b-more or philly? (Baltimore: real estate, neighborhoods, gated)

[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?

[Thruway]

Baltimore is a mid Atlantic town, Philly is a passionate Northeastern town, and that makes a big difference.

[FlipperX]

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?

Of course B-more rules over nasty Philly anyday.

[tmorrisn]

Philly is bigger - is more onscale with DC as far as diversity goes. I think it beats Baltimore as Baltimore is still segregated by race.
Baltimore is like Pittsburgh - urban in spots, but still has its small-minded people. I'm sure the same is true in Philly, but those people live further out.

Center City in Philly is great (old city too), but I have limited experience. Parking stinks there. There are some GREAT neighborhoods in Baltimore. Other than that - I've found that Philly's safeness changes street to street/ block to block, whereas in Baltimore, it goes by neighborhood/entire areas.

[Streetchie]

Philly for sure.....and that's coming from a Baltimore property owner. However, you will get a hell of a lot more real estate for your dollar in Baltimore.

[carolott]

Once you "do" Center City a few times, it gets old. And yeah, the parking blows. You could always move to South Philly....mmmm...cheesesteaks...

Neither city is great if you don't have a car -- public transportation isn't so hot. Crime...trash...other typical urban problems -- it's a toss-up, really. I honestly have come to believe that you're either a city person or you're not. If you are, you adapt. If not (and that's fine, by the way), then you'll move into the city for a while, hate the crime/noise/trash/whatever -- and you'll move after the novelty wears off.

So I guess in a very roundabout way, I'm wondering if you're looking for a cool urban experience, or are you looking to put down roots? Because if you leave Philly for the 'burbs, commuting in is a royal pain in the you-know-what. Are you totally committed to the idea of urban living?

[djvaly]

Originally Posted by tberg224

Baltimore is a mid Atlantic town, Philly is a passionate Northeastern town, and that makes a big difference.

so your answer is Philly?

[NYMTman]

Both Baltimore and Philly are mid-atlantic towns. As a New Yorker I cannot tell the difference between the two, except that Baltimore is a bit smaller and has a bit more crime/drugs/etc.

The Mid-atlantic encompasses New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. I've never understood why people in Baltimore/Washington think of the Mid-atlantic as ending beyond a 50 mile radius around Baltimore/Washington. Both NYC and Philly are Mid-atlantic towns; I'd know since I live in the former.

[TrayyBall]

the entire city of baltimore is a dump, in philly, just avoid north and west philly.

[NYMTman]

Basically, yes.