Reality:  While Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States, there is still a unique, small town atmosphere that distinguishes many of the region's neighborhoods and communities. A recent national survey ranked Houston as the fifth most helpful city of the 36 cities polled. Many smaller cities and master-planned communities located throughout the region foster a community spirit and bond that make them among the most desirable places to live in the nation. Yet Houston can offer such big city attributes as world class arts and culture and an international business center. For it's size, Houston is an amazingly affordable place to live. The cost of consumer goods and service for a mid-management standard of living in Houston is well below the average for 20 US. Urban areas over 1.5 million population. Houston's comparative advantage is attributed largely to housing costs that are 24% below the average for these large urban areas.