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My main factors are cheapness, public transit, good city for single straight male in late 20s (who doesn't want to move back in with his parents because the city he moves to is too expensive!), and overall relaxing-ness. Overall which city is better?
Why exactly is Denver on this list? You have two large dense cities and then this mid-sized mid century sorta-urban city. That's quite a wide spectrum for is to gather what it is you're looking for exactly. How much will you have for your budget per month?
Philadelphia is pretty grimy and has bad urban decay and crime, but it has a much better location by virtue of being East Coast. Chicago has a lot of crime, but appearance-wise looks a lot cleaner. Unfortunately, you're stuck in the boring Midwest with Chicago really being the only place of interest. Denver doesn't have the problems with crime and urban decay that Philly or Chicago have, but like Chicago, Denver is pretty isolated. Great if you like outdoor activities.
All three cities get very cold, though. Chicago has brutal winters.
Philadelphia is pretty grimy and has bad urban decay and crime, but it has a much better location by virtue of being East Coast. Chicago has a lot of crime, but appearance-wise looks a lot cleaner. Unfortunately, you're stuck in the boring Midwest with Chicago really being the only place of interest. Denver doesn't have the problems with crime and urban decay that Philly or Chicago have, but like Chicago, Denver is pretty isolated. Great if you like outdoor activities.
All three cities get very cold, though. Chicago has brutal winters.
Philadelphia is pretty grimy and has bad urban decay and crime, but it has a much better location by virtue of being East Coast. Chicago has a lot of crime, but appearance-wise looks a lot cleaner. Unfortunately, you're stuck in the boring Midwest with Chicago really being the only place of interest. Denver doesn't have the problems with crime and urban decay that Philly or Chicago have, but like Chicago, Denver is pretty isolated. Great if you like outdoor activities.
All three cities get very cold, though. Chicago has brutal winters.
There are plenty of nice areas in the city of Philadelphia to suit anyone's needs.
Center City Rittenhouse Square
Penn Center
Logan Square
Fitler Square
Midtown Village
Washington Square West
Society Hill
Old City
Chinatown
Market East
Museum District/Franklintown
Penn's Landing
Loft District (Gentrifying)
South Philadelphia Bella Vista
Queen Village
Hawthorne
Graduate Hospital
Passyunk Square
Italian Market
Wharton
Pennsport
Whitman
East Passyunk Crossing
Moyamensing
Newbold
West Passyunk
Whitman
Marconi Plaza
Girard Estates
Packer Park
Point Breeze (Gentrifying)
Dickinson Narrows (Gentrifying)
Lower North Philadelphia Fairmount
Northern Liberties
Spring Garden
Poplar
Yorktown
Brewerytown (Gentrifying)
Spring Arts (Gentrifying)
Francisville (Gentrifying)
Templetown (Gentrifying)
Sharswood (Gentrifying)
Ludlow (Gentrifying)
Olde Kensington (Gentrifying)
West Philadelphia University City
Spruce Hill
Powelton Village
Woodland Terrace
Clark Park
Squirrel Hill
Cedar Park
Southwest Cedar Park
Garden Court
Walnut Hill
Overbrook Park
Overbrook Farms
Overbrook
Belmont Village
Wynnefield
Wynnefield Heights
Cobbs Creek (sections)
Mantua (Gentrifying)
West Powelton (Gentrifying)
Northwest Philadelphia Manayunk
Chestnut Hill
East Falls
West Mt. Airy
Germantown
East Mt. Airy
Roxborough
Andorra
Wissahickon
Wistar
Stenton
Cedarbrook
Upper North Philadelphia East Oak Lane
Fern Rock
Koreatown
Logan
Ogontz
Olney
West Oak Lane
Riverwards Fishtown
New Kensington
Kensington
Port Richmond
Bridesburg
Northeast Philadelphia Mayfair
Tacony
Burholme
Fox Chase
Holme Circle
Holmesburg
Lawndale
Lexington Park
Rhawnhurst
Academy Gardens
Ashton-Woodenbridge
Bustleton
Byberry
Crestmont Farms
Krewstown
Millbrook
Modena Park
Morrell Park
Normandy
Parkwood
Pennypack
Somerton
Torresdale
Upper Holmesburg
Winchester Park
Southwest Philadelphia Eastwick
Elmwood Park
Paschall
Philadelphia is a large city with vastly different areas. To call the entire city grimy and rundown is just incorrect and shows you know nothing about the city. Are there rundown areas? Of course... most of Lower and Upper North Philadelphia- this is the worst section of the city... Central West Philadelphia. A lot of Southwest Philadelphia like Kingsessing. A section of South Philadelphia comprised of Point Breeze and Grays Ferry. Sections of the Riverwards like West Kensington and Harrowgate. Sections of Germantown in Northwest Philadelphia... and sections of Northeast Philadelphia like Frankford, Oxford Circle, Castor Gardens, Juniata Park, Lawncrest and Wissinoming.
Chicago is lightyears beyond Philly and Denver. The only thing going for the other two (when compared to Chicago) is cost of living. That's it. If money is no object, Chicago isn't even in the same ballpark as the other two.
Chicago is lightyears beyond Philly and Denver. The only thing going for the other two (when compared to Chicago) is cost of living. That's it. If money is no object, Chicago isn't even in the same ballpark as the other two.
I agree that Chicago is a much better city. It is my second favorite city in the U.S.
My top 5 are:
1. NYC
2. Chicago
3. San Francisco
4. Philadelphia
5. Boston
However, Philadelphia is certainly light years ahead of Denver.
Also, Philadelphia definitely has a better location that Chicago.
I agree that Chicago is a much better city. It is my second favorite city in the U.S.
My top 5 are:
1. NYC
2. Chicago
3. San Francisco
4. Philadelphia
5. Boston
However, Philadelphia is certainly light years ahead of Denver.
Also, Philadelphia definitely has a better location that Chicago.
+1. My top 5 would be:
1. Chicago
2. Seattle
3. NYC
4. Boston
5. Philadelphia
I'm not sure how many spots down I'd have to go to get to Denver, but Philadelphia definitely trumps it.
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