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I choose Baltimore but i really need to spend more time in portland. Baltimore is a great city. It's location is a belssing and curse in that is it close to everything yet overshawdowed by even bigger cities. standing on it's own it is a large place with a lot to offer. Plus the Bay location is amazing - the Cheseapeake is very under-rated.
If you move to the Baltimore area, there's a good chance you'll end up living in the surrounding suburbs. That's where most of the desireable and affluent neighborhoods are.
You're also likely to work, attend school, or have friends and colleagues in either the Baltimore or DC metro areas or both. The cities are very tightly connected. So in a way you get 2 cities for one - it's basically the Baltimore-Washington metro area. And even Philadelphia and NYC aren't too far away.
Last edited by BigCityDreamer; 06-15-2010 at 06:31 PM..
I'll go with Baltimore. Its East Coast, southish, and has a very nice identity. Its close to DC and a relatively short drive to DC and Phily. I like that it has the aquarium and nice urban core.
That being said I have heard nothing but good things about Portland.
I prefer Baltimore, the weather, the culture, the location, the people. I'm just not into the Portland scene...
Which is more urban? probably baltimore, but portland is very walkable, more so than Baltimore
Which has a more utilized and beautiful waterfront? portland
Best foodie scene? Architecture? Public transit? portland best food and stransit, baltimore better architecture
Which parties harder and has more to do in general?
Portland probably wins...
So I'd vote Portland winner in every category except architecture, I still prefer Baltimore though.
Which is more urban? Baltimore Which has a more utilized and beautiful waterfront? Baltimore's is more utilized. Portlands is probably more nature like Best foodie scene? Architecture? Public transit? Baltimore on the first two. Portland probably has a more efficient light rail, But doesn't have a subway like Baltimore. Which parties harder and has more to do in general? Not a clue on parties. Baltimore seems funner imo.
Using this logic, Miami also has better public transit than Portland since they also have heavy rail.
Baltimore may have a subway, but hardly anyone uses it - you'll hear lifelong Baltimoreans say, "We have a subway??" and they're being serious; they really don't know it's there. Baltimore still is a very a much a "transit is only for those who can't afford a car" type of town. Portland meanwhile has many more "choice riders" and is renowned by urban planners across the country for it's public transit. Portland also has a bicycle culture that blows away anything Baltimore has.
There's a lot of things that Baltimore does better than Portland (architecture, density, overall urban environment), but transit isn't one of them.
I think people give more praise to the transit system here in Portland than it deserves. It is only light rail and buses and the slowest streetcar on earth. We have no subways thru the downtown. Our system is extensive yes but it is painfully slow and many delays. I work at the airport and there is a direct line to the airport. At night it has been taking me an hour for this trip due to delays. Only 9 miles is my commute. Thats ridiculous. The other problem with our system is Portland itself. There are riders of all types and backrounds but the majority reflect Portland. The poverty stricken, homeless and druggies, not paying their fare. The system is not used in any large amount by business people white collar types going to work. Reason being Portland's population does not reflect that type of employment like as in most big US cities.
I voted for Baltimore based on it is more of a city and reflects more of the American population both in diversity and reality. I don't think Baltimore has better transit though than Portland, but being so close to DC many tap into that system.
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. Traffic is def. getting worse.
