Does Density Matter?
January 26th, 2009
These density and population statistics from citymayors.com offer some surprising results! The top ten on the leaderboard is expected and yet still amazes. Mumbai has 29,650 people per square kilometer! That would mean cramming over forty people into the amount of space currently reserved for one OKC resident! I can’t imagine that density of this degree could ever lead to quality living conditions, but that doesn’t mean density is a bad thing. Some of the world’s most liveable cities fall in a range from approx. 1,800 to 4,500 residents per square kilometer. Also, as with most of these list, you have to pay attention to the way they measured density: this study has attempted to calculate density based on metro area – in which Oklahoma City ranks #87 world wide – as opposed to municipal area, which is an abritrary legal boundary that provides meaningless density results. So while this study took the better of the two measures up front, it does lead you to wonder what their process was for defining a metro area.
A COUPLE THINGS I THOUGHT WERE INTERESTING
- Densest city in America is Los Angeles – also the 90th densest city in the world!
- Oklahoma City is ranked #181 and has a density of 900 persons/sq. km – the same as Boston, MA
- it is one of Boston’s dirty secrets that it is really a sprawling suburban city that hides behind the charm and density of a historic center constructed at least a century ago.
- Oddly enough, Tuscon has a density of 950 persons/sq. km
- Paris is denser than any city in America – even with restrictions that limit building heights in most parts of the city.
DENSITY OF TOP TEN MOST LIVEABLE
There definitely seems to be some correlation between an appropriate city density and the general liveable of the city. But, there is also a major correlation between liveability and being from central Europe or Scandinavia, so the density figure has to be only one part of the equation. Still, I would guess that Oklahoma City would great benefit by focusing on increasing density from 900 p/sqkm to 1,500 p/sqkm – resulting in a city of approximately the density of Denver, Colorado!
|
Rank
|
City / Urban area
|
Country
|
Population
|
Land area
(in sqKm) |
Density
(people per sqKm) |
1.) Copenhagen, Denmark
|
117
|
Copenhagen | Denmark |
1,525,000
|
816
|
1,850
|
2.) Munich, Germany
|
78
|
Munich | Germany |
1,600,000
|
518
|
3,100
|
3.) Tokyo, Japan
|
50
|
Tokyo/Yokohama | Japan |
33,200,000
|
6,993
|
4,750
|
4.) Zürich, Switzerland – not on the list?
5.) Helsinki, Finland
|
111
|
Helsinki | Finland |
1,000,000
|
479
|
2,100
|
6.) Vienna, Austria
|
71
|
Vienna | Austria |
1,550,000
|
453
|
3,400
|
7.) Stockholm, Sweden
|
93
|
Stockholm | Sweden |
1,400,000
|
518
|
2,700
|
8.) Vancouver, Canada
|
123
|
