All the hullabaloo about Philly being the sixth borough has mostly died down, but apparently there are still New Yorkers relocating to Philly in droves (including Pressler herself).
According to a recent article in The New York Observer, 8,334 New Yorkers have moved to Philly since 2001. Not including me, that’s still 8,333 southbound souls.
While that’s only about 0.1% of New York’s population overall, 8000+ transplants are more than enough to keep the “Chinese bus” in business and the demand for Tacconelli’s strong.
And to think, I fancied myself unique.
Why the mass migration? And — more importantly, for those of us who favor a little competition: which city wins?
It’s best to get to the bottom of questions like this with a face off:
- Murders. In a death match, Philadelphia takes the cake with four times as many murders per capita than in New York.
- Apartments.
- Number of apartments available for under $500/month: 422 in Philly, 27 in New York.
- Number of apartments in the $7000-$10,000/month range: 11 in Philadelphia, 1150 (!) in New York.
The numbers have spoken.
- Snarkiness. In response to the news that 2.7 New Yorkers move here every day, Philebrity had this to say:
Philebrity has anecdotal evidence that they’re bringing their 2.7 annoying cocaine habits, iPhones and complaints about delivery services with them as well.
- Taxes. With tax season right around the corner, now is as good a time as any to complain about Philadelphia’s very special wage tax, right now hovering at around 4.2%. I wouldn’t mind having a city tax rate higher than New York’s (really, I’m practically a socialist), but where did all of that money go? How about some 311 action in this city? Or an Office of Art and Culture? [Update: Nutter's on it.]
- Smarts. Sure, sure, only 18 percent of locals have a college degree, but Philly has 26 institutions of higher education per million residents; New York has less than eight. Go Quakers.
Even after this comprehensive and highly scientific analysis, the face off is still pretty neck-and-neck. I’ll let John Updike, the arbiter of all things holy, settle this thing:
The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding.
Because Philly’s cool and all, but you guys are kidding… right? In some sense?
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February 15th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
[...] Lauren Friedman wrote an interesting post today on Face off: the Big Apple vs. the Giant CheesesteakHere’s a quick excerptdieting_artists1.jpg. All the hullabaloo about Philly being the sixth borough has mostly died down, but apparently there are still New Yorkers relocating to Philly in droves (including Pressler herself). According to a recent article in … [...]
February 15th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Egocentric New Yorkers are not so secretive about their belief that anyone living in another city is just playing “pretend”. Viva Philadelphia!
February 15th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I don’t think we can engage in any kind quantitative analysis for the purpose of comparing New York and Philadelphia. After all, what is the numerical value of a delightful brunch at Sabrina’s in the Italian Market? And what amount of enjoyment does a ride on New York’s water taxi in the heat of summer offer? Can’t we all just accept that Philadelphia and New York complement each other in the most glorious of ways. Yes, Philadelphia is the sixth borough of New York, but at the same time Brooklyn is the Philadelphia neighborhood that almost abuts Rittenhouse. Instead of comparing and contrasting these two delightful urban locales, let us as New Yorkers and Philadelphians unite to combat that offensive putrid vat of urban decay: San Francisco. Down with the West!
February 15th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I don’t think there’s much contest, especially if you’re only talking about Manhattan, which most people at Penn are. Philly, while a sizable city, still manages to have aspects of a small-town feel. There’s real community here, as opposed to a collection of people putting in their few years of service to the financial industry before moving on to less demeaning working conditions. Plus, Philly’s baseball team is lovable, as opposed to evil.
But then, I’m partial.
February 15th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I can’t help but wonder how many Philadelphians have moved to NYC in the same time frame? Having spent my college years in and around Philly, and my mid-twenties in NYC (and thus considering myself an expert) I would say both cities have their charm. I don’t think you can really ever say one city is “better” than another. Each city serves it’s own purpose. New York is an exciting whirlwind where people lose years. Philly is a city where you can really live for years (and not have to factor an hour of travel time when making plans with friends). I’m offended by New Yorkers who think NYC is the center of the universe and by Philadelphians who think you have to live amongst violence and grime to have city cred.
