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Houston - is the more underrated Southern city, but it does not have a wave of defenders come into a thread and label and mock any poster that lessens their city. Has nothing to do with even liking much of the city. It has to do with the importance to the Nation from the Port to Energy and other sectors in the South.
I do not believe any other Southern city is underrated not including the Southwest. Off C-D also I do not see Southern cities mentioned negatively. Many know someone who migrated South and rarely is it spoken of negatively. Only those with a chip on their shoulder would say their major city is totally downplayed and need to bring out the guns against every opinion not calling their city the Best in the South.
I think all Sunbelt cuties are shafted a bit Atlanta, Houston, Miami are anything but “soulless Suburbia” where a night out is dollarrita’s night at Applebee’s. But they’re presented that way because there is a bit too much parking for the average urbanist
Last edited by btownboss4; 07-06-2020 at 09:46 AM..
I understand why it appeals to some people (its prestiguous schools, transit infrastructure, urban fabric, architecture, rich history, etc.), but the weather leaves a lot to be desired, its expensive for what you get in terms of QOL, the economy isn't as dynamic as you would think for a city with a ton of highly educated people, and while diverse on paper, the culture is very homongeneous and european-centric (although I understand this is slowly changing).
Last edited by citidata18; 07-06-2020 at 09:23 AM..
Philly is no longer underrated... It is largely ugly, and it's way less impressive than NYC, which on average has prettier neighborhoods.
I agree with your post overall but that particular statement jumped out at me. FWIW I don't know how anyone can say some place is "on average" prettier than another place-- obviously all these posts are just personal opinions. However, if you think Philadelphia is largely ugly and that New York has prettier neighborhoods I think you should take another look. New York has many very nice neighborhoods but I'd say in the main it's pretty drab. Hulking apartment buildings all over the Bronx, a total mishmash of drab developer built housing in Queens and Staten Island. Brooklyn has its brownstones but after that a lot of the housing is drab spec grade stuff (some of it built by Fred Trump). Manhattan is overall very impressive, I think most people would agree but Center City Phila is plenty impressive too. Philadelphia overall has its share of drab landscapes but there's nothing like the gauzy charm of Chestnut Hill, Germantown and Mt Airy in New York. NY doesn't have those crazy narrow alley streets with tiny charming row houses. It doesn't have the incredibly handsome Victorian streetscapes you find all over West Philadelphia. It doesn't have a beautiful post-industrial vacant lot garden district like Northern Liberties. I'll take the Hudson over the Delaware but there's no river in New York to compare with the beautiful Schuylkill.
but the weather leaves a lot to be desired, its expensive for what you get in terms of QOL, the economy isn't as dynamic as you would think for a city with a ton of highly educated people, and while diverse on paper, the culture is very homongeneous and european-centric (although I understand this is slowly changing).
Boston may be overrated, but a lot of this is still wrong.
Boston may be overrated, but a lot of this is still wrong.
Most of it is wrong, but I think the value-for-money part is true, mainly due to high housing costs.
I would say that the overall quality of life in the Greater Boston area is comparable to that of Greater Philadelphia. Similar quality and variety of cultural institutions. Park infrastructure (both natural and historical) is also comparable. I'd say Philadelphia's restaurant scene is a little more ethnically varied than Boston's, but I haven't been back up to Boston since my 35th college reunion five years ago, and in restaurants, five years is an eternity. You're closer to the beach in Boston than you are in Philly, but in both cases, you have to drive outside the city to get to the really good beach towns. (And depending on what kind of beach town you're looking for, your trip from Boston could be as long as your trip from Philadelphia, though you can always begin your LGBT beach trip with a ferry ride to Provincetown, which beats either the trip down the Mid-Cape Highway (Route 6) or the trip down Delaware Route 1.)
But you will pay a good bit more for comparable housing in Boston than you will in Philadelphia. And if that makes a big enough difference for Brooklynites (whose amenities and QOL are also on a par with Philadelphia's) to head down the Jersey Turnpike, it might be the same for would-be Bostonians...
...except that Greater Boston has better job opportunities in several fields, especially tech.
