seattle vs. pittsburgh (quality, Boston, Chicago, cons)

[PeterRabbit]

Originally Posted by Bill Loney

We have radar. We sense incoming hostiles.

Bad radar and a lack of sense.

I'm not hostile toward Seattle. It was a very bad first impression and it stuck. All the good I've heard can't outweigh that. I wouldn't discourage anyone from visiting or moving there. I prefer to stay out of conversations about Seattle because my experience was long ago and the city has changed a lot.

[StampedeCity]

Seattle BY FAR

[tydus]

Originally Posted by west seattle gal

Tydus, do you mind sharing why? Thanks for the input.

general personality of city residents (how they view themselves)
I have been to pittsburgh many times, and never have I found anyone who would be considered nasty. I've heard good things about seattles too.

intellectual element to population? educated populace?
Both cities rank as some of the most literate in the US. Central Connecticut State University (CCSU): America's Most Literate Cities 2010 But I would give the edge to seattle.

walkable/bikeable?
Both cities are very walkable, with tons of bike paths. But I have never seen pittsburgh ranked in some of the top biking city lists, so I would give the edge to seattle.

effectiveness/ease of public transportation
Both public transportation systems are decent sized. Pittsburgh's is actually very large when compared to other cities of its size, and buses are everywhere, especially during rush hour. I would put seattle ahead of pittsburgh though, because of the funding crisis.

assessment of public/private schools
Seattles schools are ranked as some of the best in the US. Pittsburgh has decent schools.

parks/wildlife/nature
Both are largely outdoorsy cities. Seattle is good for skiing and snowboarding because of its mountains, and pittsburgh is good for kayaking because of a large presence of natural waterways. I would also give the edge to seattle on this one, though.

bookstores/coffee shops/independent shops
Each city has large amount of bookstores and independent shops. As for coffee shops, I'm not even going to answer this one.

family life -- good place to raise kids?
Pittsburgh isn't the most livable city for nothing.

houses -- well-built? safe neighborhoods?
Pittsburgh has much older houses then seattle, so you probably won't be moving in to a very "high tech" building like seattle's. As for safe neighborhoods, both city's are generally safe.

gang activity? racism? crime?
Neither cities are very dangerous to live in. But pittsburgh's racial tensions are much higher then seattle's.

[Bill Loney]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

That Cheerleading of Seattle is what you call facts? You know nothing of Pittsburgh and have proven that.

And yet you still don't respond to a single one. I certainly understand why you keep deflecting. When you are so completely off base it's all you have. I'll be laughing about the coffee comments for a long time.

[Blackbeauty212]

Originally Posted by Bill Loney

And yet you still don't respond to a single one. I certainly understand why you keep deflecting. When you are so completely off base it's all you have. I'll be laughing about the coffee comments for a long time.

[ironcouger]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

I see we have bunch of Seattle homers that never stepped foot in Current day Pittsburgh...

I have travelled to Seattle on Business twice and stayed mostly in the core Downtown but did some riding around...

1 - Seattle is hardly what I'd call a "Tourist" city
Wow Seattle has 9.1 million tourist a year who spend 15.2 billion dollars.
2 - Pittsburgh has vibrant, lively, pulsating neighborhoods bustling with activity day and night, outside of Seattle's downtown it was all sleeper residential neighborhoods some looking quite suburbish.

3 - Seattle's downtown the 2 times Ive visited was Pretty dead this may have been because it was a Monday and Tuesday night both times. Again Pittsburgh's downtown is no Manhattan, but atleast what's missing downtown is made up for in its neighborhoods.
HaHa wrong places then Seattle is lively Seattle 6.1 million sq ft retail downtown and over 1000 coffe shops , restraunts , and bars
4 - Both Pittsburgh and Seattle are Very Lush and Green....I like that alot

5 - Pittsburgh has tons of bike trails, where's Seattle's biking its more integrated into the streets...both are very Outdoorsy cities.

6 - Both have top notch College Institutions.

7 - Pittsburgh still have remnants of a once Very Old Industrial city, that is now grown into into a pretty modern city while retaining that grit....where's Seattle was pretty modern right from the beginning.

8 - Seattle and Pittsburgh are mostly Bus operated Public Transit systems, Pittsburgh's however is suffering from The Old Boys political system where politicians think Pittsburgh can survive with reduced transit and everyone jamming into their cars to get everywhere...While Seattle's did seem more progressive and extensive, which I'm a strong advocate of..
Seattle has 2 comuter rail lines 1 light rail line and 2 under construction and street car line with one under construction. And dont forgrt the monorail.
9 - Pittsburgh is Sports Red meat eating city....Seattle its more of a Geeky Tech (not that there anything wrong with that) Crunchy city...

10 - Pittsburgh from what I hear has a better Music scene, didnt get to sample Seattles...

11 - Both Cities get alot of Rain and I do mean ALOT, but Pittsburgh has a more brutal Winter to contend with.

12 - Coffee i'd give the edge ever so slightly to Seattle because it is the home of Starbucks which dominates the Burgh...but Pittsburgh also has a ton of Indies as well as Dunkin Donuts making a resurgence.

13 - Seattle is more Transient than the Burgh

I hear all the time Pittsburgh is the East's Portland/Seattle just with more grit....

Dont think you have been to Seattle.

[Blackbeauty212]

Originally Posted by ironcouger

Dont think you have been to Seattle.

And I dont think most of you Seattle homers have ever stepped foot in Pittsburgh with your elitest attitudes that Seattle is leauges above Pittsburgh.....PUUUUUUUULEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSEEE!!!!

Now see we both have our opinions!

[west seattle gal]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

http://www.city-data.com/forum/14883523-post26.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/14951008-post72.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/14949344-post62.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/14949459-post63.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/14949590-post64.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/14949674-post66.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/14949790-post68.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/14950175-post69.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/14950236-post70.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/14971233-post7.html

l

It would be hard to distinguish Seattle from Pittsburgh in some of these photos. Thanks for sharing! Pittsburgh looks beautiful and lively.

[ironcouger]

Originally Posted by west seattle gal

It would be hard to distinguish Seattle from Pittsburgh in some of these photos. Thanks for sharing! Pittsburgh looks beautiful and lively.

Pittsburgh is a beautifull city I like some of the buildings better than Seattle . I like Seattles Skyline for the natural area it sits and that its a much larger and dense skyline than Pittsburgh.

[west seattle gal]

Leaning towards Pittsburgh. I plan to visit in August, and will scrutinize the place.