. Austin, TX
13. Denver, CO
14. Detroit, MI
15. Chicago, IL
16. Los Angeles, CA
17. Milwaukee, WI
18. Boston, MA
19. Nashville, TN
20. San Jose, CA
21. El Paso, TX
22. New York, NY
23. Memphis, TN
24. Seattle, WA
25. San Francisco, CA

Comments

[freethk]

05:24 PM on 12/25/2010

The reason that the obvious choices like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco score so low in this ranking is because it's biased toward large malls. Really, how many people would rather shop in Detriot or Columbus over New York City. Makes no sense, but I guess it gets people talking and sells a lot of magazines for Forbes. The Galleria in Houston is nice, but at the end of the day it's just a giant shopping mall. It's no Fifth or Michigan Avenue.

[rougebaisers]

02:13 PM on 12/23/2010

Chicago only 15? Are they looney? We have the bestest shopping.

[coco51]

10:38 AM on 12/22/2010

Does anyone know why in NYC you're paying State 8.75% and Local taxes 3.75% (think) on purchases? and they are going up in January!!! I'm seriously looking at NJ shopping for now and moving to Tx. The celebrated billionaire has run the city into the ground while his corporation and personal wealth has increased!

[rougebaisers]

02:13 PM on 12/23/2010

Chicago is 10.25

[sweetwhine]

08:17 PM on 12/21/2010

Can't believe Houston beat Dallas.

[ddemos]

07:44 PM on 12/21/2010

New York #22...are these people high?

[WurrdUp]

11:38 PM on 12/21/2010

They must be. NY is THE place for shopping.

[rougebaisers]

02:14 PM on 12/23/2010

I know teehee

[mytwocents02]

01:03 PM on 12/21/2010

For me, the best place to shop is online.

[rougebaisers]

02:14 PM on 12/23/2010

Oh yeah.

[princessvaly]

09:35 AM on 12/21/2010

Before even reading this, I would have guessed Houston. After my visit there a few months ago, it is a great place. The Uptown/Galleria area has just about everything possible and of course the weather makes it nice to shop all year round- indoors in the summer, outdoors in the fall. The fact that Detroit is in this list is a bit frightening though. I guess they count all the thrift stores?!

[1jadednewyorker]

04:25 PM on 12/23/2010

farmingtonhills area

[michimoby]

12:22 PM on 12/24/2010

Thrift stores? Give me a break, princess.

Head to the Somerset Collection in Troy or the boutiques in the Birmingham/Royal Oak area. Shopping at its finest without the madness of Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Free parking, too.

[rucognizant]

08:56 AM on 12/21/2010

There are 5 cities in TX on the list 2 at the top. Last I looked unemployment in TX was only 6%. Given that conservative politicians from TX have played large roles in recent years, & or have wealthy backing, and there is a $ base of the OIL INDUSTRY................................
Not surprising at all.
Can I guess the Philadelphia shopping figures reflect that NJ has the highest per capita income in the country?

[phishphan]

08:54 AM on 12/21/2010

I wouldn't have agreed on the Phoenix pick but now that I live here, there are tons of places to shop across the state.

[impatient]

02:10 AM on 12/21/2010

bizarre. square footage of retail space determines quality of shopping? seems they could have don something a little more thorough...

[hotbarb2614]

12:06 AM on 12/21/2010

Arizona,you better bring those dang papers.

[phishphan]

08:53 AM on 12/21/2010

The media terribly over dramatized that story. I live here.....no one talks about it. Even my Latino friends think it's a bunch of drama.

[rising sun]

11:55 PM on 12/20/2010

I call shenanigans...this list is absurd, where's the real list?

[andreja]

11:51 PM on 12/20/2010

i love my city (milwaukee), but you've GOT to be kidding!!!
this list is a joke...there is NO WAY our shopping is better than NYC, boston, san francisco, etc...i could only wish...

[alieninvader]

10:43 PM on 12/20/2010

I agree that Denver should be toward the top of the list, but not for the reasons sited. Denver has a lot of great boutiques, easy parking in many neighborhoods and a lot of stores within walking or biking distance of Denver residents.

[Athena Clevenger]

02:04 PM on 12/21/2010

But not alot of ethnic diversity. I used to live in Denver and it is a nice place.......to visit.

[alieninvader]

02:29 PM on 12/21/2010

I disagree. There is probably more ethnic diversity than you think. It is an extremely liberal city, surrounded by conservative suburbs. I don't know, but judging from your comment, I suspect you lived in one of the suburbs.

[johappy]

10:21 PM on 12/20/2010

i do not mind ,because i always buy online ,so those real store can not catch my eyes , share my favorite online store with you ebay for some household goods , www.intheshipping.com for some gorgeous and elegant bags and dresses .