I live in Houston, and am moving to LA soon over NYC (finance + commodities background) or SF (fits current career path). I know NYC and SF can be really cool places, but you really have to stop pretending they are unless you really are pulling in 7 or more figures. The people and lifestyle in LA are way more conducive, intellectually and otherwise, to the life I want and the way I see things going. I see places like Houston, Austin, and LA outperforming NYC and SF for the time being.