which one is the top dog: philadelphia or pittsburgh? (crime, quality of life)

[PhillyPhan]

Everyone that i talk to cannot decide which city is better, philadelphia is a big city with a rich history. Pittsburgh is a smaller, but a tough as nails kind of city. which one deserves to own the title of pennsylvania's greatest city?

[rainrock]

Pittsburgh is more stable with an overall better quality of living, lower crime, lower cost of living etc. Better natural setting. Philadlephia is obviously much larger, more dynamic, more grand, more wealth which has more to do with its glorious past and the fact that its in the middle of a megalopolis moreso than its quality of leadership over the past 100 years.

All in all though Philadelphia is the top dog based on its economy, culture, architecture, and restaurant + nightlife scene.Center City is one of the top 5 downtowns in the usa . Also its the core of a 6 million plus metro. I like Pittsburgh and I wish Philadlephia had some of its traits but Philly wins this one.

[Icy Tea]

Pittsburgh is a prettier city with a better quality of life. Lower crime anyway. Neither city is doing gangbusters economy wise but Philly never bottomed out like Pittsburgh did. I like Philly better for history and culture and food and location. But Philly does have a gritty run down reputation that isn't going away anytime soon. And its sports team history is sad, at least Pittsburgh stumbled into a Superbowl win by blind luck last year.