Best place to live, start a business in Triangle? Durham, says Fortune Small Business

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Durham, often the overlooked stepchild when it comes to publicity about the Triangle area, emerges ahead of its rivals in a new survey out from Fortune Small Business.

In its ranking of the 100 “Best Places To Live and Launch,” the magazine ranks Durham 12th.

Raleigh, meanwhile, stands 20th. Chapel Hill didn’t even make the list. No mention of Cary, either.

Best place in the state, however, is Charlotte. The Queen City ranks eighth.

Noting accurately in its profile that Durham is “perceived as the underdog of the Triangle region,” the magazine describes the “pros” of the Bull City thusly: “Thriving biotech and pharmaceutical industries, lots of local arts festivals and college sports.”

As would be expected, Fortune Small Business is full of praise for Research Triangle Park, most of which is in Durham County. However, it also cites as a plus a project that’s owned by Capitol Broadcasting (the parent of WRAL.com and WRAL Local Tech Wire):

“The creative class in the Triangle area (Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh) has begun to set up shop in the unconventional workspaces that are available in downtown Durham's ‘American Tobacco Historical District’ and in recently renovated office towers.”

Other kudos for Durham include the Nasher Museum of Art and a “lower cost of living,” but it’s marked down for crime. “[T]he city also records higher crime rates, which has dinged its reputation in the region.”

Ironically, Bellevue, Wash., topped the list. That happens to be where Durham-based Motricity is moving its headquarters.

As one would guess, Raleigh is praised for its high-tech growth. The capital is also knocked for infrastructure – their reporter must have tried to drive on I-40 and the Beltline:

“Pros: Thriving tech industry, central location amid major research and business centers

“Con: Raleigh's infrastructure is struggling to keeping up with its population growth”

The Fortune Small Business survey focused on 296 metro areas for business friendliness, lifestyle offerings and reporting of its staff.

Other regional cities on the list: Buford, Ga., 3; Asheville, 41; Greensboro, 50; Winston-Salem, 56; Charleston, S.C., 81, and Savannah, Ga., 99.