Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I would also say that the 4-million metros are usually more similar to the 6-million metros in terms of subjective factors like "urban feel," "pace," "energy," etc., than they are to the 2-million metros. But, as you say, there's often not a lot of difference between a 2-million metro and a 4-million, either.
I tend to agree with that. I think doubling the population is pretty significant in terms of experienced size.
Austin
Nashville
Charlotte
Orlando
Tampa
Richmond
Louisville
New Orleans
Raleigh/Durham
Jacksonville
San Antonio
Birmingham
Knoxville
Chattanooga
Greenville
Charleston
These are all south/southeast cities that can compete with Tier 3/4 cities in the other regions. I don't think the Midwest takes this that easily
I like a lot of those towns (strongly dislike a couple, too), but except Tampa those are all 4th tier and (sometimes well) below in my mind. I mean, Knoxville, Charleston, Greenville? They're cool towns, but they're like the size of Wichita. That's not even on a tier.
I like a lot of those towns (strongly dislike a couple, too), but except Tampa those are all 4th tier and (sometimes well) below in my mind. I mean, Knoxville, Charleston, Greenville? They're cool towns, but they're like the size of Wichita. That's not even on a tier.
I think it's worth pointing out that there's no set standard for what constitutes a tier for cities. Any conversation classifying any of these cities into tiers is purely subjective. Although I would challenge the notion that Wichita and the like would not belong in a tier. Unless there is a rule that states you may only have a certain number of tiers with a minimum population requirement. Anything under doesn't count as a city?
What about economic activity and importance of the city?
This is the best way to seperate and/or tier cities, because it gives the clearest perspective on which cities are comparable to each other...
Any city with a GDP below $200 billion is, at best, a Tier III city. So the best collective of Tier III and IV cities are those between $100-200 billion economies. By region that would be:
Northeast)Newark (if counted on its own merits), Baltimore, Pittsburgh
South)Charlotte, Tampa, Fort Worth (if counted on its own merits), Orlando, Austin, Nashville, San Antonio
Midwest)St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Columbus, Milwaukee
West)Denver, Oakland (if counted on its own merits), Portland, Sacramento, Las Vegas
Looks like the South and Midwest take it for most robust Tier III/IV cities...
There aren't any in the Midwest. I pretty much consider them to be Miami, DC, Philly, Houston, Dallas, Boston and Atlanta.
(Actually, sometimes, I think of Chicago as a tier 2. Depends on my mood.)
I think the Twin Cities fits in nicely with the above list. It would be the smallest of the group population-wise (I think, too lazy to check right now) but not by much. It functions as the cultural capital of a huge region. It has major corporate presence. It has all four pro sports teams (plus the Lynx, as they love to say up there). Yes, it's cold, and that hampers the nightlife a bit. Nightlife in Boston isn't all that either, though...
Cleveland, my hometown, the place that I'm based, and a city that I love with all my heart, just feels smaller and slower than the Twin Cities in virtually every way. I actually feel like the Twin Cities metro is more similar to Chicago than to Cleveland, that the gap is smaller. The GDP numbers would not reflect this I'm sure, but I think subjective factors have a place in this discussion...
And I can't think of Chicago as a Tier 2 American city. I mean, it's by far the greatest urban center for hundreds of miles, and one of the great cities of the world. Chicago tier 1, Twin Cities tier 2, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, KC, Cincinnati et al., tier 3, that makes intuitive sense to me. Detroit tier 2 as well despite its issues.
I think the Twin Cities fits in nicely with the above list. It would be the smallest of the group population-wise (I think, too lazy to check right now) but not by much. It functions as the cultural capital of a huge region. It has major corporate presence.
From Boston to the Twin Cities is over a million drop in population, over two million from Atlanta to the Twin Cities. That is by MSA. By CSA, it is a drop of two and a half million from Atlanta to the Twin Cities. By Urban Areas, it is still over a two million difference. For corporations, I can really only think of three major ones from the area (General Mills, Target, and Best Buy) which doesn't seem notable for a metro of its size.
From Boston to the Twin Cities is over a million drop in population, over two million from Atlanta to the Twin Cities. That is by MSA. By CSA, it is a drop of two and a half million from Atlanta to the Twin Cities. By Urban Areas, it is still over a two million difference. For corporations, I can really only think of three major ones from the area (General Mills, Target, and Best Buy) which doesn't seem notable for a metro of its size.
Not listed is privately held Cargill which if it were public would be Fortune 20 with $110billion in revenue. It may be smaller but the twin cities are well known for the corporate presence they have.
I think it's worth pointing out that there's no set standard for what constitutes a tier for cities. Any conversation classifying any of these cities into tiers is purely subjective. Although I would challenge the notion that Wichita and the like would not belong in a tier. Unless there is a rule that states you may only have a certain number of tiers with a minimum population requirement. Anything under doesn't count as a city?
Exactly. It's totally subjective, and I recognize that. Anyone is welcome to different opinion, which i why thre's a forum. And below a certain threshold I do stop thinking of places as "cities" and classify them as "towns".
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
