Metropolises of North America: Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington D.C. (best, cost)
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We are comparing them at the metropolis level, meaning comparisons with the use of MSA, CMA, GTA, CSA, GGH, or any international urban area or urban agglomeration standards are encouraged for use and city propers are not (unless it is a topic that is only measured by city proper).
These four have been compared before but only on specific topics and not on an overall basis of their qualities as cities. With the exception of New York, Mexico City, and Los Angeles, these are the four next most prominent places in all of North America. All four cities are vastly different from one another but they are all wonderful cities in their own way. Among the best and biggest that North America has to offer in this day and age.
Compare them on what they have to offer, their standard of living, and what their socioeconomic (social and economic), physical (urban) and natural (nature) environments are like.
- Location
- Climate
- Topography
- Economy
- Costs and expenses
- Public education (K-12) and higher education (colleges and universities)
I always look forward to the comparison between these four. They're great matchups for one another across a variety of different things on the spectrum.
Along with Atlanta/Dallas/Houston/Miami and San Diego/Denver/Portland/Seattle, fourways are the best of ways.
Anyhow, on a personal level, I go with Toronto of the four (to live in). Equal preference for the four on visiting (put their names on a slip of paper and put it in a hat, I'll draw one, and can live with any of the four as a result for a place to visit).
These cities are only closely matched at the CSA level, and I think we've established that most people here don't like the CSA metric. Chicago and Toronto are miles ahead at the city level, and Chicago stands alone at the MSA level.
These cities are only closely matched at the CSA level, and I think we've established that most people here don't like the CSA metric.
I don't think we've established that, at all.
There are various issues with any comparative metric, whether city, urban area, MSA, or CSA, and usage of any of these metrics will generate detractors.
Don't waste your time posting a reply to him. It tends to go nowhere.
He opens a thread where the word "metropolis" is the first word in the title of the thread, knowing full well how we are most likely going to compare these cities.
He sees that and still opens the thread to advocate using city propers as the best comparison barometer. That's the literal definition of trolling. Someone should just report it. He does it in every thread. Frankly it is tiresome and unwarranted. If he has such a problem with CSAs then he needs to write to his congressman.
Don't waste your time posting a reply to him, man.
He opens a thread where the word "metropolis" is the first word in the title of the thread, knowing full well how we are most likely going to compare these cities.
He sees that and still opens the thread to advocate using city propers as the best comparison barometer. That's the literal definition of trolling. I'm thinking of just reporting it. He does it in every thread. Frankly it is tiresome and unwarranted. If he has such a problem with CSAs then he needs to write to his congressman, don't know why he wastes our time.
I'm not even talking about city propers, alone. Even at the MSA level they're not comparable. You stated, in the OP, that we can use any measure of metropolis that we like, but the central thesis that they're all fairly comparable only holds water if we're looking at CSA.
but the central thesis that they're all fairly comparable only holds water if we're looking at CSA.
Well take a look at the criteria and then get back to me about how they're only comparable at the CSA level. Just about any of these 4 places have the capacity to take any of those criteria points, if that is truly their strength. CSA, MSA, none of that really matters to those points.
Lets keep it 100, that's a lot of ground to cover on the criteria, most of which don't really matter regardless of whether you use MSA or CSA.
Like going from MSA to CSA doesn't change which city has the better location, nor does it change the place's culinary scene, music scene, architectural styles, climate, topography, schools, cultural institutions and performing arts, image as a city, neighborhoods, history, political scene, user friendliness, urban offerings, or entertainment.
The same cities that would take those aforementioned criteria by CSA would be the same ones that do so by MSA too.
The only two criteria points that MSA to CSA differences would alter would likely be suburbs and economy and even then with economy, if a place is the largest and most populated CSA, you'd think it would have enough resources and production capability to remain #1 there.
I'm not even talking about city propers, alone. Even at the MSA level they're not comparable. You stated, in the OP, that we can use any measure of metropolis that we like, but the central thesis that they're all fairly comparable only holds water if we're looking at CSA.
You actually think premier, world class Cities/MSAs like SF and DC can't compete with Chicago or Toronto?
What a laugh.
Cities Proper by Number of Households Earning $200,000+, 2015
1 New York, NY 268,855
2 Los Angeles, CA 102,826
3 San Francisco, CA 72,792
4 Chicago, IL 70,842
5 Houston, TX 58,649
6 San Jose, CA 52,623
7 San Diego, CA 45,113
8 Washington, DC 41,343
9 Seattle, WA 40,370
10 Dallas, TX 34,440
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