Chicago vs Pittsburgh vs Boston (living, best, cost, state)

[tintin_reporter]

My wife and I are trying to choose the best city to live out of Chicago vs Pittsburgh vs Boston. We like European-style cities and urban life very much. We would love to be able to go about our daily life without needing a car. What can you guys tell us about the following topics:

- Walkability
- Public Transportation
- Crime (for us it’s of upmost importance to find a safe zone free of murders, guns, school shootings and drugs)
- Family friendliness
- Friendliness of its inhabitants
- Educated and cultured people
- Gentrification of the city
- Political moderation (the less polarized the better)
- Good schools
- Diversity (the more diverse the better)
- Cost of living
- Cultural scene (art, jazz music, classical music, pop music, theater, musicals, dance performances, restaurants, stand-up comedy, zoo, children’s museums)
- Parks and green areas
- Possibility of day and/or weekend trips (to other cities, hiking spots, etc)

Can you guys recommend good neighborhoods within those cities? We prefer it to suburban life.

NOTE: We know NYC and D.C. meet all those items, on the most part, but both are far from affordable for an immigrant family ☹

[Potion of Boredom]

Judging from mine and your listed preferences, probably choose Boston.

Boston is very walkable and is in the top for most walkable cities. It has a decent urban downtown compared to Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh's downtown has some nice buildings but it's really small overall. However DT Boston obviously isn't as urban and dense as Chicago's. Boston has low crime rate compared to most big cities. If you're looking for a safe place, don't pick CHI as it is known for having many gangs; I believe it has even more than LA. Boston is a little bit expensive, however. Boston has a lot of educated people and good schools. There's plenty of parks and it's near the beach.

[bjimmy24]

The Greater Boston area has some of the best schools in the country, from grade school all the way up through graduate school. Lots of educated people around. If you want an urban setting in the Boston area, you're looking at Boston proper, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, essentially. Boston isn't all that family friendly, but a place like Brookline would be good, though it's quite expensive. Boston is very very walkable and has better public transit than most American cities, but you'll eventually grow to hate taking the T, if you come here (at least I have). Boston is a diverse city, though largely segregated by neighborhood, but there are a few pretty mixed areas, such as Allston for example.

As far as crime goes, Boston is one of the safest big cities in the country. There are some bad areas with gangs and murders and the like, but I'm pretty sure you would never have a reason to go anywhere near those places. A lot of areas are gentrifying or pretty well gentrified already. This is good in that it has cleaned up some previously horrible places (South Boston), but also makes it a kind of homogenized cookie cutter, predictable yuppie neighborhood. Tons of parks around town here though, you'll enjoy walking in the area. Politically, Boston and Massachusetts as a whole tend to vote democrat, but honestly, I don't feel too much political-ness here, at least on my side of the Charles. Cambridge does kinda annoy me with its constant bleeding-hearts and liberal propaganda acceptance. Still a cool places, but I find politics in general very tiring.

Culture- tons of great stuff around Boston. Some great museums, great orchestra, galleries, sports, etc. Lots of cool places to go and check out many times over. New England is pretty famous for having nice weekend or day trips.

As far as cost of living, Boston is expensive, no two ways about it. Not quite at the level of New York or DC, but it's not all that far behind. A lot of people here pay way way way too much for minimal accomodations and I don't understand why. There are affordable parts of the city and you can definitely find those places to live, they just might not be in a sexy area. But not a bad area either. I have friends paying upwards of $1000 per month for a room in 3-4 bedroom apartments to live in the middle of undergrad hell hole off of Brighton Ave in Allston. I pay $550 for my room just a mile down the road in Brighton Center. A lot of people complain about the expenses here for rent, but I feel that they aren't looking very hard or are just only wanting to live 10 feet from the T. But I gotta say, if you are looking to keep everything a bit cheaper, Chicago is a better bet than Boston. There are [plenty of great areas in Chicago that aren't crime ridden. In fact, most areas of Chicago are fine. There's just a concentration of several really bad neighborhoods that jack up the crime rate for the entire city (Which is huge, don't forget- much much much bigger than Boston). Check crime maps, they will tell the tale.

[sskink]

I live in Pittsburgh, used to live in Boston, frequent business visitor to Chicago...

