Top 14 Cities To Move to if You Live for the Arts

Whether it’s a free Friday night concert or a Saturday at the symphony, we want to support the arts once we have more time. And, if you’re planning for retirement, that idea may be getting closer by the day.

That means you’ll want to end up in a city where you can easily find concerts, plays, and other performing arts to check out whenever you have a free afternoon or evening.

Using data from FinanceBuzz’s report on America’s 50 biggest cities and how they compare in terms of being “laid-back,” we assessed which cities are best for art lovers by looking at those with the most performing arts and concert venues.

These 15 cities are where you’re most likely to find a show or a play to attend, and as you find yourself with more free time, doesn’t that sound like a delightful way to live?

With 21 performing arts venues and 36 concert venues for every 100,000 people, Hartford is the top city to move to if you love the arts.

You’ll find incredible venues like the Bushnell Performing Arts Center, which gets productions like “Wicked,” The Theater of the Performing Arts, and smaller venues like The Webster.

Riverside has 10 performing arts venues and 33 concert venues for every 100,000 residents, and the Fox Performing Arts Center is a fan favorite.

This 1929 movie palace now hosts an impressive range of acts from alternative to musicals

You’ll find 18 performing arts venues and 22 concert venues for every 100,000 people in Providence.

From the Strand Ballroom to smaller venues like the Stone Soup Coffeehouse, music is available nearly every night of the week in this city.

Salt Lake City boasts 10 performing arts venues and 14 concert venues per 100,000 residents.

The Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, the Eccles Theater, and the Capitol Theatre are all within blocks of each other.

Go to Atlanta for live music, where you’ll find 14 concert venues and nine performing arts venues for every 100,000 people.

There’s the Tabernacle, a mid-size concert venue, the Variety Playhouse, or, if it’s a beautiful night, head to the Swan House at the Atlanta History Center.

Richmond has 13 performing arts venues and 10 concert venues for every 100,000 residents.

From the Modlin Center for the Arts to the Altria Theater, you’ll find everything from Broadway shows to comedy performances.

Of the 10 performing arts venues and 11 concert venues per 100,000 people in Orlando, at least a few are probably Disney-related.

But don’t they know how to put on a fabulous show? Outside of Disney, you’ll find venues including the Bob Carr Theater and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Pittsburgh has an eclectic reputation, so it’s no surprise that it has 10 performing arts venues and 12 concert venues per 100,000 residents.

The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, Byham Theater, and Pittsburgh Musical Theater are among the most-frequented by fans.

You're in luck if you want to catch a concert in Minneapolis. There are 15 concert venues and five performing arts venues for every 100,000 residents in this city.

Check out the First Avenue and 7th St Entry, two music venues in one historic building, the Dakota Jazz Club, or the Orpheum Theatre.

Birmingham is rich in the performing arts, with 14 performing arts venues and five concert venues for every 100,000 people.

Check out Iron City Bham, the Alabama Theatre, or the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center.

You can almost always find a show in St. Louis with 11 concert venues and seven performing arts venues for every 100,000 residents.

You can stop by The Pageant, a longstanding nightclub, or catch a performance at the Stifel Theatre.

San Francisco has 10 concert venues and four performing arts venues for every 100,000 residents.

Stop by the Fillmore, the Great American Music Hall, or the Warfield for a show, or watch the ballet or the opera at the War Memorial Opera House.

Cincinnati has 12 concert venues and two performing arts venues for every 100,000 residents.

It’s easy to catch a show whenever you’re feeling the music, whether you go to the Andrew J Brady Music Center, Riverbend Music Center, or Cincinnati Concert Hall.

Seattle, the home of grunge music, has nine concert venues and four performing arts venues for every 100,000 residents.

When you want to appreciate the classics, catch a show at Neumos or The Showbox or grab tickets for the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

You’ll find seven concert venues and six performing arts venues for every 100,000 people in Boston.

From the Paradise Rock Club to the Citizens Opera House, you'll find a range of music to suit any mood.

So, as you plan your next chapter, remember that a vibrant arts community can help you contribute to a stress-free retirement.

Start exploring cities with thriving arts scenes today and discover the perfect place to enjoy your passion for culture.