New York vs. Philadelphia (Garden City, Chappaqua: neighborhoods, theatre, university)

[Police]

Which city do you like better: New York or Philadelphia? Why?

[Police]

Well, I'll get the ball rolling with my personal preference. I have two job offers -- one for each city, with the pay in New York higher, but not really that much higher when cost of living is taken into account. I've lived and worked in both cities, and I prefer Philly. With all due respect to New York, which is a great city, it's just too crowded and it is the epitome of the rat race. Also, there are many great suburbs (Bucks County, Main Line) that are within great commuting distances to the city. The suburbs around New York are quite crowded.

[bmwguydc]

Originally Posted by Police

The suburbs around New York are quite crowded.

That's great that you prefer Philadelphia, but your comparison about New York's crowded suburbs is a little off the mark. Yes, there are some crowded suburbs, close-in, but not all are like that. And, Bucks is hardly close-in, say Upper Makefield which is about 35 miles from Center City, that compares to a Chappaqua, NY or Bernardsville, NJ in terms of distance, neither of which could be accurately described as congested.

In comparison to the Main Line, Lower Westchester is very close demographically as are places like Garden City, NY on Long Island and even into Summit, NJ. That said, the same money does go further in Philadelphia than comparable towns surrounding NYC.

If you're using for the basis of comparison some close-in New Jersey communities on small lots, say Secaucus, or parts of Long Island where there was historic small lot development, that can tend to appear congested, but Philadelphia is not without areas such as that, especially in its New Jersey suburbs.

I am biased towards NYC, though I have nothing against Philadelphia, and have several very good friends who live in the area. It's a little bit of a stretch to compare the best of one city to the whole of another to make it support an argument regarding congestion, when it simply is not the case, though the prices between the two will differ.

[Police]

Thanks for your response and insight. Can you explain why you personally prefer New York?

[bmwguydc]

Well, I prefer New York because there's so much to do at all hours of the day and night, and there is an energy to the city that is hard to describe unless one has lived in NYC. I prefer the varied neighborhoods, safe streets, fantastic food options (and being vegetarian, that's a good thing), and the culture that abounds in museums large and small, theatre, music offerings, and to a certain extent the geography. There's something about the confluence of islands and hills that make up NYC that imparts a great feeling of uniqueness in setting. Central Park and the New York Botanical Gardens are favorites as well, and it's easy to go for a boat ride or sailing in close proximity to the city.

I don't discount Philadelphia, but I can say that I do not feel safe and secure on the streets outside Center City. And, it's a smaller place, which is fine, but to me seems more difficult to find one's niche, since there are only so many places where one can explore. Some of my friends who live in Philadelphia actually come to NY for the theatre and shopping because it's so close and comparative offerings are a little lacking in greater Philadelphia.

There are some great museums in Philadelphia, and the pace is a little slower, so from that standpoint I can certainly see the difference when lookng solely at Manhattan. It is easier to drive in and around the city itself, however, compared to NY, which is a plus if you like to drive as I do. However, even given its hassles at times, there's nothing like New York, and certain times of the year are just magical in the city, little vignettes of life that can only come alive in New York. New York is an experience, and there's a premium attached to it in terms of time and cost, but when one makes the right connections for whatever lifestyle they want to lead, they can find much to support it in NY.

[Police]

Originally Posted by bmwguydc

Well, I prefer New York because there's so much to do at all hours of the day and night, and there is an energy to the city that is hard to describe unless one has lived in NYC. I prefer the varied neighborhoods, safe streets, fantastic food options (and being vegetarian, that's a good thing), and the culture that abounds in museums large and small, theatre, music offerings, and to a certain extent the geography. There's something about the confluence of islands and hills that make up NYC that imparts a great feeling of uniqueness in setting. Central Park and the New York Botanical Gardens are favorites as well, and it's easy to go for a boat ride or sailing in close proximity to the city.

I don't discount Philadelphia, but I can say that I do not feel safe and secure on the streets outside Center City. And, it's a smaller place, which is fine, but to me seems more difficult to find one's niche, since there are only so many places where one can explore. Some of my friends who live in Philadelphia actually come to NY for the theatre and shopping because it's so close and comparative offerings are a little lacking in greater Philadelphia.

There are some great museums in Philadelphia, and the pace is a little slower, so from that standpoint I can certainly see the difference when lookng solely at Manhattan. It is easier to drive in and around the city itself, however, compared to NY, which is a plus if you like to drive as I do. However, even given its hassles at times, there's nothing like New York, and certain times of the year are just magical in the city, little vignettes of life that can only come alive in New York. New York is an experience, and there's a premium attached to it in terms of time and cost, but when one makes the right connections for whatever lifestyle they want to lead, they can find much to support it in NY.

I feel the same way you do about both cities. I'm not much of a city person, and plan on commuting into the city, so the surrounding suburbs, cost of living in those suburbs, and the commute to the city are important to me.

[bmwguydc]

I can uderstand the cost comparison, since the same salary in NY will tend to go further in Philadelphia. And, Philadelphia is not that far from NYC, so it's not that far to drive or take trasnit for the city for some of its cultural opportunities that might be lacking in Greater Philadelphia.

[MosX]

A good amount of this discussion is personal experience I think. I prefer New York mostly because the size and density impresses me. But I also like things to be a little more laid back at times which is a plus for Philly. I don't think you're going to find much in one that you can't find in the other really.

[K 22]

I went to college in Philly (Temple University) and I made a point to visit as much of the city as possible. I can say with much certaintly that Philly is pretty much a combination of Brooklyn and Queens.

[Police]

Originally Posted by K 22

I went to college in Philly (Temple University) and I made a point to visit as much of the city as possible. I can say with much certaintly that Philly is pretty much a combination of Brooklyn and Queens.

So which city do you prefer?