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Overall, North Carolina. But you could probably break it down by region, and there are indeed similarities between Virginia and Pennsylvania, too.
Northern Virginia - Definitely more similar to Pennsylvania. This entire region is firmly mid-Atlantic and has lost various southern characteristics over the years. There isn't a drastic difference between the suburbs of D.C. and Philadelphia, and there are also similar historic sites (Mount Vernon, Independence Hall, etc.) shared between the two metros. Not to mention both metros are in the BosWash corridor.
Shenandoah Valley - A slight edge to Pennsylvania. The Shenandoah Valley region looks similar to central Pennsylvania, and they're connected via I-81.
Tidewater - An edge to North Carolina. There might be historic similarities between Norfolk and Philadelphia, but Pennsylvania doesn't have a coastline, while Hampton Roads is close to North Carolina so there's some overlap there. Northeastern North Carolina, including the Outer Banks, is part of the Hampton Roads media market rather than Raleigh.
Greater Richmond - A slight edge to North Carolina. Richmond has an urban core and industrial background that is similar to Pennsylvania's major cities, but Richmond probably has more in common with North Carolina's tobacco cities (Durham, Winston-Salem) than Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
Charlottesville - This area kind of looks like Pennsylvania, but it's also similar to Chapel Hill. I guess it could go either way.
Roanoke/southwest Virginia - Roanoke actually looks like a Pennsylvania or Ohio city, but I think this region overall has too many southern Appalachian characteristics and therefore is more similar to western North Carolina than Pennsylvania.
Southside - North Carolina without a doubt. This area is largely rural with tobacco and textile legacies, and it also shares various connections with North Carolina. Danville is close to both Greensboro and Durham, for example. Lynchburg lies on the edge of this region but it's probably more similar to North Carolina, too.
Southside is the only part of Virginia similar NC. Richmond is nothing like a NC city. Completely different, even with tobacco history. Eastern NC is like Tidewater, tidewater isn't like NC. So there's that. And even there, you know if you are in Elizabeth city or not. For Roanoke-appalachian culture doesn't stop at Va and Pa has plenty of its own. Charlottesville is a college town. That's the similarity
Southside is the only part of Virginia similar NC. Richmond is nothing like a NC city. Completely different, even with tobacco history. Eastern NC is like Tidewater, tidewater isn't like NC. So there's that. And even there, you know if you are in Elizabeth city or not. For Roanoke-appalachian culture doesn't stop at Va and Pa has plenty of its own. Charlottesville is a college town. That's the similarity
Southside is clearly the most similar region to North Carolina in Virginia (tobacco, textiles, close proximity to the Triangle and Triad), while the northern half of the Shenandoah Valley (Winchester, etc.) shares similarities with south central Pennsylvania (similar appearance, I-81 connection, "Great Wagon Road").
Everything else is up for grabs. I just think North Carolina is probably the answer overall because at least North Carolina has a coastline and Tidewater culture in the northeastern part of the state. Pennsylvania is landlocked and culturally northern.
Pennsylvania and North Carolina are more alike than either are to Virginia.
Virginia is one of the few states without any major cities. It's biggest city is a suburb by the beach.
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VA is dominated by suburban areas and puts it's own cities last. It used to be dominated by rural areas.
Meanwhile, PA and NC have two large cities at opposite ends of the state that dominate much of the culture in their respective regions. The only difference is NC cities are still growing whereas PA cities are more or less stagnant.
I would say NC overall. They both border each other, both are southern east coast states, both have beaches and mountains, both are known for tobacco, and both are southern states that use the word soda throughout. I look at Richmond as a transition between DC and NC. It has rowhouses and an indurstal vibe, but it's also a tobacco city. I've heard Durham being compared to Richmond before.
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