Which "non-major" state capital would you most want to live in?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

For this assortment my rules basically were:

1-Neither the largest nor second largest city in the state. I also tossed Montgomery, AL, which is technically just the third largest city in Alabama but that's thanks to Mobile recently annexing some surrounding areas, and Topeka, KS, which is the second largest city in Kansas that isn't part of a metro anchored by a neighboring state, and Concord, NH, only the third largest city in the state, but the top two are right next to each other in the same county. I was on the fence with Richmond, VA...but in the end decided to toss it due to being the core city of the second largest metro primarily in VA. Austin, TX got tossed for just being too big...it felt a little arbitrary, but come on, it's a city with almost a million people that's the 10th largest in the US.
2-Not part of the metro or an adjacent metro/CSA to the largest city thus disqualifying Olympia, WA, Annapolis, MD, and Trenton, NJ. I also tossed Frankfort, KY and Carson City, NV, the former for basically sitting right between the state's two major metros and the latter for being so close to and kind of an extension of the second largest metro in the state.

Anyway I'm going with Albany. Still a decent sized metro, visitable distance to NYC but you don't have to actually live there with all that entails...seems like a great place to live to get all the benefits of living in New York without as many of the downsides associated with Upstate or the state at large. Harrisburg and Lansing also seem solid for similar reasons.

[Goldwater]

Salem is pretty nice.

[Dr. MB]

Maybe Santa Fe honestly. I don't really like Salem. Olympia would definitely be my top choice if it was on there.

[Crumpets]

Fwiw, I think Olympia deserves to be on this list. The only reason it would be considered adjacent to the Seattle Metro Area is because of how big the counties in Washington are and how metro areas always extend to the county line. Most days it would be a 1.5-2 hour drive to get between Seattle and Olympia.

[TDAS04]

Olympia.

[Mr. Smith]

Harrisburg or Montpelier...Philly proximity wins out here.

[muon2]

I've lived in Springfield IL, and when the legislature is in session from Jan-May it's fine. State fair in Aug isn't bad. The rest of the time it's quite dull. Unless I had a significant job there I'd skip it.

My family is in MA, so Augusta ME is tempting. But I haven't been impressed there, and if in ME I'd rather have a place nearer the coast. Montpelier VT is a too remote and Concord NH was excluded or I probably would have gone for that.

I voted for Santa Fe. I've been there a couple of times in the last few years and I've enjoyed the vibe. It isn't too far from ABQ which opens up plenty of other possibilities.

[S019]

Tallahassee

[Alben Barkley]

Frankfort feels like a world away from Louisville and Lexington despite being between them.

[quesaisje]

Albany is an underrated city. BRTD is right.

Lots of walkable neighborhoods. The bus system is about as good as it gets in the US. Even if you can't avoid driving a lot, distances are moderate and traffic isn't bad. Good access to outdoor recreation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills, and the Berkshires.

The cost of living is manageable. (This is not true for several cities on this list.) It's the kind of city where a twenty-something can support themselves comfortably without being obsessed with money - with enough to spare for weekend trips to New York City, Montreal, and Boston if you're getting bored with things locally.

Moreover, despite the reputation for provincialism ("smallbany"), there's as much going on there as you would encounter in any other city on this list. It punches above its weight on cultural amenities, especially concerts.

[TDAS04]

Albany is an underrated city. BRTD is right.

Lots of walkable neighborhoods. The bus system is about as good as it gets in the US. Even if you can't avoid driving a lot, distances are moderate and traffic isn't bad. Good access to outdoor recreation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills, and the Berkshires.

The cost of living is manageable. (This is not true for several cities on this list.) It's the kind of city where a twenty-something can support themselves comfortably without being obsessed with money - with enough to spare for weekend trips to New York City, Montreal, and Boston if you're getting bored with things locally.

Moreover, despite the reputation for provincialism ("smallbany"), there's as much going on there as you would encounter in any other city on this list. It punches above its weight on cultural amenities, especially concerts.

Albany does sound like a place that I would like quite a bit, actually, for plenty of reasons (especially having easy access to the Adirondacks. I need more trees and hills). Your description makes the city seem like a near-perfect fit for me.

[Arizona Iced Pee]

Santa Fe…one of my favorite cities in the world.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

It's not on here but Sacramento not Springfield IL they are being pounded by snow

[vitoNova]

The only reason I vote Santa Fe is because of Chimayo.

[Sol]

Albany would be my pick, but although it meets all the criteria it definitely seems like a major city in a way unlike all the rest of the cities on this list.

So I voted for Lansing.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Tallynasty

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Albany would be my pick, but although it meets all the criteria it definitely seems like a major city in a way unlike all the rest of the cities on this list.

So I voted for Lansing.

Lansing is larger than Albany and in fact the largest on the list.

[Sol]

Albany would be my pick, but although it meets all the criteria it definitely seems like a major city in a way unlike all the rest of the cities on this list.

So I voted for Lansing.

Lansing is larger than Albany and in fact the largest on the list.

Was going by metro area.

[wnwnwn]

New England seem fine in general.

[Thank you for being a friend...]

Harrisburg is very nice, surrounded by a lot of nice scenery, farmland, there's also Hershey Park close by if you have a family.  Amish Country is nearby.  Then there's the Lehigh Valley to the east, and if you want a bigger city, Philadelphia not that far away.  There's jobs in Harrisburg with the government, especially if you have any knowledge of budgeting (that would be an ideal job to get with the state government).

[Nutmeg]

Santa Fe, followed by Harrisburg. Like so many small cities, Harrisburg has some great culture, vegan restaurants, and hipster coffee shops. I stop by roughly yearly and always have a great time.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Tallahassee! Haha! F*** no!

Albany or Santa Fe maybe?