> Washington DC: The intellectual class in this city is about half conservative/Republican/libertarian and always will be.

While I think the 50 percent figure is high, people tend to only think of DC as a liberal city.

Of course it primarily is, but there is a large population of well-educated conservatives and libertarians living here.

Most of my social circle leans left, but it was always good living in DC to hear different perspectives, rather than shouting into an echo-chamber.

Also an extremely diverse population (51% Black) along with on-going gentrification leads to DC being one of the more intellectually stimulating cities to live in.