Most Urban: Denver vs Minneapolis vs Pittsburgh vs Seattle (populations, metropolitan, size)

[kidphilly]

Pittsburgh and Seattle are very close, on feel I gave the nod to Pittsburgh as the housing stock overall does feel more urban to me, at least with continuity, if I went off DTs the edge would have gone to Seattle for me. Both Seattle and Pittsburgh to me are the most urban in many ways after the big six in this country (LA is hrd to classify and is so much bigger so is probably ahead as well) with Detroit and Baltimore.

After would be Minneapolis and then Denver

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Seattle
Pittsburgh/Denver Tied
Minneapolis (although probably tied as my favorite city out of this list)

[west336]

Minneapolis has the 2nd highest population density of the bunch (Seattle is a TAD higher according to the 2000 Census), yet it probably is the 2nd least "urban" looking city (behind Denver). I think this is because Minneapolis is nearly 100% occupied (few vacant homes), there are quite a few multi-family structures in parts of the city that are not high-rises, and there are not too many barriers to development (except the lakes and parks, which actually does add up to a few square miles). Here's my take (re-take):

Seattle - technically the most urbanized, but looks like a glorified Denver (not as "rustic", lots aren't 25 feet wide like Pittsburgh)
Pittsburgh - technically the least urbanized, but looks like a traditional densely populated American city (narrow lots, buildings come up to the street)
Denver - has density/urbanity that looks like Seattle or Minneapolis but not as "tight" as Pittsburgh, not as many low-rise multi-family structures as Minneapolis, and not as many high-rises as Seattle.
Minneapolis - pretty similar density to Seattle, but much of it is low-rise and fewer barriers to development as any of the cities (except possibly Denver). It and Denver are combinations of old and new urbanism.

[west336]

Originally Posted by salif

Which of these four cities would you feel most/least comfortable walking in at night and using public transportation all the time ?
To me, another thing determining urbanity is exactly that point where you feel safe during late PM hours and you encounter quite a few people on the streets and have access to mass transit at all times..

For me, it would be Minneapolis because I think it has the highest crime rate of the 4 cities and I KNOW there have been multiple occassions of people being attacked or killed on metro transit buses or trains. I take the bus all of the time and I prefer not to hop on past 9 o'clock if I can avoid it.

[Drewcifer]

Minneapolis is not that dangerous. In my neighborhood it is not uncommon to see women walking the streets by themselves at 1 in the morning.

[west336]

Originally Posted by Drewcifer

Minneapolis is not that dangerous. In my neighborhood it is not uncommon to see women walking the streets by themselves at 1 in the morning.

That wasn't the question. The question was: "which is most dangerous" of the 4.

[Champ le monstre du lac]

I think the city of Seattle is perfect in terms of density. It has a real big city downtown with thriving with pedestrian activity and character. It's peripheral neighborhoods also have character with good urban nodes/commercial centers, small businesses, and the mass transit is finally being well developed (certainly ahead of Pittsburgh, although oddly Denver the least urban out of these four has the most ambition mass transit development). The peripheral neighborhoods of Seattle also have elbow room and single family homes to compliment the urban nodes and downtown. Seattle has abundant parkland, lots of trees, waterfront, mountain views, steep hills, and a gorgeous skyline. Yes I know Pittsburgh has a great skyline, big hills, and three rivers but Seattle’s topography is unparalleled. In a Goldilocks sense it's a perfect balance for a major city, not too spread with a dead downtown like Phoenix, but also not claustrophobicly crowded like Boston. It's just right.

[west336]

^I tend to agree.....Minneapolis as well, but I'd like to see the density potentially double in my lifetime and I think it would still fit the bill.

[bergenboy]

Seattle

[pwright1]