The 'ville' PCSA Comparison: Greenville versus Jacksonville versus Knoxville versus Louisville versus Nashville (living, best)

[Trafalgar Law]

The 'ville' PCSA Comparison: Greenville versus Jacksonville versus Knoxville versus Louisville versus Nashville

Population Table (CSA), 2015:
1. Nashville: 1,951,644
2. Jacksonville: 1,573,606
3. Louisville: 1,504,559
4. Greenville: 1,426,625
5. Knoxville: 1,109,174

All of them are between 1 million to 2 million people in size. All five of them are placed in the exact same census designated "region" of the United States, albeit in different areas in that region.

Criteria:

- Location

- Climate

- Topography (Scenery)

- Standard of Living / Quality of Life

- Colleges and Universities

- Job Market

- Cost of Living

- Nightlife

- Architecture

- Music Scene

- Food scene

- Cultural Institutions and Performing Arts

Probably a million other criteria points I could have added and usually I include more factors but these are much smaller cities than the likes of a Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, or Washington D.C. which would increasingly lead to most people being more unaware of their offerings. So I laid off adding complicated and hard to measure criteria points. That being said, if you feel there is something else to compare these cities on fairly then be my guest and add your own criteria, if needed.

Your favorite of the five to live in? To visit?

[ClemVegas]

I think it makes more sense to look at MSA when comparing these metroes. Greenville's CSA includes a lot of rural counties that doesn't have much to do with Greenville and most people in Greenville rarely interact with them.

Rank
36 Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,830,345
40 Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,449,481
43 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,278,413
63 Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 874,869
64 Knoxville, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 861,424

I don't think Greenville is that similar to any of these. It is more quaint and does not have an interstate running through the downtown area. It also doesn't have a huge river running through, although it does have a small river. The other 4 have big rivers.

I think Greenville has best location in terms of being near the mountains but also only 3.5 hours to the beach, while also between two of the largest cities in south, ATL and Charlotte, and between DC / New England and Florida. Knox, Louisville, Nashville feel landlocked to me.

in my view Greenville and Jacksonville have the best weather, Jax better in winter, Greenville better in summer. Think Gville has more sunny days than Lville and the TN cities.

[YIMBY]

I've never been to Greenville, but have visited the others. IMO, Nashville wins out. Nashville is on my short list of cities / metros I'm thinking about moving to.

[Shakeesha]

- Location: Nashville

- Climate: Jacksonville

- Topography (Scenery): Nashville

- Standard of Living / Quality of Life: Nashville

- Colleges and Universities: Nashville

- Job Market: Nashville

- Cost of Living: Jacksonville

- Nightlife: Nashville

- Architecture: Nashville

- Music Scene: Nashville

- Food scene: Louisville

- Cultural Institutions and Performing Arts: Nashville

- Shopping: Nashville

1.Nashville

2. Louisville
3. Jacksonville


4. Greenville




5.Knoxville

[creeksitter]

I think Knoxville is the clear winner when it comes to topography, especially when you consider the western portion of the GSMNP is in the Knoxville metro (blount county). As well as a couple of counties that include the Cumberland Plateau and some amazing whitewater rivers. you can see the main ridge of the smokies from a lot of the city. It's easy to find a house with a mountain view in all price ranges, even the cheapest. The city itself has some good size ridges - some right next to downtown.

Greenville is the winner for overall location.

I think this poll should have 2 divisions. Tier I is Louisville, Nashville and Jacksonville. Tier II would be Knoxville and Greenville and should include Huntsville and Asheville. Does it surprise anyone that Nashville is winning? It will be a blowout before the poll is over. Asheville would win in tier II.

I don't think Greenville is that similar to any of these. It is more quaint

Greenville is comparable to Knoxville. Since most of its growth is recent it will appeal to those who like new architecture. Knoxville way outquaints Greenville. It was at least 3 times the size at the turn of the last century, during the age of quaint. Also I'd like to see a sidewalk café smackdown between the 2. Will you count the sidewalk cafes in downtown Greenville sometime, SV?

[projectmaximus]

So as usual when applicable I will qualify my response with my unfamiliarity with the cities. Besides obviously Jacksonville, I am not too familiar with the rest. Nashville I've visited several times for a total of about 10 days. Louisville I have only been to twice on single day trips, Knoxville once for half a day, and never been to Greenville though I nearly was able to make a stop about 6 years ago after hearing about its downtown renaissance. Anyway, based on my limited personal experience as well as the indirect second hand accounts and research, I'd say Nashville is the clear winner. Certain subjective tastes could push one of the other four to the top for a particular person/family, but by and large Nashville would offer the most to the most people.

Breaking it down:

- Location
Nashville or Jacksonville. Nashville is pretty central to the country and makes flying a relatively easier proposition to anywhere in the lower 48. Jacksonville is the best from a driving standpoint, imo.