Vancouver | Canada |
1,830,000
|
1,120
|
1,650
|
9.) Melbourne, Australia
|
127
|
Melbourne | Australia |
3,162,000
|
2,080
|
1,500
|
10.) Paris, France
|
69
|
Paris | France |
9,645,000
|
2,723
|
3,550
|
FULL LIST OF DENSITY IN WORLD CITIES
|
Rank
|
City / Urban area
|
Country
|
Population
|
Land area
(in sqKm) |
Density
(people per sqKm) |
|
1
|
Mumbai | India |
14,350,000
|
484
|
29,650
|
|
2
|
Kolkata | India |
12,700,000
|
531
|
23,900
|
|
3
|
Karachi | Pakistan |
9,800,000
|
518
|
18,900
|
|
4
|
Lagos | Nigeria |
13,400,000
|
738
|
18,150
|
|
5
|
Shenzhen | China |
8,000,000
|
466
|
17,150
|
|
6
|
Seoul/Incheon | South Korea |
17,500,000
|
1,049
|
16,700
|
|
7
|
Taipei | Taiwan |
5,700,000
|
376
|
15,200
|
|
8
|
Chennai | India |
5,950,000
|
414
|
14,350
|
|
9
|
Bogota | Colombia |
7,000,000
|
518
|
13,500
|
|
10
|
Shanghai | China |
10,000,000
|
746
|
13,400
|
|
11
|
Lima | Peru |
7,000,000
|
596
|
11,750
|
|
12
|
Beijing | China |
8,614,000
|
748
|
11,500
|
|
13
|
Delhi | India |
14,300,000
|
1,295
|
11,050
|
|
14
|
Kinshasa | Congo |
5,000,000
|
469
|
10,650
|
|
15
|
Manila | Philippines |
14,750,000
|
1,399
|
10,550
|
|
16
|
Tehran | Iran |
7,250,000
|
686
|
10,550
|
|
17
|
Jakarta | Indonesia |
14,250,000
|
1,360
|
10,500
|
|
18
|
Tianjin | China |
4,750,000
|
453
|
10,500
|
|
19
|
Bangalore | India |
5,400,000
|
534
|
10,100
|
|
20
|
Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam |
4,900,000
|
518
|
9,450
|
|
21
|
Cairo | Egypt |
12,200,000
|
1,295
|
9,400
|
|
22
|
Baghdad | Iraq |
5,500,000
|
596
|
9,250
|
|
23
|
Shenyang | China |
4,200,000
|
453
|
9,250
|
|
24
|
Hyderabad | India |
5,300,000
|
583
|
9,100
|
|
25
|
Sao Paulo | Brazil |
17,700,000
|
1,968
|
9,000
|
|
26
|
St Petersburg | Russia |
5,300,000
|
622
|
8,550
|
|
27
|
Mexico City | Mexico |
17,400,000
|
2,072
|
8,400
|
|
28
|
Santiago | Chile |
5,425,000
|
648
|
8,400
|
|
29
|
Singapore | Singapore |
4,000,000
|
479
|
8,350
|
|
30
|
Lahore | Pakistan |
5,100,000
|
622
|
8,200
|
|
31
|
Recife | Brazil |
3,025,000
|
376
|
8,050
|
|
32
|
Istanbul | Turkey |
9,000,000
|
1,166
|
7,700
|
|
33
|
Dalian | China |
2,750,000
|
389
|
7,100
|
|
34
|
Khartoum | Sudan |
4,000,000
|
583
|
6,850
|
|
35
|
Rio de Janeiro | Brazil |
10,800,000
|
1,580
|
6,850
|
|
36
|
Monterey | Mexico |
3,200,000
|
479
|
6,700
|
|
37
|
Bangkok | Thailand |
6,500,000
|
1,010
|
6,450
|
|
38
|
Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto | Japan |
16,425,000
|
2,564
|
6,400
|
|
39
|
Guadalajara | Mexico |
3,500,000
|
596
|
5,900
|
|
40
|
Athens | Greece |
3,685,000
|
684
|
5,400
|
|
41
|
Ankara | Turkey |
3,100,000
|
583
|
5,300
|
|
42
|
Madrid | Spain |
4,900,000
|
945
|
5,200
|
|
43
|
London | UK |
8,278,000
|
1,623
|
5,100
|
|
44
|
Tel Aviv | Israel |
2,300,000
|
453
|
5,050
|
|
45
|
