Most similar to Boston: Toronto, Montreal, or Halifax? (America, bigger, populations)

[Boston Shudra]

Title should be self-explanatory!

The way I see it….

Points in Toronto’s favor:
- Historic streetcar network
- Large, anglo-phone city
- Elevated highway between downtown and waterfront
- Diverse + cosmopolitan, but only recently
- Dirty, industrial past
- Large Chinese demographic
- Considers NYC a rival
- Historic markets downtown (St. Lawrence & Quincy)

Points in Montreal’s favor:
- Similar in size
- Ornate, “old-world” architecture
- Historic Jewish populations
- French Canadian heritage throughout New England
- Similar topography/flora (i.e. fall colors and maple syrup)
- Large Haitian demographic
- Equal parts stuffy/conservative and artsy/progressive somehow

Points in Halifax’s favor:
- Similar cuisine (i.e. lobster, clams, cod, etc.)
- Lots of Irish ancestry
- Wooden housing, incl. triple-deckers
- Response to 1917 explosion / Boston’s Xmas tree
- Maritime history/culture
- Similar topography (i.e. rocky shores and lighthouses)
- Red Sox fans

Points against Toronto:
- Much bigger
- Much more diverse and cosmopolitan
- Much more important to country’s economy
- Great Lake vs the Atlantic
- Less historic

Points against Montreal:
- Slightly bigger and less diverse
- French
- River city
- Large underground mall
- Mountain in middle of city

Points against Halifax:
- Much smaller
- Much less diverse and cosmopolitan
- Much less important to country’s economy
- Lack of prominent suburbs or satellite cities
- No big universities

What do you think?

[Arcenal813]

Interesting thread. I voted Montreal, but only really because of architecture and a somewhat similar feel in the downtown streets. The similarities drop off drastically once you step out of the immediate core, with Montreal being much more tightly built, having a somewhat Brooklyn-esque appearance in adjacent boroughs.
One thing I will add in favor of Montreal-Boston, however, is the heavy University culture that exists in the region.

Halifax definitely takes this in terms of its cuisine and harbor culture.

[BigCity76]

Not to mention the Boston-Montreal NHL rivalry.

[svelten]

I mean they are worlds apart in scale and size but culturally I found Halifax to be most similar. Montreal doesn't have any real American analogue to me, it's French Canadian culture is pretty unique.

[Lancerman]

Toronto also has an large underground city.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Halifax is way too small it’s metro is like 1/10th the size of Bostons metro. And it’s density is 1/4th that if Boston-in the city proper. and not dense is more like Gloucester or w something lol. .

Harbor cuisine etc is not all that central to Boston outside of tourism. There’s a heavy emphasis on Italian, Chinese or Irish pub food that really trumps it…not mention the global cuisine of the Carribean, and Africa. I grew up in Boston and don’t even eat seafood at all- let alone Cod. I’m much more likely to drink boba tea or eat Fufu. You actually have to go downtown to access a lot of. That cod and stuff. Or at least I think you do. Idk where they’re serving that in Roslindale or Hyde Park. Never seen it on a menu.

Id say say it has to be Montreal. Toronto is too large and it’s built more in a modern fashion and architectural style. More comparable to Chicago.

[masssachoicetts]

-Halifax is similar in looks/oceanic vibes to Boston... but its very small.
-Montreal is very similar in size to Boston, lots of Bostonians visit Montreal, it has a super French area reminiscent of Boston's neighborhoods that lean Italian.
-Toronto, is more like Chicago with all of the glass rises.

I would say Montreal.