Houston makes it to list of nation's snobbiest cities

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How can you take seriously a list of the nation's snobbiest cities that includes Kansas City, Mo., Minneapolis/St. Paul and Houston?

For better or worse, Travel & Leisure magazine has come out with America's 20 snobbiest cities, based upon responses to its online reader survey, in which readers ranked 35 metropolitan areas on a variety of features.

To determine snobbishness, the publication asked about each city's reputation for "aloof and smarty-pants residents," high-end shopping and "highbrow" cultural offerings, such as classical music and theater.

The team also took into account "21st-century definitions of elitism: tech-savviness, artisanal coffeehouses, and a conspicuous eco-consciousness (say, the kind of city where you get a dirty look for throwing your coffee cup in the wrong bin)."

Judge for yourself whether that adds up to snobby.

According to Travel & Leisure, the nation's three snobbiest cities are San Francisco, New York and Boston. No big surprises there.

But No. 4 is Minneapolis/St. Paul, which some people might consider a bit of a head-scratcher.

Chicago, perhaps as well known for the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field as the shopping on the Magnificent Mile of Michigan Avenue, ranks No. 7.

Houston made the list at No. 17, apparently snobbier than Austin, which squeaked in at No. 19.