February 15th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Wynn said:
“I’m offended by New Yorkers who think NYC is the center of the universe and by Philadelphians who think you have to live amongst violence and grime to have city cred.”
Pinky says: Amen to that! Is that what Seattle is for?
February 15th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Wynn said:
“I’m offended by New Yorkers who think NYC is the center of the universe and by Philadelphians who think you have to live amongst violence and grime to have city cred.”
I’m actually more offended by non-native “New Yorkers” who move there for college or post-college and then preach about how NYC is the center of universe and question the motives of anyone who would think to willingly leave or never live there in the first place. The smug look they give you is singular to those transplants, probably resulting from their need for validation of 1) their own choice to live there and 2) their superiority for being a “New Yorker.” Yeah, I’m looking at you, ex-girlfriend.
Hi Lauren!
February 15th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
inside sources say that nutter went to meet with the NYC 311 folks months before the election. but good luck getting that and phillystat up by the end of the year on $2 mil.
February 15th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Michael:
I have some friends who stand by the assertion that nearly every new-york arrogant hipster slumming around brooklyn is actually from kansas or ohio or another part of the breadbasket.
February 15th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Pinky - Yes, long live the city filled with pretentious coffee shops!
Michael - Let’s be friends, the smug look you’re describing is exacrtly what I’m talking about. However, for me the offense is the same whether the “center of the universe” sentiment comes from a native or a non-native. If I hear one more person (yes, Pinky, most originally from the breadbasket) tell me I *have* to stay in NYC I may scream.
April 1st, 2008 at 7:24 pm
http://youtube.com/watch?v=i5zXoAspjSE
April 5th, 2008 at 9:20 am
as a true native Ny’er from Upper manhattan to Queens and parts of brooklyn that I was able to find my way around, I truly loved the city, and ala g.costanza learned all of the best public restrooms to use when in a pinch.(i.e. Lincoln Center IS great and so is Trump Tower)
But in the 8 years I’ve lived in philly, I really must give cudos. The architecture,even in the worse neighborhhods, is Phenomenal! Honestly, it drives me nuts seeing how overlooked to many areas are. I,not too long ago, lived a few blocks from Ben F.’s library/summer home. It is Beautiful run down area, with the right attention could be a real jewel. I owned house built in 1900, bought it for 83K, all original woodwork, wrap around porch, back and front staircases, the original hitching post, 10 ft ceilings, 6 bedrooms. But you know what? we had to move, it was too dangerous, people were getting shot on a regular basis.Officer Skerski? 5 blocks away. Two girls kidnapped and raped a 1/2 block away, at the same bus stop my 15 year old waited at.
If a bunch of people got their balls up, and took the city back from the low life m’fers we could really do something. Anyway, I do love it here, I just hate having to move further northeast because of the animals that are coming like a wave and destroying fantastic areas.
Bottom line is Philly is Cleaner and greener than NY, and although you really can’t make a decent pizza,I still love it here. You open the door at Wawa for me and actually say thank you when I do the same. Refreshing to say the least.
Brotherly Love
damnit
June 10th, 2008 at 2:18 am
Mrs. Friedman-
I am quite surprised you did not bring up the sports teams in Philadelphia and New York. Even though my teams (Knicks and Mets) have not had the best luck as of late, other New York sports teams have won multiple championships. A Philadelphia professional spots team has not won it all since 1983! 25 years without the Sixers, Flyers, Eagles, and Phillies not winning.
That being said, the Phillies are looking pretty good right now as they have a 7.5 game lead over the Mets. I have no doubt that when I come to town in July to see the Mets/Phillies series with my Philadelphia sister, the Mets will SWEEP! Let’s go Mets! Phuck the Phillies!
Great blog by the way. Best on the internet.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:20 am
P.S.
NYC>>>Philly
Back to writing my final paper. This blog is too addictive.