Sapporo | Japan |
2,075,000
|
414
|
5,000
|
|
46
|
Buenos Aires | Argentina |
11,200,000
|
2,266
|
4,950
|
|
47
|
Moscow | Russia |
10,500,000
|
2,150
|
4,900
|
|
48
|
Barcelona | Spain |
3,900,000
|
803
|
4,850
|
|
49
|
Porto Alegre | Brazil |
2,800,000
|
583
|
4,800
|
|
50
|
Tokyo/Yokohama | Japan |
33,200,000
|
6,993
|
4,750
|
|
51
|
Belo Horizonte | Brazil |
4,000,000
|
868
|
4,600
|
|
52
|
Fortaleza | Brazil |
2,650,000
|
583
|
4,550
|
|
53
|
Warsaw | Poland |
2,000,000
|
466
|
4,300
|
|
54
|
Tashkent | Uzbekistan |
2,200,000
|
531
|
4,150
|
|
55
|
Naples | Italy |
2,400,000
|
583
|
4,100
|
|
56
|
Katowice | Poland |
2,200,000
|
544
|
4,050
|
|
57
|
Leeds/Bradford | UK |
1,499,000
|
370
|
4,050
|
|
58
|
Manchester | UK |
2,245,000
|
558
|
4,000
|
|
59
|
CapeTown | South Africa |
2,700,000
|
686
|
3,950
|
|
60
|
Fukuoka | Japan |
2,150,000
|
544
|
3,950
|
|
61
|
Taichung | Taiwan |
2,000,000
|
510
|
3,900
|
|
62
|
Baku/Sumqayit | Azerbaijan |
2,100,000
|
544
|
3,850
|
|
63
|
Curitiba | Brazil |
2,500,000
|
648
|
3,850
|
|
64
|
Birmingham | UK |
2,284,000
|
600
|
3,800
|
|
65
|
Berlin | Germany |
3,675,000
|
984
|
3,750
|
|
66
|
Riyadh | Saudi Arabia |
4,000,000
|
1,101
|
3,650
|
|
67
|
Campinas | Brazil |
1,750,000
|
492
|
3,550
|
|
68
|
Jeddah | Saudi Arabia |
2,750,000
|
777
|
3,550
|
|
69
|
Paris | France |
9,645,000
|
2,723
|
3,550
|
|
70
|
Durban | South Africa |
2,900,000
|
829
|
3,500
|
|
71
|
Vienna | Austria |
1,550,000
|
453
|
3,400
|
|
72
|
Accra | Ghana |
1,500,000
|
453
|
3,300
|
|
73
|
Glasgow | UK |
1,200,000
|
368
|
3,250
|
|
74
|
Nagoya | Japan |
9,000,000
|
2,875
|
3,150
|
|
75
|
Quito | Ecuador |
1,500,000
|
479
|
3,150
|
|
76
|
Donetsk | Ukraine |
1,400,000
|
451
|
3,100
|
|
77
|
Goiania | Brazil |
1,475,000
|
479
|
3,100
|
|
78
|
Munich | Germany |
1,600,000
|
518
|
3,100
|
|
79
|
Stuttgart | Germany |
1,250,000
|
414
|
3,000
|
|
80
|
Dublin | Ireland |
1,075,000
|
365
|
2,950
|
|
81
|
Kuwait | Kuwait |
1,600,000
|
544
|
2,950
|
|
82
|
Nizhni Novgorod | Russia |
1,500,000
|
505
|
2,950
|
|
83
|
Rome | Italy |
2,500,000
|
842
|
2,950
|
|
84
|
Phnom Phen | Cambodia |
1,500,000
|
518
|
2,900
|
|
85
|
Beirut | Lebanon |
1,800,000
|
648
|
2,800
|
|
86
|
Brasilia | Brazil |
1,625,000
|
583
|
2,800
|
|
87
|
Essen/Düsseldorf | Germany |
7,350,000
|
2,642
|
2,800
|
|
88
|
Lumumbashi | Congo |
1,200,000
|
427
|
2,800
|
|
89
|
Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia |
4,400,000
|
1,606
|
2,750
|
|
90
|
Los Angeles | USA |
11,789,000
|
4,320
|
2,750
|
|
91
|
Milan | Italy |
4,250,000
|
1,554
|
2,750
|
|
92
|
Pretoria | South Africa |
1,850,000
|
673
|
2,750
|
|
93
|
Stockholm | Sweden |
1,400,000
|
518
|
2,700
|
|
94
|
Turin | Italy |
1,350,000
|
500
|
2,700
|
|
95
|
Dubai | UAE |
1,900,000
|
712
|
2,650
|
|
96
|
Porto | Portugal |