Boston - Walkability
Boston/Chicago - Public Transportation
Pittsburgh, as crime is generally confined to only "bad" areas - Crime (for us it’s of upmost importance to find a safe zone free of murders, guns, school shootings and drugs)
Toss up - Family friendliness
Pittsburgh/Chicago - Friendliness of its inhabitants
Boston/Pittsburgh - Educated and cultured people
Boston - Gentrification of the city
Unsure, all 3 cities lean liberal, PA as state more conservative - Political moderation (the less polarized the better)
Unsure, probably Boston, although 'burbs in Pittsburgh are good - Good schools
Chicago - Diversity (the more diverse the better)
Pittsburgh, although rising - Cost of living
All 3 are excellent - Cultural scene (art, jazz music, classical music, pop music, theater, musicals, dance performances, restaurants, stand-up comedy, zoo, children’s museums)
Grant Park > Commons > Point State - Parks and green areas
Boston, easily - Possibility of day and/or weekend trips (to other cities, hiking spots, etc)

Based on the primary desire for a "European city/living without a car", Boston and Pittsburgh would be more Euro, but Boston and Chicago have the best transit systems. However, the compactness of Boston, combined with the number of T stops and general walkability of Boston make it the easiest to get around w/o a car. You pretty much MUST have a car in Pittsburgh as their T only goes downtown and to south suburbs, while transit budget shortages have curtailed numerous bus routes in recent years. You can get around most of the popular places in Chicago on the EL, but there are areas where you'd be doing a lot of walking.

Living in Boston proper is expensive, although I don't know how much more expensive than a nice apartment near Lake Michigan. I'd suggest that Pittsburgh has the most "defined" neighborhoods, by simple nature of the geography. But, no Pittsburgh neighborhood you're likely to choose as being "upscale" is accessible via the T, only bus routes.

The big advantage to Boston, IMO, is accessibility to more things to do outside the city. The number of possible day trips to mountains, beaches, casinos, historical sites, other cities dwarves the other two cities. But you'd have to offset that advantage with the higher COL.

For arts/culture, Chicago has the "bigger" attractions, and Boston has plenty, but Pittsburgh is surprisingly rich in culture. It did not lose any of its cultural amenities despite the population downsizing over the past 50 years, thus its arts scene is probably the least crowded/most accessible of the three.

Personally, if money was no object, I'd choose Boston, but I'm New England born and raised and love the area, the compactness and the variety of things to do.

[UKWildcat1981]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

The Greater Boston area has some of the best schools in the country, from grade school all the way up through graduate school. Lots of educated people around. If you want an urban setting in the Boston area, you're looking at Boston proper, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, essentially. Boston isn't all that family friendly, but a place like Brookline would be good, though it's quite expensive. Boston is very very walkable and has better public transit than most American cities, but you'll eventually grow to hate taking the T, if you come here (at least I have). Boston is a diverse city, though largely segregated by neighborhood, but there are a few pretty mixed areas, such as Allston for example.

As far as crime goes, Boston is one of the safest big cities in the country. There are some bad areas with gangs and murders and the like, but I'm pretty sure you would never have a reason to go anywhere near those places. A lot of areas are gentrifying or pretty well gentrified already. This is good in that it has cleaned up some previously horrible places (South Boston), but also makes it a kind of homogenized cookie cutter, predictable yuppie neighborhood. Tons of parks around town here though, you'll enjoy walking in the area. Politically, Boston and Massachusetts as a whole tend to vote democrat, but honestly, I don't feel too much political-ness here, at least on my side of the Charles. Cambridge does kinda annoy me with its constant bleeding-hearts and liberal propaganda acceptance. Still a cool places, but I find politics in general very tiring.

Culture- tons of great stuff around Boston. Some great museums, great orchestra, galleries, sports, etc. Lots of cool places to go and check out many times over. New England is pretty famous for having nice weekend or day trips.

As far as cost of living, Boston is expensive, no two ways about it. Not quite at the level of New York or DC, but it's not all that far behind. A lot of people here pay way way way too much for minimal accomodations and I don't understand why. There are affordable parts of the city and you can definitely find those places to live, they just might not be in a sexy area. But not a bad area either. I have friends paying upwards of $1000 per month for a room in 3-4 bedroom apartments to live in the middle of undergrad hell hole off of Brighton Ave in Allston. I pay $550 for my room just a mile down the road in Brighton Center. A lot of people complain about the expenses here for rent, but I feel that they aren't looking very hard or are just only wanting to live 10 feet from the T. But I gotta say, if you are looking to keep everything a bit cheaper, Chicago is a better bet than Boston. There are [plenty of great areas in Chicago that aren't crime ridden. In fact, most areas of Chicago are fine. There's just a concentration of several really bad neighborhoods that jack up the crime rate for the entire city (Which is huge, don't forget- much much much bigger than Boston). Check crime maps, they will tell the tale.

Extremely good post. You nailed every point. I used to to live in Boston.. I loved it for going to college as an undergrad it was a great experience. Despite loving Boston I had to leave because the cost of living is really high(I ran out of money in Boston fast lol) and the winters are horrible as well. Everything else is amazing. Good post thou.. I agreed with everything you wrote.

