philly or b-more? (Philadelphia, Penn: apartment, crime, university)

[curiousgeorge1]

in your opinion, which city provides a better urban living experience? which city is more affordable and has safe urban neighborhoods close to or in downtown? and finally, which city would i be better off in if i didnt have a car?

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by curiousgeorge1

in your opinion, which city provides a better urban living experience? which city is more affordable and has safe urban neighborhoods close to or in downtown? and finally, which city would i be better off in if i didnt have a car?

In a nutshell, Philly... especially if you don't have a car. Center City (what we call downtown) is a walkable two square miles with all the amenities you would expect from a major city. While some locals might complain about the quality and cost of SEPTA mass transit, between the buses, light rail, subway, elevated train and commuter rail, coverage is actually very good. Adjacent popular neighborhoods include University City, Northern Liberties and Bella Vista. If you're looking for something a bit removed from Center City but still active, check out Manayunk, Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill, all towards the NW corner of town.

You may have heard some bad press recently about Philly's crime issues. Street wisdom and common sense are always useful wherever you go, but the vast majority of the city's problems are occuring within poorer neighborhoods between people who know each other.

Assuming you're single (or part of a couple) and are apparently eager to embrace urban life, Philly is as affordable and enjoyable as any major Northeastern city.

I'm sure the good people over on the Baltimore forum may have a different take. From my visits there, I will say that their greatest strength may be their communities near the Inner Harbor. Those sought-after areas do tend to be more expensive compared to Philly, especially with the influx of former DC residents who were priced out but still commute back to the nation's capital. However, Baltimore possesses an historically challenging crime reputation... to the point where they have cameras perched at strategic spots in the downtown area. And while those harbor communities may be walkable, transit options aren't quite as convenient as in Philly.

Please check out what the B-more people have to say. But if you're making a serious choice between the two, I believe in the end that you will choose Philly.

[gigibell214]

I love going to Baltimore b/c of the Harbour. Philly is in a transition with the waterfront/ Penns Landing and I hope to compete with them some day (I said hope). Hands down, Philly has great transportation. One of the best in the U.S. If you like the urban experience, try Univerity City. Easy acces to CC. Transportation "tops". You have the trolley the bus or the Subway to choose from.

[little cat feet]

I like both cities, but my vote goes to Philly. I lived in center city Philadelphia for three years, and I loved it. There is a great, cohesive community feel to center city and it is still quite urban, so in my opinion, it's a perfect city living experience.

As Tone pointed out, there has been a lot of crime in the news lately, and like any city, living in Philly requires one to be smart and aware of what's going on. I will say that I lived there as a single woman in my mid-twenties, and I lived alone in an apartment right in the heart of downtown. I had no problems, and I never felt uncomfortable. I had several friends who lived there as well, mostly other single women. None of them had any problems, either. Obviously, stuff happens, but I do believe that most parts of center city are safe. The nice thing is that as a center city resident, you are located close to most of the cultural, historic, and entertainment centers downtown. It is a truly fabulous social experience.

As for the car issue, I believe that Philly wins over Balti, no question. Baltimore seems to be much more of a mosaic city; pockets of good neighborhoods tiled right next to bad neighborhoods. Therefore, walking around Baltimore can be somewhat limited, and having a car is a huge advantage. It's tough to get from one cultural center to the next in Baltimore without a car, as public transit is not good at all.

In Philly, most of the city is accessible by foot. As others have said, the public transit system is all right. I rarely used it, though, as I enjoyed walking everywhere I needed to go.

Good luck with your decision!