1,035,000
|
389
|
2,650
|
|
97
|
Toronto | Canada |
4,367,000
|
1,655
|
2,650
|
|
98
|
Budapest | Hungary |
1,800,000
|
702
|
2,550
|
|
99
|
Lisbon | Portugal |
2,250,000
|
881
|
2,550
|
|
100
|
Johannesburg/East Rand | South Africa |
6,000,000
|
2,396
|
2,500
|
|
101
|
Rotterdam | Netherlands |
1,325,000
|
531
|
2,500
|
|
102
|
Harare | Zimbabwe |
1,750,000
|
712
|
2,450
|
|
103
|
Cologne/Bonn | Germany |
1,960,000
|
816
|
2,400
|
|
104
|
San Francisco/Oakland | USA |
3,229,000
|
1,365
|
2,350
|
|
105
|
Frankfurt | Germany |
2,260,000
|
984
|
2,300
|
|
106
|
Hamburg | Germany |
1,925,000
|
829
|
2,300
|
|
107
|
San Jose | USA |
1,538,000
|
674
|
2,300
|
|
108
|
Arabia | Saudi |
1,525,000
|
673
|
2,250
|
|
109
|
Brussels | Belgium |
1,570,000
|
712
|
2,200
|
|
110
|
Lille | France |
1,050,000
|
474
|
2,200
|
|
111
|
Helsinki | Finland |
1,000,000
|
479
|
2,100
|
|
112
|
Port Elizabeth | South Africa |
900,000
|
427
|
2,100
|
|
113
|
Sydney | Australia |
3,502,000
|
1,687
|
2,100
|
|
114
|
New York | USA |
17,800,000
|
8,683
|
2,050
|
|
115
|
Auckland | New Zealand |
1,050,000
|
531
|
2,000
|
|
116
|
New Orleans | USA |
1,009,000
|
512
|
1,950
|
|
117
|
Copenhagen | Denmark |
1,525,000
|
816
|
1,850
|
|
118
|
Montreal. | Canada |
3,216,000
|
1,740
|
1,850
|
|
119
|
Honolulu | USA |
718,000
|
399
|
1,800
|
|
120
|
Las Vegas | USA |
1,314,000
|
741
|
1,750
|
|
121
|
Miami | USA |
4,919,000
|
2,891
|
1,700
|
|
122
|
Ottawa/Hull | Canada |
828,000
|
490
|
1,700
|
|
123
|
Vancouver | Canada |
1,830,000
|
1,120
|
1,650
|
|
124
|
Antwerp | Belgium |
915,000
|
596
|
1,550
|
|
125
|
Denver | USA |
1,985,000
|
1,292
|
1,550
|
|
126
|
Chicago | USA |
8,308,000
|
5,498
|
1,500
|
|
127
|
Melbourne | Australia |
3,162,000
|
2,080
|
1,500
|
|
128
|
Salt Lake City | USA |
888,000
|
598
|
1,500
|
|
129
|
Aachen | Germany |
585,000
|
401
|
1,450
|
|
130
|
Sacramento | USA |
1,393,000
|
956
|
1,450
|
|
131
|
Lyon | France |
1,349,000
|
954
|
1,400
|
|
132
|
Phoenix/Mesa | USA |
2,907,000
|
2,069
|
1,400
|
|
133
|
Winnipeg | Canada |
627,000
|
446
|
1,400
|
|
134
|
Adelaide | Australia |
1,002,000
|
729
|
1,350
|
|
135
|
Riverside/San Bernardino | USA |
1,507,000
|
1,136
|
1,350
|
|
136
|
Portland | USA |
1,583,000
|
1,228
|
1,300
|
|
137
|
San Diego | USA |
2,674,000
|
2,026
|
1,300
|
|
138
|
Washington | USA |
3,934,000
|
2,996
|
1,300
|
|
139
|
Calgary | Canada |
879,000
|
702
|
1,250
|
|
140
|
Nice | France |
889,000
|
721
|
1,250
|
|
141
|
San Antonio | USA |
1,328,000
|
1,056
|
1,250
|
|
142
|
Vereeniging | South Africa |
600,000
|
479
|
1,250
|
|
143
|
Concord | USA |
553,000
|
457
|
1,200
|
|
144
|
Detroit | USA |
3,903,000
|
3,267
|
1,200
|
|
145
|
El Paso | USA |
675,000
|
568
|
1,200
|
|
146
|
Perth | Australia |
1,177,000
|
964
|
1,200
|
|
147
|