- Climate This is a wash. To me weather is generally a personal preference unless there's an undeniably objectionable climate involved, and there isn't in this case.

- Topography (Scenery) Another tough one. I'd lean towards Knoxville because of the Smoky Mountains. Jax isnt bad though when it comes to water of every kind.

- Standard of Living / Quality of Life Nashville. Biggest and in this case best.

- Colleges and Universities Nashville.

- Job Market Nashville

- Cost of Living Man, I don't really know. I'd normally think Jax primarily due to real estate costs but Knoxville might be cheaper all around. And one of the indices I use to compare costs actually has Jax more expensive than Nashville and Louisville (though I don't believe it)

- Nightlife Nashville

- Architecture I am guessing that Jax, Louisville and Nashville are pretty even.

- Music Scene Nashville, of course.

- Food scene Based on reputation it seems Louisville might be the winner here.

- Cultural Institutions and Performing Arts Nashville.

[ClemVegas]

Originally Posted by creeksitter

I think Knoxville is the clear winner when it comes to topography, especially when you consider the western portion of the GSMNP is in the Knoxville metro (blount county). As well as a couple of counties that include the Cumberland Plateau and some amazing whitewater rivers. Even the city itself has some good size ridges - some right next to downtown.

Greenville is the winner for overall location.

I think this poll should have 2 divisions. Tier I is Louisville, Nashville and Jacksonville. Tier II would be Knoxville and Greenville and should include Huntsville and Asheville. Does it surprise anyone that Nashville is winning? It will be a blowout before the poll is over. Asheville would win in tier II.



Greenville is comparable to Knoxville. Since most of its growth is recent it will appeal to those who like new architecture. Knoxville way outquaints Greenville. It was at least 3 times the size at the turn of the last century, during the age of quaint. Also I'd like to see a sidewalk café smackdown between the 2. Will you count the sidewalk cafes in downtown Greenville sometime, SV?

I don't think old necessarily makes something quaint. Greenville's downtown is much more athestically pleasing in my view, more large hardwoods forming a canopy over the street, and has numerous restaurants that are open to outside, and/or have patio seating, and rooftop seating. It also doesn't have an interstate in downtown area like Knoxville. Greenville's downtown parks are better too in my view. Downtown Knoxville feels more dangerous to me. I prefer Greenville's topography and scenery to Knoxville. It is more pastoral in my view. Knoxville looks more stark in the winter, and the bare trees up on the ridges is kind of an eyesore. Knoxville is also more overcast and humid.

Greenville is much larger than Asheville, and a much better job market. Asheville is basically a tourist and retirement city. Greenville has more shopping and restaurants, and a much better downtown in my view. Gville has milder winters with less snow but it still close to the mountains, and closer to the whitewater river the Chattooga, which some consider best in the southeast. Greenville is also close to three larger lakes that Asheville doesn't have within similar proximity. It also doesn't have that many hippies and hipsters compared to Asheville. Asheville is more humid and overcast than Gville and it is a longer drive to the beach.

[U146]

Nashville by a mile.

[U146]

Originally Posted by Simpsonvilllian

I don't think old necessarily makes something quaint. Greenville's downtown is much more athestically pleasing in my view, more large hardwoods forming a canopy over the street, and has numerous restaurants that are open to outside, and/or have patio seating, and rooftop seating. It also doesn't have an interstate in downtown area like Knoxville. Greenville's downtown parks are better too in my view. Downtown Knoxville feels more dangerous to me. I prefer Greenville's topography and scenery to Knoxville. It is more pastoral in my view. Knoxville looks more stark in the winter, and the bare trees up on the ridges is kind of an eyesore. Knoxville is also more overcast and humid.

Greenville is much larger than Asheville, and a much better job market. Asheville is basically a tourist and retirement city. Greenville has more shopping and restaurants, and a much better downtown in my view. Gville has milder winters with less snow but it still close to the mountains, and closer to the whitewater river the Chattooga, which some consider best in the southeast. Greenville is also close to three larger lakes that Asheville doesn't have within similar proximity. It also doesn't have that many hippies and hipsters compared to Asheville. Asheville is more humid and overcast than Gville and it is a longer drive to the beach.

Little Greenville doesn't stack up compared to the others except maybe Knoxville and Asheville.

[ClemVegas]

you've never been to Greenville and you are welcome to your opinion. you can't decide that for everybody though. i'm not sure what motivates you to be so anti-Greenville on here. why do you even care about it, as a person who lives in St. Louis. I guess it is because I live in Gville.

Nashville has about the worst location in the south in my view. that's a long 7 hour drive to the beacch and pushing 4 hour drive to the Smokies.

i can't stand country music so Nashville would be an annoying place for me to live given it is the country music capital.