Boston, Philly, & DC vs. NYC (best, place, population, size)

[jjv007]

If you could merge the cities of Boston, Philly, and DC and their respective metro regions into one mega city, which would be the more significant city-- that or NYC? There's obviously going to be some confusion as to determining specific details since you're merging cities but just use your best judgment since this is a thought experiment.

Here are some statistics and observations:
(Based on 2016 census estimates)
BosPhiDC city proper population: 2,906,807 ppl in 243.4 sq. mi. (population density of about 12,000/sq. mi.)
NYC proper population: 8,550,405 ppl in 302.6 sq. mi. (population density of about 28,000 sq. mi.)

BosPhiDC MSA population: around 17 million
NYC MSA population: 20.15 million

BosPhiDC CSA population: around 24.8 million (notably adds Baltimore MSA (DC) and Providence MSA (Boston))
NYC CSA population: 23.6 million

As of 2014:
BosPhiDC Real GDP (MSA): about $1.15 billion
NYC MSA Real GDP (MSA): $1.42 billion

BosPhiDC Current-dollar GDP (MSA): about $1.25 billion
NYC MSA Current-dollar GDP (MSA): $1.56 billion

Keep in mind that with a city so large, BosPhiDC might already incorporate more surrounding counties in MSA and add even more in CSA potentially. For example, Baltimore and/or Providence might already be included in MSA totals and Philly would almost certainly poach Mercer County from NY and the Lehigh Valley at least for CSA.

In NYC, you know what you have: arguably the world's most powerful city (though now with a new rival), an economic super-force, a density on par with major international cities and all the reputation, power, and status currently associated with the city and metro.

In BPDC (the mega-metro), you have a thriving city arguably most unique in form among the global elite. You have both the birthplace of liberty and the seat of the world's most powerful government. The city is BY FAR the world's educational mecca, with none other approaching such heights, and showcases a dense, yet comfortable form spanning throughout.

These are some basic concepts to get started but the rest is up to your imagination. Hope for a good discussion!

[qworldorder]

Interesting thought experiment and well laid out--a poll would make this thread perfect. And it really shows you just how much of a beast NYC is in that BPDC would still notably lag in GDP, MSA and city proper population.

That said, you could argue that BPDC would begin siphoning population and GDP from NYC (as you alluded to with Mercer County and the Lehigh Valley). But if things were to stay as is on paper, NYC would still win imo, though it would be a worthy match.

Also, I will pull the numbers later (unless someone beats me to it), but I wonder which metro would be more diverse? DC brings Salvadorans into the mix, which New York can match in raw numbers terms, but Boston adds Cape Verdeans, which NYC really has no answer for.

[BPt111]

New York City.

[Stezo]

Originally Posted by BPt111

New York City.

yup

[annie_himself]

As of right now, it would still be New York, but if BPDC we're to grow into basically a New York sized capital city with everything to match, say from 1776, I think it would be a greater city than NYC.

[Koji7]

NYC way too much money