Baltimore | USA |
2,076,000
|
1,768
|
1,150
|
|
148
|
Dallas/Fort Worth | USA |
4,146,000
|
3,644
|
1,150
|
|
149
|
Houston | USA |
3,823,000
|
3,355
|
1,150
|
|
150
|
Nantes | France |
545,000
|
476
|
1,150
|
|
151
|
Austin | USA |
902,000
|
824
|
1,100
|
|
152
|
Columbus | USA |
1,133,000
|
1,030
|
1,100
|
|
153
|
Gold Coast | Australia |
422,000
|
383
|
1,100
|
|
154
|
Marseille | France |
1,350,000
|
1,204
|
1,100
|
|
155
|
Philadelphia | USA |
5,149,000
|
4,661
|
1,100
|
|
156
|
Seattle | USA |
2,712,000
|
2,470
|
1,100
|
|
157
|
Albuquerque | USA |
598,000
|
580
|
1,050
|
|
158
|
Buffalo | USA |
977,000
|
950
|
1,050
|
|
159
|
Cleveland | USA |
1,787,000
|
1,676
|
1,050
|
|
160
|
Douai/Lens | France |
519,000
|
489
|
1,050
|
|
161
|
Milwaukee | USA |
1,309,000
|
1,261
|
1,050
|
|
162
|
Minneapolis/St. Paul | USA |
2,389,000
|
2,316
|
1,050
|
|
163
|
Omaha | USA |
627,000
|
586
|
1,050
|
|
164
|
Orlando | USA |
1,157,000
|
1,174
|
1,000
|
|
165
|
Tampa/St Petersburg | USA |
2,062,000
|
2,078
|
1,000
|
|
166
|
Virginia Beach | USA |
1,394,000
|
1,364
|
1,000
|
|
167
|
Brisbane | Australia |
1,508,000
|
1,603
|
950
|
|
168
|
Memphis | USA |
972,000
|
1,036
|
950
|
|
169
|
Quebec | Canada |
635,000
|
669
|
950
|
|
170
|
San Juan | Puerto Rico |
2,217,000
|
2,309
|
950
|
|
171
|
Scranton | USA |
385,000
|
411
|
950
|
|
172
|
St. Louis | USA |
2,078,000
|
2,147
|
950
|
|
173
|
Toledo | USA |
503,000
|
524
|
950
|
|
174
|
Toulouse | France |
761,000
|
808
|
950
|
|
175
|
Tucson | USA |
720,000
|
755
|
950
|
|
176
|
Boston | USA |
4,032,000
|
4,497
|
900
|
|
177
|
Colorado Springs | USA |
466,000
|
511
|
900
|
|
178
|
Edmonton | Canada |
782,000
|
850
|
900
|
|
179
|
Kansas City | USA |
1,362,000
|
1,514
|
900
|
|
180
|
Ogden | USA |
418,000
|
466
|
900
|
|
181
|
Oklahoma City | USA |
747,000
|
835
|
900
|
|
182
|
Providence | USA |
1,175,000
|
1,304
|
900
|
|
183
|
Rochester | USA |
694,000
|
764
|
900
|
|
184
|
Spokane | USA |
335,000
|
371
|
900
|
|
185
|
Wichita | USA |
422,000
|
465
|
900
|
|
186
|
Cincinnati | USA |
1,503,000
|
1,740
|
850
|
|
187
|
Dayton | USA |
703,000
|
838
|
850
|
|
188
|
Indianapolis | USA |
1,219,000
|
1,432
|
850
|
|
189
|
Jacksonville | USA |
882,000
|
1,063
|
850
|
|
190
|
Louisville | USA |
864,000
|
1,013
|
850
|
|
191
|
Syracuse | USA |
402,000
|
465
|
850
|
|
192
|
Grand Rapids | USA |
539,000
|
667
|
800
|
|
193
|
Pittsburgh | USA |
1,753,000
|
2,208
|
800
|
|
194
|
Sarasota/Bradenton | USA |
559,000
|
700
|
800
|
|
195
|
Tulsa | USA |
558,000
|
677
|
800
|
|
196
|
Albany | USA |
559,000
|
736
|
750
|
|
197
|
Allentown/Bethlehem | USA |
576,000
|
750
|
750
|
|
198
|
Bridgeport/Stamford | USA |
889,000
|
1,205
|
750
|
|
199
|
St Catharines | Canada |
300,000
|
389
|
750
|
|
200
|
Toulon | France |
520,000
|
713
|
750
|
