what is an 18 hour city 
economists and real estate investors use the term 18 hour city to describe a mid size city with attractive amenities higher than average population growth and a lower cost of living and cost of doing business than the biggest urban areas the 18 hour city generally has a population of under one million making it a second tier city eighteen hour cities in the u s are increasingly seen as viable alternatives for investment and living to the big six markets of boston chicago los angeles new york san francisco and washington d c that make up america s first tier or 24 hour cities understanding the 18 hour citywhile loosely defined the term 18 hour city most often refers to a city that has public services amenities and job opportunities that are comparable in quality to those in the big six markets unlike the biggest cities most of their services and amenities don t operate on a 24 hour basis however they boast comparable advantages including solid public transportation systems modern infrastructure and strong economies housing prices are moderate in comparison eighteen hour cities have emerged as an attractive alternative to big cities for starting a new business relocating an existing one or investing in real estate they typically feature lower capitalization rate compression meaning property values tend to remain stable rather than spiking up or down significantly like first tier cities 18 hour cities often boast low real estate vacancy rates along with favorable supply concentrations rental growth and absorption trends all indicators of long term real estate investment potential aside from the numbers forbes com cites a distinctive and lovable culture as a key factor in creating and maintaining a vibrant 18 hour city austin is the live music capital of the world denver and the research triangle are outdoor meccas portland is just plain weird and residents would like to keep it that way one perceived downside is the increased risk inherent in cities that do not have the established track record of primary market cities examples of 18 hour cities in the u s crowdstreet a site for crowd sourced real estate investments cites austin denver and nashville as recent stars among 18 hour cities in 2020 it identified charleston south carolina as the next big success story in the category the stars among 18 hour cities are a draw for millennials turned off by big city obstacles realtor com identified its top metropolitan areas for 2020 and beyond with all of its top five picks squarely in the 18 hour city category they include boise idaho mc allen edinburg mission texas tucson arizona chattanooga tennessee and columbia south carolina the national real estate investor website chose charleston kansas city and columbus ohio based on their stellar growth in jobs these and other frequently cited 18 hour city stars have become targets for millennials whose goal is launching or advancing their careers they are characterized by the availability of recreation and entertainment opportunities that extend well beyond what the typical second tier affords employers are drawn to 18 hour cities because doing business is less expensive in these markets and this in turn attracts large numbers of job seekers and entrepreneurs 