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Considering size, density, layout, skyline, demographics, weather, and economy, which two US cities are the most similar?
From the places I've been, I'd say Rochester, NY and Milwaukee, WI or Tucson, AZ and Albuquerque, NM. Both cities, in my opinion, feel like carbon copies of its pair.
Cities that come close:
Baltimore and Cincinnati (similar in many ways, but the harbor vs. river is a pretty substantial difference)
Columbus and Indianapolis (very similar, but Columbus is quite a bit larger)
Buffalo and Cleveland (lots in common between these two too, but Cleveland is much larger and has a nicer downtown)
Considering size, density, layout, skyline, demographics, weather, and economy, which two US cities are the most similar?
From the places I've been, I'd say Rochester, NY and Milwaukee, WI or Tucson, AZ and Albuquerque, NM. Both cities, in my opinion, feel like carbon copies of its pair.
Cities that come close:
Baltimore and Cincinnati (similar in many ways, but the harbor vs. river is a pretty substantial difference)
Columbus and Indianapolis (very similar, but Columbus is quite a bit larger)
Buffalo and Cleveland (lots in common between these two too, but Cleveland is much larger and has a nicer downtown)
Based on what I know about these places as well as other places mentioned, I would have to disagree on most of these.
I think Milwaukee "carbon copy" would be closer to Buffalo, NY than Rochester, NY.
1. Both Buffalo and Milwaukee downtownsare actually on the Great Lake. Rochester is on a river, inland.
2. They both look a little older and more rustbelt (Milwaukee and Buffalo skylines are much more dominated by 1920s highrises, Rochester looks more modern. with a stronger white ethnic heritage maybe. (both buffalo and Milwaukee are known for Polish culture as well as others. Never heard of Rochester having Polish-Am culture).
3. Both Milwaukee and Buffalo are within 2 hour drive of the two world class Great lakes cities (Chicago and Toronto respectively), and benefit from the proximity I believe.
Other than size, and southwest location, I KNOW Tuscon and Albuquerque are quite different. I would say that anyone who loves the southwest and wants to live in a city thats not TOO big (no larger than a million) would like both, but they are different.
Tuscon is in the Sonora desert, a more "subtropical' desert, with saguaros and botany and wildlife that reaches their northernmost location. Albuquerque is along a major river corridor that is set in plateaus that are cold desert with sagebrush, pinyon pine, etc.
From a cultural heritage standpoint, Albuquerque being in NM has WAYY more Spanish heritage and history, distinct cuisine, etc. Tuscon has the beautiful San Xavier mission on the south side of town but thats it. Also, ABQ has living Pueblo villages close by, etc., etc.
Tuscon is probably doing a little better economically though. NM unfortunately deals with a little more "brain drain" than the other four corner states.
Columbus and Indy are similar but Columbus is much more liberal (largely due to the university) than Indy.
Also, other than maybe similar architecture I don't think Cincy is similar to Baltimore. Maybe Baltimore is what Cincy would be if Cincys urban architecture remained much more intact and was part of the east coast urban corridor.
Baltimore is on the east coast, right on the Chesapeake Bay, Cincy is an inland city on the Ohio river, and is part of a powerhouse metro area that is over 8 million people. (I know DC and Baltimore are separate cities, but they are rightly counted as a continuous metro area. Baltimore might be a little flatter (?), but the east coast location and being part of a huge metro area does make a difference.
I agree with your assessment of the Twin Cities, but definitely disagree about Milwaukee and Rochester.
Milwaukee is nearly three times the size of Rochester in terms of both population and area. Milwaukee's metro has twice the population of Rochester's. The Milwaukee economy is nearly double the size of the Rochester economy. I'd say the layout is also quite different, with Milwaukee having a much stronger grid than Rochester does.
In terms of the skyline, demographics, and weather, they are similar, yes, but I'd say there are much more similar cities out there.
Salt Lake City metro is nearly twice the size of Boise, much more centrally located to the nation, and has "big city" indicators like major league sports teams.
Minneapolis is a small city compared to Toronto.
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