|
201
|
Abu Dhabi | UAE |
550,000
|
777
|
700
|
|
202
|
Akron | USA |
570,000
|
797
|
700
|
|
203
|
Atlanta | USA |
3,500,000
|
5,083
|
700
|
|
204
|
Bordeaux | France |
754,000
|
1,057
|
700
|
|
205
|
Canton | USA |
267,000
|
372
|
700
|
|
206
|
Charleston | USA |
423,000
|
598
|
700
|
|
207
|
Durham | USA |
288,000
|
406
|
700
|
|
208
|
Hartford | USA |
852,000
|
1,216
|
700
|
|
209
|
Jackson | USA |
293,000
|
417
|
700
|
|
210
|
Little Rock | USA |
360,000
|
532
|
700
|
|
211
|
New Haven | USA |
531,000
|
739
|
700
|
|
212
|
Palm Bay | USA |
393,000
|
569
|
700
|
|
213
|
Richmond | USA |
819,000
|
1,131
|
700
|
|
214
|
Shreveport | USA |
275,000
|
401
|
700
|
|
215
|
South Bend | USA |
276,000
|
404
|
700
|
|
216
|
Springfield | USA |
574,000
|
800
|
700
|
|
217
|
Tours | France |
298,000
|
421
|
700
|
|
218
|
Valenciennes | France |
357,000
|
507
|
700
|
|
219
|
Youngstown | USA |
417,000
|
591
|
700
|
|
220
|
Baton Rouge | USA |
479,000
|
727
|
650
|
|
221
|
Bethune | France |
259,000
|
390
|
650
|
|
222
|
Birmingham | USA |
664,000
|
1,016
|
650
|
|
223
|
Cape Coral | USA |
330,000
|
497
|
650
|
|
224
|
Charlotte | USA |
759,000
|
1,126
|
650
|
|
225
|
Fayetteville | USA |
276,000
|
433
|
650
|
|
226
|
Harrisburg | USA |
363,000
|
540
|
650
|
|
227
|
Lancaster | USA |
324,000
|
517
|
650
|
|
228
|
McAllen | USA |
523,000
|
813
|
650
|
|
229
|
Nashville | USA |
750,000
|
1,116
|
650
|
|
230
|
Raleigh | USA |
542,000
|
828
|
650
|
|
231
|
Worcester | USA |
430,000
|
648
|
650
|
|
232
|
Columbia | USA |
421,000
|
697
|
600
|
|
233
|
Flint | USA |
365,000
|
599
|
600
|
|
234
|
Mobile | USA |
318,000
|
546
|
600
|
|
235
|
Port St Lucie | USA |
271,000
|
438
|
600
|
|
236
|
Augusta | USA |
336,000
|
600
|
550
|
|
237
|
Bonita Springs / Naples | USA |
221,000
|
389
|
550
|
|
238
|
Pensacola | USA |
324,000
|
568
|
550
|
|
239
|
Aguadilla | Puerto Rico |
299,000
|
620
|
500
|
|
240
|
Avignon | France |
254,000
|
508
|
500
|
|
241
|
Greenville | USA |
302,000
|
587
|
500
|
|
242
|
Huntsville | USA |
213,000
|
407
|
500
|
|
243
|
Poughkeepsie | USA |
352,000
|
686
|
500
|
|
244
|
Knoxville | USA |
420,000
|
879
|
500
|
|
245
|
Chattanooga | USA |
344,000
|
751
|
450
|
|
246
|
Winston/Salem | USA |
299,000
|
651
|
450
|
|
247
|
Asheville | USA |
222,000
|
536
|
400
|
|
248
|
Pau | France |
181,000
|
450
|
400
|
|
249
|
Barnstable Town | USA |
244,000
|
741
|
350
|
|
250
|
Hickory | USA |
188,000
|
546
|
350
|
January 26th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Very interesting. For North American cities, the sweet spot really does seem to be in the 1300-1800 range. Many of the cities here that I would consider most livable are in that range — Montreal, Honolulu, Miami, Vancouver, Denver, Chicago(?!?), Salt Lake City, Portland, and San Diego.
