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IQALUIT - A nationwide study has ranked Iqaluit as the second-best city in Canada to live in if you are young and single.

The study, by author Richard Florida, ranked Iqaluit after Calgary and ahead of Ottawa-Gatineau.

"I love it," said Seporah Medwig, who has lived in Iqaluit for six years. "The friends that you make up here are lifetime friends, friends that you will keep forever. Down south you are a face in crowd."

A more recently arrived single expressed surprise at the study's conclusion.

"I'm fascinated that it came in second," said Lekon Thomas, who has lived in Iqaluit for four months. "Being so remote you wouldn't think there would be so much activity. But as a witness to said activities, it makes sense. It comes together well." Erin Gordey, Iqaluit's economic development officer, is herself a member of the demographic in question.

"I'm young and I'm single and I love Iqaluit. It's like a buffet," she said with a laugh. "There's a wealth of young, intelligent people from around the world."

In his research, Florida divided Canadian cities into five groups by age, from the young and single to the retired. Iqaluit also came in fifth in the second-youngest category -- mid-career young professionals. The other two Northern capitals, Yellowknife and Whitehorse, came in third and fourth respectively, behind Ottawa-Gatineau and Calgary.

Calgary and Ottawa-Gatineau scored highly in all categories.

Florida's research team looked at a variety of factors in assembling these rankings including the population of the city that is of the relevant age group. Iqaluit, with its very young population, scored highly.

"The point is not to determine which of Canada's cities is 'the best,'" said Florida in a press release. "The point is to give you the information and thinking processes to find the place that's the best fit for you."

Other factors considered were the economic conditions, local creativity and tolerance, quality of life and cost of living. The economy was doubtless why Iqaluit scored where it did among young people, suggested another young single.

"Economically, this is a great place to me," said Nicole Hall, who has lived in Iqaluit for almost two years. "I have an education and (down south) I was working in a call centre. Here I was able to get a job in my field and I am financially independent."

Iqaluit pays well for people just starting their career, said Vinnie Karetak.

"Basically because of the high cost of living you have to have higher minimum wages, just to get people who got their foot in the door."

"Probably the cost of living is why it made number two (instead of higher)," suggested Medwig. "And the selection. Because of where we live it's hard to get certain things."