Quote:
Originally Posted by biscuit_head
The #2 Cities in their respective states...Both in the Snowbelt and one is on a Great Lake and close to another Great Lake while the other isn't too far away from one. One is squarely in the Midwest, while the other is considered the Northeast with some Midwestern influences. Both very different from the largest cities in their respective states.
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I'll take a stab at it.
COL This is either a tie or may lean slightly toward Buffalo would be my guess.
Economy Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids has transitioned from a non union manufacturing base, to an eds/meds/corporate base. I'm pretty sure Buffalo has made a big transition too, but it's had a harder hill to climb.
Education - I think it's a wash. University of Buffalo is much older, established, better known than Grand Valley State, Buffalo wins on that point. Though Grand Rapids metro has a slightly higher percentage of residents with a Bachelors degree or higher. The gap is greater at the city level (28.7% for Buffalo, 36.4% for Grand Rapids)
Buffalo Metro Education stats
GR Metro Education stats
Climate - Tie Both host the two snowiest large metro's over one million people due to lake effect snow. Buffalo is on the lake, Grand Rapids is 25 miles inland. Grand Rapids city receives slightly less snow but it's splitting hairs. I'd imagine summers and falls are identically fantastic.
Housing - Tie, or maybe slight edge to GR because it hasn't gone through the same declines that Buffalo has, perhaps someone with better knowledge could say.
Culture- Buffalo, I've never been but it's an older/more established city in general. I don't see how Grand Rapids would beat it out.
Dining - Not sure. Like all cities Grand Rapids has experienced a surge of farm to table, and had a few chefs move in and open up some pretty great restaurants. Along with a couple restaurants from Wolfgang Puck (though I don't know how much involvement WP had in their development, or if the owners just paid for the name) That with the brewery scene give it a surprising foodie feel. I'd imagine Buffalo similar in this regard.
Transportation - Buffalo no contest with it's LRT. Grand Rapids and its extensive bus network would not compete.
Location - Buffalo, major international crossing and proximity to places like Toronto, Cleveland, and not that far from NYC
Air Service - Tie? Buffalo's airport serves more passengers than Grand Rapids, but Grand Rapids airport serves more destinations(GR 35, to Buff 26).
Recreation- Tie, Buffalo's proximity to Niagara Falls is huge for tourism so that might give it an edge, but Western New York, and Western Michigan are fairly similar in their access to nature and lakeshore amenities. Grand Rapids is also the gateway to Michigan's vacation country.
Events - Can't find enough information to gauge which one I think would be better.
Infrastructure - Buffalo no contest. Grand Rapids has one of the most underdeveloped freeway networks for a city of it's size. The state of Michigan has only recently started investing in modernizing it's freeway system to accommodate it's decades of population growth. Though the roads in western michigan are generally better taken care of than Michigan's reputation as a whole. I don't know the condition of those in New York.
Scenery - Likely Buffalo for it's position right on the lake. Otherwise they are both in similar settings.
Shopping - Tie
Better Future - IMO Grand Rapids is better positioned for the future.
Population stats for the cities:
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