Truly URBAN American cities: Where would you rank Philadelphia? (Pittsburgh: houses, neighborhoods)

[Tiger Beer]

Truly URBAN American cities: Where would you rank Philadelphia?

NYC seems to be #1...where would someone place Philadelphia? #2? #3? #4? Before Boston or after Boston? Would San Francisco be before or after Philadelphia? How about Chicago? Etc.

Thinking mostly in terms of density in combination with feel. Sometimes straight up 'density' numbers don't work, as so many factors. But how about in just general 'feel'. I think we all know when we FEEL that urban fabric...where does Philadelphia rank in the U.S. list of cities?

Also thinking in urban living as well. Like 'Seinfeld' or 'Friends' type of thing or whatever...as opposed to a Detroit type city where it's largely dead at night and most people commute there to work and go home after work, etc.

[lititzman2003]

My opinion:

#1-NY
#2-Chicago
#3-Philly
#4-San Francisco
#5-Boston
#6-Seattle

[Boompa]

#1 San Francisco
#2 Philly
#3 New York
#4 Boston

Other than flight connections I've never been to Chicago

[Skimanscott]

1 New York
2 San Francisco
3 Philadelphia
4 Chicago

If we consider other North American countries -
5 Toronto

[pman]

that's not an easy question to answer. technically downtown chicago isn't all that lively at night, but there are nearby areas that are. it's unquestioningly a big city. I think you said you live in Pittsburgh or used to. think of Philadelphia as somewhere between NYC and Pittsburgh. Center city offers the "seinfeld" type of living with highrises, action day and night. think of south philly like the south side without carson st being the main drag for the whole city (having only a localized drag) but where you could easily get downtown (as you can from the south side) but downtown being full of bars, restaurants, trains to the suburbs, etc like NY, only smaller scale. think of Fairmount like an already fixed up northside. lawrenceville might be sorta like fishtown. Shadyside like the NW neighborhoods that are much more suburban (though northeast suburban not southeast suburban)...ie chestnut hill. in Pittsburgh, the northeast might be an older, more dense suburb. north philly might equate to the hill district. and of course, the italian market and the strip district. most of those places are bigger in philly and so have more people and more "action."

[TheCity]

Originally Posted by Boompa

#1 San Francisco
#2 Philly
#3 New York
#4 Boston

Other than flight connections I've never been to Chicago

I enjoy San Francisco, but don't see how it's more urban than NYC.

Anyways, my top 7 would be the following.....

1. New York City
2. Chicago
3. Philadelphia
4. Boston
5. Washington DC
6. San Francisco
7. Los Angeles

[CHIP72]

Philadelphia probably ranks in the top 5, but I personally believe Philadelphia (or at the very least Center City Philadelphia) is more walkable than just about any city in the U.S., mainly because most of the streets are fairly narrow and there are very few weird (i.e. confusing) intersections that be problematic for walkers. (Yes Washington, DC, I have you in mind when I say that last comment.)

[bryson662001]

There are a handfull of US citys that anchor large metros that are "the most urban" and Philly is among them. I couldn't rank one of them as being "more" urban then the others, including NY. Within the handfull they are all about equal. NY, Chicago, LA, Philly, San Francisco, Boston, DC in no particular order. For the record I have explored all these cities and most others as well, excluding only Arizona and New Mexaco.

[john_starks]

top 5 easily

[bryson662001]

...
When I think urban I think of high density without lawns, driveways or single family houses. That is why the list doesn't include places like Denver, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Seattle or Miami. Outside of the immediate downtown those cities are basicly suburban.