But, their methodology is a little puzzling. How is Los Angeles denser than NYC, and NYC only slightly denser than New Orleans?
January 26th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I’m very surprised by the listing simply because I would have guessed OKC to be a lot further down the list than it is (and ahead of Indianapolis!). But I’m also uncertain about the freshness of these figures, seeing as New Orleans is still ranked relatively high. Blair, do you know what census this listing is pulling from? I’d suspect New Orleans post Katrina isn’t quite so dense….
January 26th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Dan, Dan, Dan… Honolulu and Miami – “most livable”? Come on now… really. Yes, they’re both great places to visit, but I really take issue with “most livable” for these two cities, especially Honolulu (can we even call that a city?)
January 26th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Good call on the New Orleans figures. The site says:
“The data was mostly collected between 2000 and 2005, however, in some cases figures from the late 1990s were used”
That is the problem with all of these list on the web, the data is not consistent. At some point in the future I will try to track down an academic study and see how it compares.
Oh, and Steve, how can we say Honolulu is not liveable? It sounds to me like a great place to live!
January 26th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Dan – Found this and I think it answers your question about how L.A. could be considered denser than NYC. Because the study takes the density of the entire urban area – any contiguous land area with densities greater than 1,000 persons per square mile – the NYC metropolitan area ends up being incredibly large and the lower density suburbs bring down the average. While New York is monocentric, L.A is more polycentric and the average density is boosted by the number of people living in outlying nodes.
January 26th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Interesting, thanks Blair.
Steve — I like Miami, and would live there, but I’ll grant that its desirability is not universal and certainly open to personal tastes. But Honolulu is pretty routinely considered a very desirable place to live, aside from (or despite) the high cost of living. For example, Monocle ranked it the best city to live in in the US last year (on criteria that ranked usual suspects like Copenhagen, Munich, Zurich, et al. at the top). See, e.g., http://www.monocle.com/sections/affairs/Magazine-Articles/Top-20-liveable-cities—09-Honolulu/
January 27th, 2009 at 12:17 am
Blair and Dan, maybe I’m judging Honolulu too much on my visit to Wikiki. But seriously, the traffic was awful and the city has a serious problem dealing with the homeless. Beyond the postcard beaches and beautiful resorts, anyone who dared go to the real city (I couldn’t help it) would find it is seriously flawed and may face some troubled times ahead. Miami, I admit, just isn’t my kind of city so maybe I’m just being flippant on that one.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Steve – okay, now I see where you are coming from. Credit to you for attempting to take in the real city behind the city. Maybe the liveability testers got too caught up in luaus and beaches, and failed to get the whole story.
One thing to consider, I think that all great cities of the world display humanity in its extremes. In Paris you have museums and shopping, but on the outskirts are some very rough ghettos with tense racial/religious conflict. London is a city for both princes and paupers; with a number of poor neighborhoods that you are unlikely to encounter during your double decker bus tour. And NYC may have undergone a renaissance over the last few decades – cleaning up crime in huge portions of the city including Time Square – but I still wouldn’t recommend going to parts of the Bronx or to Newark.
You bring up a great question though. When it comes to liveability, for whom are we concerned? Are we worried about the quality of life of everyone? Liveability ought to include all residents of a city – not just the well-to-dos.
January 29th, 2009 at 3:04 am
Urban link dump…
Here are a bunch of links to items of note about cities: Blair Humphreys looks at urban density and finds some surprising stats: The Los Angeles urbanized area is the most densely populated in the nation. Oklahoma City and Boston have the same density,…