The city of Angles
Los Angeles has a population of 3.8 million. It forms the backbone of the 13-million metropolitan area with the same name. LA ranks second in the US after New York on both instances, but we’re pretty sure where you prefer to spent the winter. The aforementioned metropolitan area is formed by tiny heavens like Beverly Hills and Long Beach.
L.A. boasts a vast economy with a GDP exceeding 1 trillion by far. Apart from being the US’ largest Pacific port, the city is an attractive tourist destination and a global entertainment hub. The largest employers in town are the Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles Unified School District and the UCLA. The largest public-owned companies are The Walt Disney Co., Edison International, Inc., and AECOM Technology Corp.
The largest university is California State University, with two campuses in Los Angeles and Northridge. California State University in Los Angeles offers 129 bachelors, 112 masters and 4 doctoral degrees, while Cal State Northridge has a total of 38,815 undergraduates.
Infrastructure and Transportation
California has a well-developed road infrastructure. The Golden Gate Bridge, Arroyo Seco Parkway and four-story interchange are some of the engineering feats designed to free California from heavy traffic.
Disadvantages abound
L.A. cannot have any disadvantages! Well, think again.
– Traffic and parking issues are common.
– Earthquakes can occur frequently.
– The crime rate is high, and it has been growing constantly.
– Distances in Los Angeles are huge, and having a car is a must.
– The job market is bloated and people may show some attitudes because of the fierce competition.
Hello Philadelphia!
Well-developed industries in Philadelphia are health care, biotechnology, information technology, trade, manufacturing, oil refining, food processing, and tourism.
Philly is the second-largest city on the East Coast (again, after NY), a major Atlantic port, and a historic, cultural and trade hub.
The city has a population of 1.6 million, while the Pennsylvania metropolitan area has a total of 6 million inhabitants (ranking sixth in the United States). The metropolitan area has a stable GDP of around $490 billion. The largest employers are University of Pennsylvania and Health System, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is the home of several Fortune 1000 companies, including PECO Energy, Rohm and Haas, and Tastykake. The University of Pennsylvania is the face of the state’s education and one of the flagships of that in the whole US. It is a private Ivy League research university with yearly admits of nearly 4.000. It is established in 1740 and has a good claim for being the oldest university in the United States. Other great universities in Pennsylvania are Pennsylvania State University, Temple University, and University of Pittsburgh.
The whole state is known for its avid sports fans and there’s a good reason for it. Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Philadelphia Flyers play in their respective top flights and are fearsome hosts.
City of firsts
Philly is one of the oldest cities in the US, and as such it holds many first places! It held the celebrations of the nation’s first birthday, the first zoo, the first hospital (thus the prominent medical sector), and he Philadelphia Packet and Daily Advertiser, the first US newspaper.
Also, Philadelphia is the home of the oldest continually running theater in the English-speaking world – the Walnut Street Theater. The Walnut was founded in 1808. It has three stages and went through many renovations through the years. Today it has a seating capacity of 1 054 at its largest hall – the Mainstage, making it more than perfect to host a Broadway show.
In its long history, the stage of the Walnut Street Theatre has seen stars such as Samuel L. Jackson, Groucho Marx, and Katharine Hepburn.
Disadvantages
Philadelphia’s main disadvantages come from the city’s size and geographical location.
– Philly has some pretty heavy traffic
– And some harsh winters
– Harsh liquor laws
– High wage taxes – 3.88% for residents, and 3.5% for non-residents.
Los Angeles vs Philadelphia
Two of the US’ largest cities and major trade ports are as different as the oceans they sit on. And, as it seems, LA has just a handful of advantages over Philly beside the climate.
The Median Age in Philadelphia is 1.0 years younger than in Los Angeles. Philadelphia housing costs are about 70% less expensive than Los Angeles housing costs. The average commute for residents of Philadelphia is 2.0 minutes longer than it is for residents of Los Angeles. Philadelphia is 41.6% less expensive than Los Angeles. Philadelphia housing costs are 77.8% less expensive than Los Angeles housing costs. Lst, but not least health related expenses are 10.1% more in Philadelphia.