I do not think NYC is overrated. We're talking about possibly the 1st or 2nd most global and influential city in the world. It is literally always exciting and, to me, impressive.
Philly is no longer underrated...it's almost overrated at this point. It is a pretty cool city with a good amount to offer, but the 2010's hype it received fully compensated for the past "lack of interest" by the populace. It is largely ugly, and it's way less impressive than NYC, which on average has prettier neighborhoods.
Pittsburgh is still underrated, in my opinion. A very cool city that most people don't even know about.
I don't think DC or Boston are overrated either. They're known as being historic mid-sized northeastern cities. Not too much hype surrounding them in 2020, unlike Philly which everyone and their mom thinks is the next cool thing.
Miami is underrated. It's cool as hell. Super international and fun and beautiful.
So in summary, Pittsburgh and Miami are underrated.
New York, DC, and Boston are NOT overrated. Philly is overrated.
Philadelphia's "rating" really depends on with which social/cultural/political/generational circles you belong or engage. There is obviously a decent number of posters here on C-D who admire its urban built environment, vibrancy, cultural and educational institutions, affordability, distinct character and charm, etc. Yet there are also obviously a high number of detractors who dislike the narrow streets, lack of street-level tree canopy, trash problem, and decay throughout much of North Central and Far West Philadelphia (although I will point out many outsiders often far exaggerate the extent to which the decay still reaches).
You will find different rankings of Philadelphia outside of C-D, too. My cousin and friend who both live in NYC (Brooklyn and Queens) both love Philadelphia and are amazed at the relative low cost of living. My brother who lives in D.C., however, really does not like the city. He especially dislikes the trash, driving/parking disorder and lack of trees throughout much of the city.
Philadelphia's image certainly improved in the 2010s, but I'd argue it is still not "overrated" given its incredible dynamic and urban environment (for people who enjoy that kind of environment) at such a relatively reasonable cost of living.
Quote:
Originally Posted by missionhill
I agree with your post overall but that particular statement jumped out at me. FWIW I don't know how anyone can say some place is "on average" prettier than another place-- obviously all these posts are just personal opinions. However, if you think Philadelphia is largely ugly and that New York has prettier neighborhoods I think you should take another look. New York has many very nice neighborhoods but I'd say in the main it's pretty drab. Hulking apartment buildings all over the Bronx, a total mishmash of drab developer built housing in Queens and Staten Island. Brooklyn has its brownstones but after that a lot of the housing is drab spec grade stuff (some of it built by Fred Trump). Manhattan is overall very impressive, I think most people would agree but Center City Phila is plenty impressive too. Philadelphia overall has its share of drab landscapes but there's nothing like the gauzy charm of Chestnut Hill, Germantown and Mt Airy in New York. NY doesn't have those crazy narrow alley streets with tiny charming row houses. It doesn't have the incredibly handsome Victorian streetscapes you find all over West Philadelphia. It doesn't have a beautiful post-industrial vacant lot garden district like Northern Liberties. I'll take the Hudson over the Delaware but there's no river in New York to compare with the beautiful Schuylkill.
Nice assessment. Many people do not account for how the natural beauty of Fairmount Park along the Schuylkill, Wissahickon Park and the entire Northwest section of the city really contrast the lack of natural beauty and tree canopy in other parts of the city. In some ways, it is a city of extremes.
I imagine Boston has one of the least homogeneous cultures of the country’s big cities.
Now that's just ridiculous.
I imagine Bill Burr's commentary about Boston and Junot Diaz's account of living in Boston in his book "this is how you lose her" are both more accurate.
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Originally Posted by Boston Shudra
And of course, our summers and autumns are lovely.
If you prefer short but gray autumns, that's fine. But that doesn't make them "lovely."
Now, the sunny but mild autums in the Piedmont region are what I would consider "lovely."
Summers are decent in most of the lower 48 (even Seattle), but then there's the long and cold winters where you're frequently snowed in for 3 months of the year that you also have to deal with.
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The economy seems pretty dynamic.
It's definitely great if you're in biotech and health care, and "meh" if you're in the insurance industry or defense, but fairly lackluster in other industries relative to other cities.
Last edited by citidata18; 07-06-2020 at 10:40 AM..
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