[Maintainschaos]

Having lived in both, Chicago and Boston have a lot of what you're looking for. They aren't typically politically moderate cities (both are pretty liberal), but most of the rest you can find in spades in either. There are large swaths of Chicago that are perfectly safe with good schools, and Chicago is generally cheaper than Boston.

[qworldorder]

Based on your post, Boston.

[bluecarebear]

I can't even believe Pittsburgh is being compared to Boston and Chicago.

Pittsburgh:
- Walkability Pockets throughout the region
- Public Transportation You must have a car
- Crime (for us it’s of upmost importance to find a safe zone free of murders, guns, school shootings and drugs) Increasingly common in the poor sections of town
- Family friendliness Yes
- Friendliness of its inhabitants No
- Educated and cultured people They think they are
- Gentrification of the city The major problem and why I am moving. The middle class has been pushed out. There are either great or bad parts of town. The "neighborhood" vibe, that once was the major draw of Pittsburgh, is gone.
- Political moderation (the less polarized the better) Unions rule - Democrats
- Good schools Outside of the city or private schools
- Diversity (the more diverse the better) VERY Eastern European and Italian, with a few Irish.
- Cost of living Rising fast. Borderline East Coast prices for far less amenities.
- Cultural scene (art, jazz music, classical music, pop music, theater, musicals, dance performances, restaurants, stand-up comedy, zoo, children’s museums) Art scene is good, music scene is terrible, and the food scene is one of the worst in the country except for the Italian food.
- Parks and green areas Lots of them. Maybe the greenest city of this size and larger in the country
- Possibility of day and/or weekend trips (to other cities, hiking spots, etc) Yes. It is a must. Again, must have a car.

[bradjl2009]

- Walkability- All three are good, but Pittsburgh has steep topography in many areas.
- Public Transportation- Boston or Chicago
- Crime (for us it’s of upmost importance to find a safe zone free of murders, guns, school shootings and drugs)- Boston or Pittsburgh.
- Family friendliness- Pittsburgh
- Friendliness of its inhabitants- Pittsburgh
- Educated and cultured people- Boston or Pittsburgh
- Gentrification of the city- Probably Boston though Pittsburgh is getting up there.
- Political moderation (the less polarized the better)- I'd say Pittsburgh. Though all three are Democratic Pittsburgh is definitely the most moderate of the three.
- Good schools- All three have good school though Boston is the best with schools in the city.
- Diversity (the more diverse the better)- I'd say Boston. Even though Chicago has more in raw numbers, it's pretty segregated.
- Cost of living- Pittsburgh
- Cultural scene (art, jazz music, classical music, pop music, theater, musicals, dance performances, restaurants, stand-up comedy, zoo, children’s museums)- They all have good amenities though Boston and Chicago get more big name concerts than Pittsburgh because of population difference.
- Parks and green areas- Pittsburgh
- Possibility of day and/or weekend trips (to other cities, hiking spots, etc)- Boston or Pittsburgh

You can't go wrong with any of them though Pittsburgh will give you the most for you dollar.

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by bluecarebear

I can't even believe Pittsburgh is being compared to Boston and Chicago.

Pittsburgh:
- Walkability Pockets throughout the region
- Public Transportation You must have a car
- Crime (for us it’s of upmost importance to find a safe zone free of murders, guns, school shootings and drugs) Increasingly common in the poor sections of town
- Family friendliness Yes
- Friendliness of its inhabitants No
- Educated and cultured people They think they are
- Gentrification of the city The major problem and why I am moving. The middle class has been pushed out. There are either great or bad parts of town. The "neighborhood" vibe, that once was the major draw of Pittsburgh, is gone.
- Political moderation (the less polarized the better) Unions rule - Democrats
- Good schools Outside of the city or private schools
- Diversity (the more diverse the better) VERY Eastern European and Italian, with a few Irish.
- Cost of living Rising fast. Borderline East Coast prices for far less amenities.
- Cultural scene (art, jazz music, classical music, pop music, theater, musicals, dance performances, restaurants, stand-up comedy, zoo, children’s museums) Art scene is good, music scene is terrible, and the food scene is one of the worst in the country except for the Italian food.
- Parks and green areas Lots of them. Maybe the greenest city of this size and larger in the country
- Possibility of day and/or weekend trips (to other cities, hiking spots, etc) Yes. It is a must. Again, must have a car.

Have you ever left Pittsburgh? Compared to Chicago and especially Boston, Pittsburgh is the friendliest of the three. Unions and Democrats rule in Boston and Chicago too so that's not really different though people in those two cities lean more to the left than Pittsburghers. Plus, the idea of Pittsburgh being remotely expensive compared to Boston or Chicago is incredibly laughable. Pittsburgh is also third in the country behind Boston and San Fran for young adults with college degrees.