Opinion | Philly — the best city in the country

I got lunch with my uncle in the Reading Terminal over winter break. The former Philadelphia train station turned iconic market is a maze, even for us locals. As we wove through the crowd — tourists trying and failing not to get in the way, jurors on lunch break, families like ours — the city’s essence was on full display. 

Bassett’s, America’s oldest ice cream company, is nestled next to an oyster bar, and the smell of cheesesteaks wafts from an aisle over. A Caribbean restaurant shares a wall with a deli right across from an Asian street food shop. It’s a glorious, chaotic representation of Philadelphia — historic, genuine and layered with identities that somehow form a whole.

When I return to Philly after being in Pittsburgh for school, I am reminded that it’s not just a great city but the best in America. Philadelphia earns that title because it is the most authentically, challengingly real city in the country. It blends history, culture and livability that you cannot find anywhere else.

This city can only be loved by a certain kind of person, which is what makes it special. It’s not somewhere that everyone will understand or get. It’s rough around the edges, and no Philadelphian will deny it has its share of problems. But that’s how it is different from other major cities in the country — your loyalty is earned, not assumed, so you love Philly, flaws and all. 

The city’s reputation as dirty, crime-ridden, and mean isn’t baseless. It’s misunderstood. This character is mirrored in our love for the Philadelphia Eagles. Eagles fans are universally known as the NFL’s most passionate, and often its most hostile — we’re the only team that has had a jail inside our stadium. But our passion is born of fierce accountability and identity. It’s a year-round commitment — “Go Birds” functions as a common greeting, and Eagles gear is standard daily wear, a permanent badge of community. Philly, like its team, is used to being underestimated and misunderstood, but we are unapologetically ourselves nonetheless.

This challenging authenticity isn’t just a personality trait — it’s the city’s political legacy. Philadelphia is where American democracy was argued into existence in Independence Hall, and that spirit of fierce debate never left. This is a city that doesn’t just observe history but grapples with it, publicly and relentlessly. From recent anti-ICE protests and months of Black Lives Matter resistance, Philly is a political force to be reckoned with. 

Spend real time here, and you discover a city of staggering depth. We have world-class museums, Michelin Star restaurants, an extensive public library system and over 10,000 acres of parks — all anchored by the history that built the nation. You don’t need to be a native to see Philly’s value — it was rated fifth of best cities in the world to visit by Lonely Planet. 

People will ask me, “What about New York or Los Angeles or Chicago?” But when you compare, Philadelphia emerges as the “just right” city. It isn’t as overcrowded or expensive as New York, it’s more walkable and historically cohesive than Los Angeles, and it has more personality and quirks than D.C. or Chicago.

New York City is an undeniable global capital — it is an economic, cultural and tourism hub. And that is exactly why Philly is better. Here, you live in a city, not a tourist attraction. You can explore historical and cultural sites without planning your day around insane lines. Philly offers a comparable urban energy but with space to breathe. 

It says something that native New Yorkers are choosing to move to Philly — rent is 52% cheaper and the typical home asking price is 80% cheaper when comparing the two. This isn’t just about affordability. It’s about accessibility — to homes, spaces and a life that isn’t choked by constant competition. 

Because of our unique grid designed by William Penn in the late 17th century, Philly boasts a dense, human-centered environment meant for walking rather than cars. Unlike Los Angeles, we have a robust public transportation system and were named America’s most walkable city three years in a row, with 31% of households not owning a car. New York, Boston, and San Francisco are the only major cities with lower ownership rates. 

And when you want a change of scenery, you can. We are only one and a half hours from the Jersey shore, two hours from the Poconos, and a short train ride from NYC, Washington D.C and Baltimore — Philly’s positioning in the Northeast corridor is ideal. You get the connected energy of the Northeast corridor with the distinct identity of a true hometown and community.

That’s the Philadelphia promise. It offers the culture and pulse of a world-class city while fostering the community and character of a place you can actually call your own. You don’t just live in Philadelphia. You belong to it. 

Harper is a political science major and Philadelphia native. Email her at HAL352@pitt.edu.