Boston Ranked ``Best City For Singles'' by Forbes.com.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 6, 2002

Today Forbes.com released its second annual "Best Cities For Singles," a guide to the best places for the single life, covering the most populous 40 metropolitan areas as defined by the U.S. Census. The top 5

1. Boston

2. Austin

3. Washington-Baltimore (No. 1 on last year's list)

4. Raleigh-Durham

5. Denver-Boulder

For the full list of 40 city rankings (available exclusively on Forbes.com) go to: www.forbes.com/singles.

Included in this year's package are slide shows and photo essays; an interview on the new Forbes.com Video Network with Staff Writer Davide Dukcevich; and for the first time, a look at several cities outside of the United States. According to Dukcevich, the list was based on seven criteria: number of singles; cost of living; nightlife; projected job growth; culture; "buzz" and the "coolness" factor. This year's "buzz" factor includes reader feedback via Forbes.com polls.

"Coolness" was determined in collaboration with Richard Florida - author and professor of regional economic development, Heinz School of Public Policy and Management, Carnegie Mellon University - and includes measures for diversity, bohemianism (number of artists, writers, etc.), innovation (patents per capita), talent (university education) and high-tech industrial output.

Some Highlights:

-- Boston shot up to the No.1 spot from 16th place on last year's list

-- Austin moved up from 15th place in 2001 to No. 2

-- Raleigh-Durham is up from 19th place to No. 4 on the list

-- Denver-Boulder moved into the No. 5 spot from 12th place

-- Last year's top metro area, Washington-Baltimore, fell to the third

-- And last place is? Sorry, Pittsburgh ...