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I dunno, I love Philly but do find it is not a city for everyone, with all its improvements it is a little rough around the edges still and see where many people may not like it as much. Boston would come accross more polished or even a NYC (esp parts of Manhattan) for that matter, a little more disneyfied. There are good and bad aspects to that of course. Some of the edge to Philly are aspects I personally find endearing but I also believe that people not used to a denser urban environment could be more easily put off by Philly
Wow, coming from somebody who lives in a city that can be charitably called a 'one trick pony' - riverwalk, Alamo & you're done. For me the best thing about San Antonio was leaving.
---OK lets look at that sentence. If you don't like it then wake up, that's how your post comes across.
Quote:
Originally Posted by thenewtexan
Good things abouth Philly? Closer to DC and much cheaper. That's it.
I dunno, I love Philly but do find it is not a city for everyone, with all its improvements it is a little rough around the edges still and see where many people may not like it as much. Boston would come accross more polished or even a NYC (esp parts of Manhattan) for that matter, a little more disneyfied. There are good and bad aspects to that of course. Some of the edge to Philly are aspects I personally find endearing but I also believe that people not used to a denser urban environment could be more easily put off by Philly
Well, people should keep negative comments to themselves. IMO
My first few days living in center city, I was like a cat in a new home, carefully peeking around & nervous. I laugh at that now, seems such an alien frame of mind. Driving a car on a highway is more dangerous than living in the city IMO.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kidphilly
I dunno, I love Philly but do find it is not a city for everyone, with all its improvements it is a little rough around the edges still and see where many people may not like it as much. Boston would come accross more polished or even a NYC (esp parts of Manhattan) for that matter, a little more disneyfied. There are good and bad aspects to that of course. Some of the edge to Philly are aspects I personally find endearing but I also believe that people not used to a denser urban environment could be more easily put off by Philly
Poring over the crime stats, I see nothing that recommends Boston over Philly. Unless one intends to move straight into the worst of Philly's ghettos, where the risk of being murdered is very high, crime rates between the two cities are not that far apart. Philly is 15-20% worse on a per-capita basis than Boston, and crime is the same per square mile. Theft is a statistical tie, and its the most common form of crime and the biggest nuisance of city living.
Philly's flash mobs made the news, but a bit of research reveals these incidents are occurring across the country. Philly just happens to have video of the perps, made arrests, and is discussing the problem openly.
In a telling statistic, assaults are also at the same (statistical) level, Boston vs. Philly. The idea that Boston is this 'safe' city and that Philly is unsafe is a pure fiction.
So just to reiterate - Philly matches Boston in many categories (number of college students, historical stuff), beats it in some (fine dining) and is beaten on others (mass transit). By many metrics Philly is the larger city and enjoys better proximity to NYC and DC, and is taking good advantage of that fact. This is what makes Philly #2 in the northeast after NYC.
Crime is definitely on Boston's side. On a statistical city proper level, they may have some similarities, but it's hard to just look at Boston as city proper-only. If you look at Boston, along with all of its inner burbs like Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea, Brookline, etc. (if you've spent time in Boston, you know these burbs blend seamlessly into the urban fabric), there was something like 62 murders for a population of 1.6 million people.
That statement is exactly as true for Philly as it is for Boston. I'm very far from convinced.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tmac9wr
Crime is definitely on Boston's side. On a statistical city proper level, they may have some similarities, but it's hard to just look at Boston as city proper-only. If you look at Boston, along with all of its inner burbs like Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea, Brookline, etc. (if you've spent time in Boston, you know these burbs blend seamlessly into the urban fabric), there was something like 62 murders for a population of 1.6 million people.
That statement is exactly as true for Philly as it is for Boston. I'm very far from convinced.
Hmm...well how about the fact that Boston is 48 square miles, and Philadelphia is 135? I'm simply talking about leveling out the playing field a bit. I know Philadelphia's Mainline burbs are gorgeous and very safe. However if you're going to say it's "exactly as true for Philly as it is for Boston", then you're also mistaken since you've got a little wort called Camden sitting across the river.
I hate bringing stuff like that up, because I love Philly...as I've said in other threads it's either my second or third favorite city in the country. However, one department where Philadelphia has a tough time is crime. I think even most from Philadelphia will agree with me here.
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